Applications are open for the 41st edition of the California Music Center’s Irving M. Klein International String Competition, which will take place on June 6-7, 2026, at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

The competition is open to international violinists, violists, cellists, and bassists aged between 15 and 23 who are not currently under professional management.

First Prize offers a $5000 cash prize, as well as performance opportunities (both concerto and recital) that total $10,000 in fees. Second Prize offers $3,500 plus performances, while Third Prize is $2,500, and there are two Fourth Prize awards, each worth $1,500.

Applicants should provide a high-quality audio recording of themselves playing approximately thirty minutes of music, including solo Bach around 10 minutes, a concerto movement, and a 20th or 21st-century piece lasting around 10 minutes. For the complete application details, please visit the Klein's website

The Semifinal and Final rounds of the Klein Competition will be short recitals performed in a concert hall before the jury and a live audience.

The application deadline is January 31, 2026. You can apply here.

In 2026, the competition jury will comprise Richard Aaron, Christopher Costanza, Barbara Day Turner, Jory Fankuchen, Jennifer Frautschi, Suzanne Sorkin, and Daniel Stewart.

Past winners of the competition include violists Emad Zolfaghari and Yuchen Lu, cellist Gaeun Kim, and violinist Gabrielle Després.