The Stulberg International String Competition’s mission is to promote excellence in string instrument performance by gifted artists under the age of twenty. The Stulberg is one of the longest continuous competitions in the United States for young string musicians. Founded in 1975 to honor Dr. Julius Stulberg, former Professor of Violin at Western Michigan University and conductor of the WMU Symphony Orchestra and Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra, the Stulberg has brought world-renowned string performers and teachers to Kalamazoo for 49 years. Through its master classes and education outreach programs, the Stulberg extends its impact by providing artistic and educational opportunities for local musicians and audiences.
The Stulberg Competition features twelve semifinalists chosen from applicants on solo string instruments (violin, viola, cello, double bass) from around the world utilizing a blind screening process. The 2023/24 Stulberg Competition featured a record high 237 applicants from the USA and 17 other countries of origin. Semifinalists travel to Kalamazoo to compete for prize medals. Medal awards for 2025 are $10,000 (Gold), $7,000 (Silver), and $5,000 (Bronze). Medalists return to Kalamazoo the following season for solo performances with area symphony orchestras and educational outreach. Adjudicators for the 2024/25 Stulberg are internationally renowned musical artists Rachel Barton Pine (violin), Li-Wei Qin (cello), and Lucas Richman (composer/conductor).
Over 2,500 young string musicians from around the world have participated in the Stulberg Competition in its first 49 years. The list of past medalists reads like a Who’s-Who of internationally renowned string artists and teachers, achieving national and international recognition as soloists, major orchestra musicians (often as concertmasters and principal chairs), and teachers at major music schools, including Juilliard and Curtis. Notable Stulberg alumni include Joshua Bell, Anthony Ross, Rachel Barton Pine, Wendy Warner, Nicholas Schwartz, Lucia Lin, Catherine Basrak, and many others.
The 2024/25 Stulberg Competition is the fiftieth anniversary of the program, and many special events/projects are underway to celebrate and commemorate this milestone, including special performances, a new musical commission, gala celebration, commemorative print publication, and special media events.
Master classes are offered to Kalamazoo area student string players during the competition week, with competition adjudicators serving as master class clinicians. Master classes students are selected by video audition and must be under the age of twenty. The public may attend the master classes free of charge.