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Meet the four young violinists of Mini Violini 2026 and discover the talented and virtuosic young prodigies.<\/span> Alongside the main competition events of the Concours musical international de Montr\u00e9al, Mini Violini offers a memorable encounter with talented young violinists between the ages of 10 and 14. The concert\u00a0will take place on Saturday, May 30<\/a>, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., at Bourgie Hall.<\/p>\n A remarkable maturity in every note Mini Violini: The Four Seasons For one afternoon, you are the jury!<\/strong> <\/p>\nTICKETS - MINI VIOLINI<\/span><\/a>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hailing from Sydney, Australia, violinist Laura Jin<\/strong>\u00a0began studying violin at six and a half and made her debut at the Sydney Opera House at age seven. At eight, she was admitted to the Juilliard School Pre-College Division in New York, where she studied for five years until 2024. In August 2025, Laura transferred to the Colburn Music Academy, where she studies with Professor Margaret Batjer under the generous Kohl Scholarship, endowed by Jerri and Terri Kohl.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Recognized for her musicality, poise, and expressive performances, Laura has won numerous international awards, including top prizes at the Piccolo Violino Magico Competition (2025), Zhuhai International Mozart Competition for Young Musicians (2023), International Louis Spohr Competition (2022), and Leonid Kogan International Competition (2021). In March 2024, she was invited to appear on\u00a0<\/span>From the Top<\/span><\/i>, America\u2019s premier national platform for young classical musicians, recording alongside Orli Shaham. That July, she attended the Morningside Music Bridge program in Boston on a full scholarship as its youngest violinist. In October 2024, she was featured in NPR\u2019s acclaimed\u00a0<\/span>Tiny Desk Concert<\/span><\/i>\u00a0series, which has reached more than 16 million viewers since its launch in 2008. In September 2025, Laura participated in the Kronberg Music Festival masterclasses, held biennially and open to select young musicians worldwide. She was selected to perform in the festival\u2019s final concert with orchestra, where she received the Manfred Grommek Special Prize.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Laura has performed as a soloist with the Wu\u0308rttemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn, Salzburg Chamber Soloists, Jena Philharmonic Orchestra, and many more. Outside of music, Laura has a deep passion for the culinary arts \u2013 she loves cooking, experimenting with new recipes, and creating her own drinks. She also enjoys all forms of visual art, especially drawing, which allows her to express her creativity beyond music.<\/span><\/p>\n Canadian violinist <\/span>Sacha Jorba-Wu<\/strong> made his solo debut at age six at Olympic Plaza (Calgary) and has since performed with seven orchestras, including the Orchestre symphonique de Qu\u00e9bec, the Orchestre symphonique de Sherbrooke, the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra and the Calgary Civic Symphony. In 2024, he made his European debut in Paris and at the Mozarteum in Salzburg during the Rising Stars Gala.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Sacha studied with Domagoj Ivanovic and James Keene, training at the Mount Royal University Conservatory and the Vancouver Academy of Music. In 2025, at age 12, he became the youngest student invited to the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studies with Shmuel Ashkenasi and Pamela Frank.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He is a laureate of major competitions, including the Canadian Music Competition (Grand Prizes, 2022, 2023), the Vancouver International Music Competition (2<\/span>nd\u00a0<\/span>Grand Prize, 2023), the Edith Lando Gifted Youth Competition (1<\/span>st<\/span>\u00a0prize, 2024), the New York City Music International Grand Prix (Audience Favourite Award & Grand Prix, 2024), the New York International Music Festival & Concours (1<\/span>st<\/span>\u00a0prize, 2024), and the Andrea Postacchini International Violin Competition (1<\/span>st<\/span>\u00a0prize, 2025). In 2024, he won the Yannick N\u00e9zet-S\u00e9guin Grand Prize at the OMNI Music Competition and soloed with Orchestre M\u00e9tropolitain in 2025.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Beyond music, Sacha is passionate about humanitarian causes, and helping others by volunteering in schools, hospitals, senior centers, and communities to inspire others. In 2024, he helped raise $2 million for BC Children\u2019s Hospital at their Gala Concert. Sacha loves learning new things, travelling, exploring, swimming, biking, playing chess with friends, math, sciences, and has an endless curiosity about the world.<\/span><\/p>\n Iza Kamnitzer<\/strong><\/span> Iza Kamnitzer<\/strong> has been playing the violin since age four and is a student of Andr\u00e9e Azar at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montr\u00e9al. Iza also benefits from inspiring coachings with Johanne Arel, director of the Camp musical des Laurentides.\u00a0<\/p>\n Iza has participated in several competitions, including the 2025 Canadian Music Competition, where she earned first place in the strings competition for 7-10-year-olds, and the 2022 OMNI Music Competition, where she was awarded the Yannick N\u00e9zet-S\u00e9guin Grand Prize.\u00a0<\/p>\n Her public performances include playing a series of concerts with Ang\u00e8le Dubeau and La Piet\u00e0 in 2023, including at the Maison Symphonique in Montr\u00e9al. In 2024, she was featured in the gala concert Grande Premi\u00e8re des futures \u00e9toiles at Place-des-Arts.\u00a0<\/p>\n Iza also enjoys playing duets with her fellow violin student Ren Karlicek. They have performed together with the Sinfonia de l\u2019Ouest in 2024, and with I Musici de Montr\u00e9al in 2023.<\/p>\n When Iza\u00a0<\/span>isn\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0holding a violin, she is\u00a0<\/span>almost certainly<\/span>\u00a0holding a book. When she\u00a0<\/span>isn<\/span>\u2019<\/span>t<\/span>\u00a0holding a violin or a book, she enjoys looking at onion cells under her microscope, going wild with her sisters, and playing soccer, even if she\u00a0<\/span>doesn<\/span>\u2019<\/span>t<\/span>\u00a0score many goals.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Iza plays a 19th century Enrico Ceruti violin and a Prosper Colas bow, both graciously loaned by Canimex Inc. from Drummondville (Qu\u00e9bec, Canada).<\/p>\n Iza Kamnitzer’s participation in Mini Violini 2026 is generously sponsored by<\/strong>\u00a0Marc-Andr\u00e9 Nantais<\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n Ria Kang<\/strong><\/span> Ria Kang<\/strong> began her musical journey at the age of four. She is a student of Catherine Cho at Juilliard Pre-College, having been accepted into the program at the age of seven. Ria was a first-prize winner in her category at the 2024 Arthur Grumiaux International Violin Competition and has won first place in various other competitions, including the Camerata Artists International Competition, New York International Music Festival & Concours, New York Young Virtuoso Competition, Music International Grand Prix, and Philadelphia International Music Festival Concerto Competition.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Ria made her orchestral debut with the Seocho Philharmonia at the age of nine and has attended prestigious music programs such as Tibor Varga Academy, Sounding Point Academy, Heifetz Institute, and Philadelphia International Music Festival. Ria has performed at renowned venues, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Merkin Hall, having first performed at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall at the age of six. In 2024, she performed at the Juilliard Celebration concert at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater and as a guest artist at the Youth America Grand Prix 25<\/span>th <\/span>Anniversary Gala at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Beyond music, Ria excels academically, earning High Honors in the 2022\u20132023 talent search conducted by Johns Hopkins University\u2019s Center for Talented Youth. In her leisure time, she enjoys acting, reading, writing, drawing, listening to classical music, and playing with her Maltese, Milk.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n PROGRAMME<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n FIRST PART<\/b><\/p>\n Iza Kamnitzer<\/span> Piotr Ilitch TCHA\u00cfKOVSKI<\/span><\/span><\/strong> Pablo de SARASATE<\/strong> Ria Kang<\/span> Camille SAINT-SA\u00cbNS<\/strong> Laura Jin<\/strong><\/span><\/span> Sacha Jorba-Wu Antonio BAZZINI<\/strong> Pianist: Claire Ouellet<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n SECOND PART<\/b><\/p>\n Antonio VIVALDI Iza Kamnitzer<\/span><\/strong> Ria Kang<\/span><\/b> Laura Jin<\/strong><\/span> Sacha Jorba-Wu<\/span><\/b> <\/p>\n Orchestre de l\u2019Agora<\/strong><\/a> ORCHESTRE DE L\u2019AGORA\u00a0 BENO\u00ceT GAUTHIER, chef invit\u00e9 \/ Guest Conductor<\/strong> CLAIRE OUELLET, piano<\/strong> <\/p>\n The participation of the Orchestre de l\u2019Agora and its Guest Conductor for Mini Violini 2026 is generously supported by Jacques Marchand.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n HOME - CONCOURS 2026<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
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<\/strong>Marvel at these young musicians, invited by the Concours musical international de Montr\u00e9al, and applaud these outstanding violinists, whose mastery of the violin, acquired at such a young age, promises to dazzle the audience. Don’t miss this concert, which showcases their rare talent and moving musical sensitivity.<\/p>\n
<\/strong>The first half of the concert features each violinist in a short recital program, accompanied by pianist Claire Ouellet. In the second half, the four prodigies come together to each perform one movement of Vivaldi’s famous Four Seasons, <\/em>alongside the Orchestre de l\u2019Agora, conducted by Benoit Gauthier.<\/p>\n
The audience will decide who will win the $2,000 Audience Choice Award. It\u2019s a wonderful opportunity to show your support for the violinist who impressed you the most.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Spinelli_Presentateur-officiel_MiniViolini2026_EN.png\")
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\nMeet the four violin prodigies<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
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Laura Jin
<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>Australia
Colburn Music Academy, Los Angeles
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Sacha Jorba-Wu<\/strong><\/span>
Canada
Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia
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Canada
Conservatoire de musique de Montr\u00e9al<\/p>\n
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United States \/ South Korea
Juilliard Pre-College program, New York<\/span><\/p>\n
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Jean SIBELIUS<\/strong>
Five Pieces<\/em>, Op. 81
<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 1. Mazurka<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Souvenir d’un lieu cher<\/i>, Op. 42
\u00a0 \u00a0 3. M\u00e9lodie<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Introduction et Tarentelle<\/em>, Op. 43<\/span><\/span>
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<\/b>J.S. BACH<\/strong>
Sonata for Solo Violin<\/span>\u00a0No.<\/span>\u00a03 in C major, BWV 1005<\/span>
\u00a0 \u00a0 4. <\/span>Allegro assai<\/span><\/i>
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Introduction and rondo <\/span>capriccioso<\/span><\/em>, Op. 28<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Franz WAXMAN<\/strong>
Carmen Fantasy<\/em><\/p>\n
<\/span><\/span><\/b>Pablo de SARASATE<\/strong>
Zigeunerweisen<\/em>, Op. 20<\/p>\n
Scherzo fantastique<\/i>, Op. 25 – “<\/span><\/span>La ronde des lutins”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
The Four Seasons<\/em><\/p>\n
Spring (La Primavera), RV 269<\/span><\/p>\n
Summer (L\u2019Estate), RV 315<\/span><\/p>\n
Autumn (L\u2019Autunno), RV 293<\/span><\/p>\n
Winter (L\u2019Inverno), RV 297<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Logo_Orchestre_de_lAgora_crop-1.png\"){kind=logo}
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Conductor: Benoit Gauthier<\/strong><\/a>
Host : St\u00e9phane T\u00e9treault<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
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<\/strong>Founded in 2013 by conductor Nicolas Ellis, the Orchestre de l’Agora is a Montreal-based orchestra renowned for its artistic excellence, social commitment, and innovative collaborations. Recipient of a JUNO Award, the Orchestra offers bold programming, bringing together talented young musicians and serving the community through educational and environmental initiatives.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Benoit Gauthier is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Orchestre symphonique de la C\u00f4te-Nord. Praised for the intensity and depth of his interpretations, he is a Conducting Fellow at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music under the mentorship of Yannick N\u00e9zet-S\u00e9guin, Ford Mylius Lallerstedt, and James Ross. Winner of the 2024 Jean-Marie-Beaudet Prize in orchestral conducting, he was also a member of the Orchestre M\u00e9tropolitain’s Conducting Academy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Claire Ouellet enjoys a brilliant career as a pianist both in Canada and abroad. Her\u00a0 musicality and sincere interpretations make her a highly sought-after collaborator. A member of the Ouellet-Murray duo and the Orford Six Pianos ensemble, she has received numerous awards. A graduate of the Conservatoire de musique du Qu\u00e9bec, she has taught at the Conservatoire de musique de Montr\u00e9al for many years.<\/p>\n