Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition

Support the Competition laureates in the development of their international careers

One of the most demanding and also one of the most widely publicised international music competitions, the Queen Elisabeth Competition, ever since its creation in 1937, has established itself as a springboard for young violinists, pianists, singers, and cellists on the threshold of an international career. The Competition aims, above all, to serve as an intermediary between those young virtuosos and the world's great musical venues.

Steadfastly committed to the project initiated by Belgian violinist Eugène Ysaÿe and Queen Elisabeth of Belgium , the Queen Elisabeth Competition seeks to discover complete artists ; it owes its reputation to a prestigious jury, strict rules, and unparalleled media coverage, as well as to the friendly and enthusiastic hospitality offered by an entire country and its Royal Family.

Organised in a yearly cycle (one instrument per year), the Competition receives several hundreds of applications of candidates from the four corners of the world. Among the selected participants, we usually count around 20 different nationalities. Every year, American candidates participate to great success, some of them winning First Prize, e.g. pianist Leon Fleisher in 1952, up until more recently with violinist Stella Chen in 2019.

The Queen Elisabeth Competition is a completely independent non-profit association , donations to which are tax-deductible. So we are dependent on the generosity and help of our loyal friends and donors in order to achieve our goals and to assist our laureates in the development of their international careers.

For more details, please contact Ms Marie Vander Elst, Responsible for Fundraising, at: mvanderelst@queenelisabethcompetition.be

Thank you for your help. Every donation counts !