We're coming to you LIVE from Stony Brook, New York, for the 2025 Lillian and Maurice Barbash J.S. Bach String Competition. The finalists for this year's competition are:

  • Gabrielle Desprès, violin (Canada)
  • Wanxinyi Huang, viola (China)
  • Coco Mi, violin (USA)
  • Danqi Zeng, Baroque violin (China)

Members of the 2025 Jury include violist Kim Kashkashian, violinist Renée Jolles, gamba and musicologist Kenneth Slowik, cellist Colin Carr, and harpsichordist Arthur Haas.

In addition to receiving a cash award of $10,000, the Grand Prize Winner will be the featured soloist at the Island Symphony Bach Festival which will be held on January 24, 2027, in Bay Shore, New York. The Grand Prize Winner will also be offered paid engagements with the following performing groups: Washington Bach Consort, Amor Artis, GEMS, and The Bach Choir of Bethlehem.

The Second Place Winner will receive a cash prize of $2,500.

Past winners include violinists Rachell Ellen Wong, Lun Li, Tianyou Ma, Emmanuel Coppey, double bassist Nina Bernat, and cellist Maxime Quennesson.

This competition honors Lillian and Maurice Barbash for their lifelong support of the arts.

 

 

Program

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001

I. Adagio
II. Fuga (Allegro)
III. Siciliana
IV. Presto

Coco Mi, violin

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Cello Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012

I. Prélude
II. Allemande
III. Courante
IV. Sarabande
V. Gavottes I & II
VI. Gigue

Wanxinyi Huang, viola

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Sonata No. 3 in C major, BWV 1005

I. Adagio
II. Fuga
III. Largo
IV. Allegro assai

Danqi Zeng, Baroque violin

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Partita No. 2 in D minor BWV 1004

I. Allemanda
II. Corrente
III. Sarabanda
IV. Giga
V. Ciaccona

Gabrielle Desprès, violin