Recent Press Releases
Saturday, January 21, 2023
ELMAR OLIVEIRA INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION (EOIVC)
ANNOUNCES SEMI-FINALISTS FOR NEXT ROUND OF EOIVC 2023
Eight Semi-Finalists Compete in
The Heritage Insurance Services, Inc. Semi-Final Round
on January 24 (10a-3:45p ET) and 25 (10a-12:45p ET), 2023
All Rounds Are Being Livestreamed on The Violin Channel
Finalists will be Announced on January 25 at 2:30p ET
EOIVC 2023 Finals Take Place on January 28 & 29, 2023
at the Wold Performing Arts Center in Boca Raton, FL
(TODAY, JANUARY 23, 2023) BOCA RATON, FL—The Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition (EOIVC) announces that the following eight Competitors have advanced from the Robertson & Sons Violin Shop Quarter-Final Round to the Heritage Insurance Services, Inc. Semi-Final Round of the 3rd Triennial Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition. All rounds are being streamed LIVE on The Violin Channel. The eight Semi-Finalists are:
Zachary Brandon (24, United States)
Gabrielle Després (22, Canada / United States)
Hiu Sing Fan (26, Hong Kong)
Irenè Fiorito (22, Italy)
Laurel Gagnon (28, United States)
Yanis Grisó (19, Luxembourg)
Hina Khuong-Huu (18, France / Japan / United States)
Haerim Oh (23, South Korea)
The EOIVC’s Heritage Insurance Services, Inc. Semi-Final Round, held across two days—Tuesday, January 24 (10a - 3:45p ET) and Wednesday, January 25, 2023 (10a – 12:45p ET) —takes place at the Amarnick-Goldstein Concert Hall located in the Lynn Conservatory of Music on the Campus of Lynn University. The announcement of the four Finalists will take place at 2:30p (ET) on January 25, 2023.
The EOIVC 2023 Final Round will be held across two days—Saturday, January 28, at 7:30p, and Sunday, January 29, at 3p— and takes place at the Keith C. & Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center. The four finalists, selected from the EOIVC’s Semi-Final Round, will be featured in a performance with the Lynn Philharmonia conducted by Guillermo Figueroa. Two competitors will perform each concert. The winners of EOIVC 2023 will be announced following the program and final deliberation on Sunday, January 29. The announcement will take place at the Wold Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Lynn University.
On January 29, the EOIVC will award four monetary prizes: First Prize $30,000 (provided by David and Amy Fulton Foundation); Second Prize $15,000 (provided by Tarisio Fine Instruments & Bows); Third Prize $10,000 (provided by Price Wealth Management); and Honorable Mention $5,000 (provided by the family of Gerald and Barbara Arbetter and The Goldberg Foundation in loving memory of Gerald and Barbara Arbetter).
The first prize winner will also receive career support, including management and public relations representation, as well as a violin (provided by Christopher Germain); a Silver-mounted Bow, Inspired by Elmar Oliveira’s Dominique Peccatte (provided by Rodney Mohr); a Musafia Violin Case (provided by Christopher Reuning, Reuning & Son Violins); a PRESTO® Impulse Carbon Fiber Violin Bow (provided by SHAR Music); a New York City recital (provided by Tarisio Fine Instruments & Bows); a performance in Cremona, Italy (provided by Amorim Fine Violins); coaching sessions (provided by The Creatives Leadership Academy); and more than 40 guaranteed national and international performances.
Both concerts of the Final Round are ticketed events and open to the general public; ticket information is below. Additionally, the Final Round, including the announcement, will be streamed LIVE on The Violin Channel.
Tickets for each concert of the Final Round, held on Saturday, January 28 at 7:30p and Sunday, January 29 at 3:00p. range from $35 to $50 can be purchased via credit card only by calling 561-237-9000 or by going online at www.lynn.edu/events. A limited number of free student tickets to each concert of the Final Round are also available and require a valid student ID upon pick up.
Upcoming Rounds
January 24, 2023 from 10a – 3:45p (ET)
The 2023 Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition
Day 1: Heritage Insurance Service, Inc Semi-Final Round (Competitors 1 – 5)
Livestreamed on the Violin Channel
January 25, 2023 from 10a – 12:45p (ET)
The 2023 Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition
Day 2: Heritage Insurance Service, Inc Semi-Final Round (Competitors 6 – 8)
Livestreamed on the Violin Channel
January 25, 2023 from 2:30p – 3p (ET)
The 2023 Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition
Announcement of the Finalists for the EOIVC 2023
Livestreamed on the Violin Channel
The 2023 Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition
Final Round
Saturday, January 28, 2023 at 7:30p (Finalists 1 & 2)
Sunday, January 29, 2023 at 3p (Finalists 3 & 4) (Announcement to Follow Deliberations)
Keith C. & Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center
Lynn Philharmonia
Guillermo Figueroa, conductor
Two of the four Finalists will be featured each concert. Each Finalists will choose one of seven concertos by Bartók, Brahms, Prokofiev, Vieuxtemps, Shostakovich, Sibelius or Tchaikovsky.
The announcement of EOIVC winners will take place at the Wold Performing Arts Center following the performance of the last competitor and final deliberation on Sunday, January 29, 2023.
The concert and announcement are open to the general public and will be streamed live via The Violin Channel.
For more information, please visit the EOIVC website at https://www.elevarfoundation.org/eoivc.
Tuesday, November 29, 2022
—EOIVC 2023 QUARTER-FINALIST ANNOUNCEMENT—
THE ELMAR OLIVEIRA INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION
A FLAGSHIP PROGRAM OF THE ELEVAR FOUNDATION
ANNOUNCES QUARTER FINALISTS FOR 2023 COMPETITION
EOIVC 2023 Takes Place at the Lynn Conservatory of Music, Boca Raton, FL
from January 15-January 29, 2023
Boca Raton, FL—The Elevar Foundation, home to the Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition (EOIVC), is pleased to announce that 20 young and talented violinists have been selected to advance to the Robertson & Sons Violin Shop Quarter-Final Round of the 2023 Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition, a flagship program of the Elevar Foundation. The Competition will take place in Boca Raton, Florida, from January 15 through January 29, 2023, at Lynn University. The 20 Quarter-Finalists were selected from 60 applicants representing 17 countries. The 20 Quarter-Finalists range in ages 18-28 and represent 13 countries—Bulgaria, Canada, China, France, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, South Korea, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and the United States.
The EOIVC 2023 Quarter-Finalists are (listed in alphabetical order):
Julia Angelov (21*, Bulgaria / United States)
Zachary Brandon (24, United States)
Dorson Chang (21*, Taiwan)
Hudson Ye Hyung Chung (28, Israel / United States)
Gabrielle Després (22, Canada / United States)
Hiu Sing Fan (26, Hong Kong)
Irenè Fiorito (22, Italy)
Laurel Gagnon (27*, United States)
Yanis Grisó (19, Luxembourg)
Wenlan Jackson (20, United States)
Yeyeong Jenny Jin (19, South Korea)
Wenqi Ke (24, China)
Hina Khuong-Huu (18, France / Japan / United States)
Jeein Kim (26*, South Korea)
Thomas Mathias (26, United Kingdom)
Julia Mirzoev (26, Canada)
Haerim Oh (23, South Korea)
Dongyoung Jake Shim (21, South Korea)
Steven Song (23, United States)
Yumiko Yumiba (26, Japan)
*These are the current ages of these Competitors at the time of this announcement.
Additionally, two Alternates have been chosen. Should an EOIVC Quarter-Finalist not be able to participate, and have notified the EOIVC by no later than December 16, 2022, an EOIVC Alternate will be chosen in order of their scoring from the Preliminary Round. The Preliminary Round was held via YouTube submission in November 2022. The two Alternates, listed in alphabetical order, are: David Bernat (26, United States) and Wei-Chung Chen (30, Taiwan).
From January 19 –21, 2023, up to 20 Quarter-Finalists will come to Boca Raton, FL to compete in the Robertson & Sons Violin Shop Quarter-Final Round. This round will determine the eight Semi-Finalists. The eight Semi-Finalists will compete in the Heritage Insurance Services, Inc. Semi-Final Round from January 24–25, 2023. The Semi-Final round will determine the four Finalists. The EOIVC 2023 Quarter-Final and Semi-Final rounds are closed to the public, but will be made available on the Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition’s YouTube Channel, which can be found here.
The EOIVC 2023 Final Round takes place on January 28 at 7:30pm and January 29 at 3:00pm at the Keith C. and Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center on the campus of Lynn University. Conductor Guillermo Figueroa will lead the Lynn Philharmonia and the four Finalists in these performances. An awards ceremony, following the final concert on January 29, will be held to announce the winners. The Finals are open to the public and require the purchase of a ticket for entry. The Finals will also be live streamed on the EOIVC’s YouTube Channel and Facebook Page. For more information, please visit elevarfoundation.org/eoivc.
Tickets for the Final Round, held on Saturday, January 28 at 7:30pm and Sunday, January 29 at 3:00pm range in price from $35-$50 can be purchased via credit card only by calling 561-237-9000 or by going online at www.lynn.edu/events. A limited number of free student tickets to the Final Round are also available and require a valid student ID upon pick up.
The four EOIVC 2023 Finalists will compete for more than $140,000 in prizes. The first prize winner will receive a $30,000 cash prize provided by the David and Amy Fulton Foundation, a new violin made by Christopher Germain, a Silver Mounted Bow inspired by Elmar Oliveira’s Dominique Peccatte crafted by Rodney Mohr, a Musafia case donated by Christopher Reuning of Reuning & Son Violins, as well as more than 40 guaranteed national and international engagements with orchestras, music festivals and concert series over the next three years, including a New York Recital sponsored by Tarisio Fine Instruments and Bows and a recital in Cremona, Italy sponsored by Amorim Fine Violins. The Second Prize winner, will receive a $15,000 cash prize provided by Tarisio Fine Instruments and Bows and a NuBow made by Rodney Mohr. The EOIVC 2023 Third Prize winner will receive $10,000 provided by Price Wealth Management. The winner of the Honorable Mention will receive $5,000 in memory of Gerald and Barbara Arbetter. All four 2023 EOIVC Finalists will receive a PRESTO® Impulse carbon fiber violin bow provided by SHAR Music.
Saturday, January 28, 2023 at 7:30pm
Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition
Final Round Day 1
Keith C. and Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center
Lynn Philharmonia
Guillermo Figueroa, conductor
Four Finalists will be determined by the EOIVC Semi-Final round and will each perform one of seven concertos by Bartók, Brahms, Prokofiev, Vieuxtemps, Shostakovich, Sibelius or Tchaikovsky.
Saturday, January 29, 2023 at 3pm
Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition
Final Round Day 2
Keith C. and Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center
Lynn Philharmonia
Guillermo Figueroa, conductor
Four Finalists will be determined by the EOIVC Semi-Final round and will each perform one of seven concertos by Bartók, Brahms, Prokofiev, Vieuxtemps, Shostakovich, Sibelius or Tchaikovsky.
Tickets for the Final Rounds, held on Saturday, January 28 at 7:30pm and Sunday, January 29 at 3:00pm range in price from $35-$50 can be purchased via credit card only by calling 561-237-9000 or by going online at www.lynn.edu/events. A limited number of free student tickets to the Final Round are also available and require a valid student ID upon pick up.
Tuesday, May 3, 2022
—ELMAR OLIVEIRA INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION—
SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR THE THIRD-TRIENNIAL
ELMAR OLIVEIRA INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION
JANUARY 15 – 29, 2023 IN BOCA RATON, FL
First Prize $30K, Second Prize $15K, Third Prize $10K, and Honorable Mention $5K
Additional Career Support for First Prize Winner in the Areas of
Management, Public Relations, and Performance Opportunities
First Prize Winner will be Featured as Soloist with Orchestras and in
Recital at Festivals and on Concert Series and will Receive
Instrument, Bow, and Violin Case
20 Quarter-finalists will be Selected from Online Submissions;
All Quarter-finalists Receive Travel Stipends and Housing
Repertoire for EOIVC 2023 Includes Works by Jessie Montgomery, Gabriela Lena Frank, Christopher Theofanidis, and Thomas McKinley
Submissions Close September 29, 2022
Boca Raton, Florida (May 3, 2022)—The Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition (EOIVC), a flagship program of the Elevar Foundation, has opened submissions for the 2023 Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition, which will be held from January 15 – January 29, 2023 in Boca Raton, FL. Online submissions for entry will be accepted beginning May 3, 2022 and must be made through its website, elevarfoundation.org/application. Submissions will close on September 29, 2022.
The EOIVC is unique for the career-defining opportunities it offers to young violinists, ages 16-32. The EOIVC is only the second competition of its kind solely dedicated to the violin that is based in the United States. Live streaming its inaugural concerts in 2017 received more than 1.5 million views across multiple social media platforms.
Four cash prizes will be awarded. First prize winner will receive $30,000; second $15,000; third $10,000; and honorable mention $5,000. The first prize winner will also receive performance opportunities with orchestras and festivals across the US as well as career support in the areas of management and public relations. An instrument and bow crafted by some of the world’s finest artisans and a Musafia case will also be awarded to the winner. Additional prizes will be announced at a later date.
The EOIVC will provide all competitors, who advance to the quarter-final round, reimbursement up to $150 for domestic and $300 for international roundtrip travel to and from the competition as well as hotel accommodations while competing. Other support will be announced at a later date.
EOIVC 2023 candidates, who are no younger than 16 at time of submission (May 3, 2022) and no older than 32 by the end of the competition (January 29, 2023), are selected through an intensive four-step process: online-only preliminary round via YouTube/video submissions, in-person quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals. A maximum of 20 quarter-finalists will be chosen from the online submissions. Entries for consideration must be submitted by the deadline with a $125 registration fee.
From January 15-January 29, 2023, the quarter-finalists, chosen from the online submissions, will compete in three rounds in Boca Raton, Florida. The quarter-final round will be held January 19-21. The semi-final round will be held January 24-25. The final round will take place on January 28-29, at the Keith C. and Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center on Lynn’s campus. Music Director and Conductor Guillermo Figueroa will lead the Lynn Philharmonia and the four finalists in the two concerts. Winners will be chosen from the finalists and awards will be given in a ceremony following the final performance on January 29. The two final round concerts are ticketed events and are open to the public.
The repertoire for EOIVC 2023 consists of specific works for each round selected by Elmar Oliveira and Andrés Cárdenes. Central to the EOIVC’s philosophy is its deep commitment to the music of our time. For this competition, works by four of today’s leading musical voices will be featured: Jessie Montgomery, Gabriela Lena Frank, Christopher Theofanidis, and Thomas McKinley. More information on repertoire can be found here.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, the 2023 EOIVC will be instituting some substantial changes for the safety of all those involved in the competition. All 2023 EOIVC competitors, judges, pianists and staff will need to adhere to all Covid safety protocols outlined by the EOIVC and Lynn University in order to participate on campus and may be subjected to random Covid testing throughout the Competition.
For more information on the EOIVC, please visit elevarfoundation.org/eoivc.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2022
Contact: Raechel Alexander
T: 917-815-8790
Tuesday, April 5, 2022
EOIVC ANNOUNCES NEXT COMPETITION
JANUARY 15-JANUARY 29, 2023
First Prize $30K, Second Prize $15K, Third Prize $10K, and Honorable Mention $5K
Additional Career Support for First Prize Winner in the Areas of
Management, Public Relations, and Performance Opportunities
First Prize Winner will be Featured as Soloist with Orchestras
and in Recital at Festivals and on Concert Series
In Addition to Monetary Prizes, the EOIVC will Also Award
An Instrument, Bow and Violin Case To the Winner
Andrés Cárdenes Named Chairman of EOIVC 2023 Jury
International Panel of Judges Includes Ilya Kaler, Ida Kavafian, Irina Muresanu,
Barry Shiffman, Almita Vamos, and Peter Zazofsky
Repertoire for EOIVC 2023 Includes Works by
Jessie Montgomery, Gabriela Lena Frank,
Christopher Theofanidis, and Thomas McKinley
Submissions Open on May 3, 2022
Boca Raton, Florida (April 5, 2022)—Today the Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition (EOIVC), in collaboration with the Lynn University Conservatory of Music, announced the dates of its third triennial competition, January 15-January 29, 2023 to be held on Lynn’s campus in Boca Raton, FL. Online submissions for entry will be accepted beginning May 3, 2022 and must be made through its website, elevarfoundation.org/eoivc. Submissions will close on September 29, 2022.
The EOIVC, a flagship program of the newly-launched Elevar Foundation, is unique for the career-defining opportunities it offers to young violinists, ages 16-32. The EOIVC is only the second competition of its kind solely dedicated to the violin that is based in the United States. Live streaming its inaugural concerts received more than 1.5 million views across multiple social media platforms.
EOIVC 2023 candidates, who are no younger than 16 at time of submission (May 3, 2022) and no older than 32 by the end of the competition (January 29, 2023), are selected through an intensive four-step process: online-only preliminary round via YouTube/video submissions, in-person quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals. A maximum of 20 quarter-finalists will be chosen from the online submissions. Entries for consideration must be submitted by the deadline with a $125 registration fee.
The EOIVC will provide all competitors, who advance to the quarter-final round, reimbursement up to $150 for domestic and $300 for international roundtrip air travel to and from the competition as well as hotel accommodations while competing. Other support will be announced at a later date.
From January 15-January 29, 2023, the quarter-finalists chosen from the online submissions, will compete in three rounds in Boca Raton, Florida. The quarter-final round will be held January 19-21, 2023. The semi-final round will be held January 24-25, 2023. The final round will take place on January 28 - 29, at the Keith C. and Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center on Lynn’s campus. Music Director and Conductor Guillermo Figueroa will lead the Lynn Philharmonia and the four finalists in the two concerts. Winners will be chosen from the finalists and awards will be given in a ceremony following the final performance on January 29. The two final round concerts are ticketed events and are open to the public.
Four cash prizes will be awarded. First prize winner will receive $30,000; second $15,000; third $10,000; and honorable mention $5,000. The first prize winner will also receive performance opportunities with orchestras and festivals across the US as well as career support in the areas of management and public relations. Instruments and instrument bows crafted by some of the world’s finest artisans and a Musafia instrument case will also be awarded to the winner. Additional prizes will be announced at a later date.
The repertoire for EOIVC 2023 consists of specific works for each round selected by Elmar Oliveira and Andrés Cárdenes. Central to the EOIVC’s philosophy is its deep commitment to the music of our time. For this competition, works by four of today’s leading musical voices will be featured: Jessie Montgomery, Gabriela Lena Frank, Christopher Theofanidis, and Thomas McKinley. More information on repertoire can be found here.
The EOIVC 2023 panel of seven jurists will include some of today’s most esteemed violinists selected by Elmar Oliveira for their unequivocal support of young musicians. World-renowned violinist Andrés Cárdenes will serve as Chairman of the EOIVC 2023 Jury. The EOIVC 2023 judging panel, led by Andrés Cárdenes, is: Ilya Kaler, Ida Kavafian, Irina Muresanu, Barry Shiffman, Almita Vamos, and Peter Zazofsky. David Cerone, who served as EOIVC 2020 Chairman of the Jury, will act as an alternate judge should any member of the panel be unable to participate.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, the EOIVC 2023 will be instituting some substantial changes for the safety of all those involved in the competition. All competitors, judges, pianists and staff who attend the competition will need to show proof of an up to date Covid vaccination and a negative Covid test prior to participating in the quarter-final round. All competitors, judges, pianists and staff will need to adhere to all Covid safety protocols outlined by the EOIVC and Lynn University in order to participate on campus and may be subjected to random Covid testing throughout the Competition.
About the EOIVC
The Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition (EOIVC), a flagship program of the Elevar Foundation, was established by celebrated violinist, Elmar Oliveira, in collaboration with the Lynn University Conservatory of Music in Boca Raton, Florida in 2016. The EOIVC is deeply committed to its mission of providing talented violinists, ages 16-32, who are at the start of their careers, with networking, management, public relations, community engagement and concert opportunities in addition to a monetary prize. These long-term career development tools reach well beyond financial support, actively demonstrating the strong dedication of the EOIVC to cultivating and nurturing developing musicians as well as encouraging them to engage with the communities they serve.
The EOIVC takes place once every three years. The inaugural competition was held at Lynn University in January and February 2017. More than 150 talented young violinists have applied across the two previous competitions. Twenty-two-year-old American violinist Sirena Huang was the competition’s first prize winner in 2017 and nineteen-year-old American violinist Julian Rhee was the first prize winner in 2020. Live streaming the EOIVC’s inaugural concerts received more than 1.5 million views across multiple social media platforms.
In addition to significant monetary prizes, instruments and bows have been furnished by some of today’s most revered luthiers, including Robert Ames, Luiz Amorim, Joseph Curtin, Feng Jiang, Eric Lane, Rodney Mohr, Jeffrey Phillips, Andrew Ryan, and John Young. A Musafia violin case provided by Christopher Reuning of Reuning & Son Violin and a BAM travel violin case and bow tube provided by Barnesviolins LLC.
EOIVC jurists are selected personally by Elmar Oliveira for their unequivocal support for the development of young musicians. Past juries have included many of today’s most esteemed violinists such as Andrés Cárdenes (2017, 2020, Chairman of the Jury 2023), Charles Castleman (2017), David Cerone (Chairman of the Jury 2020), Alexander Gilman (2017), Gudny Gudmundsdottir (2017), Daniel Heifetz (Chairman of the Jury, 2017), Ilya Kaler (2017, 2020, 2023) Sung-Ju Lee (2020), Silvia Marcovici (2020), Gerardo Ribeiro (2020), Barry Shiffman (2020, 2023), Vera Tsu Wei-ling (2017), and Kathleen Winkler (2020).
Known as a passionate advocate for the music of our time, Elmar Oliveira has made commissioning new works an important part of each competition. In 2017, the EOIVC commissioned Thomas McKinley to write Dialogues and in 2020 Christopher Theofanidis was commissioned to write Discipline and Transcendence. Both artists served as Composer-in-Residence at each competition, respectively. EOIVC 2023 will highlight four contemporary composer during its quarter-final round. These composers are: Jessie Montgomery, Gabriela Lena Frank, Christopher Theofanidis, and Thomas McKinley. Due to the ongoing pandemic, there will be no Composer-in-Residence for 2023.
New for EOIVC 2020, and demonstrating the EOIVC’s deep commitment to serving the community, all EOIVC finalists were required to participate in the Community Engagement Round. To date, the EOIVC is the only competition of its kind to host community engagement as part of its competitive process. Due to the ongoing pandemic, EOIVC 2023 will not have a community engagement round as part of its two-week competitive process, however plans are currently being developed to ensure that this important staple of the EOIVC’s philosophy is continued in subsequent competitions.
Tuesday, November 30, 2021
ELMAR OLIVEIRA LAUNCHES
A NEW FOUNDATION TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES
AND MUSICIANS
ELEVAR FOUNDATION
Elevar Foundation Offers Free or Low-Cost Community Engagement Opportunities, Instruments and Supplies as well as Lessons for to Those in Need
To mark the launch, the Elevar Foundation has partnered with the
Volta Music Foundation on a nationwide instrument drive
Boca Raton, FL — Celebrated violinist, Elmar Oliveira, announces the creation and launch of the Elevar Foundation, a new and vital organization that offers free or low-cost community engagement programs, instruments and music supplies as well as lessons to underserved individuals or institutions that live or operate in the United States. The Foundation’s primary objective is to make music accessible to these communities by providing or supporting opportunities, often in association with other partner organizations as well as those of the Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition (EOIVC). To mark the launch, the Elevar Foundation has partnered with the Volta Music Foundation on a nationwide instrument drive. Elmar Oliveira, who is of Portuguese descent, chose the name “elevar” for his foundation as it translates to "raise" or "lift up” in Portuguese.
“We at the Elevar Foundation truly believe that music has the power to change the trajectory of someone’s life,” said Founder and Artistic Director, Elmar Oliveira. “Music is so much more than just an emotive outlet, it can provide life-changing experiences that positively impact society as a whole. We as artists must do everything we can to ensure that everyone has access to the opportunities they need.”
The Elevar Foundation offers community engagement opportunities, instruments and supplies as well as lessons to individuals and institutions that qualify. Each application is reviewed and voted on by a select panel. Awards are assigned to individuals or institutions that demonstrate a need for themselves or their community. While criteria vary, priority is given to Title 1 public schools, not-for-profit institutions or for-profit institutions that have an annual operating budget of less than $75,000, and individuals who participate in community music programs.
The Elevar Foundation in partnership with the Volta Music Foundation will be collecting lightly-used and new instruments and supplies from major symphony orchestras, individuals and music stores all across the nation. A series of collection boxes will be delivered to participating constituents in the weeks and months ahead with the collection process taking place in the first quarter of 2022. All donations will then be dispersed to underserved communities.
Community Engagement Opportunities
The Elevar Foundation is committed to providing underserved communities access to high-quality music experiences and musicians. Under the auspices of the Foundation, first-prize winners of the Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition (EOIVC) provide community engagement opportunities for underserved and hard-to-reach individuals on a regular basis, nearly everywhere they perform.
Through concerts, masterclasses, and information sessions, the Elevar Foundation works in partnership with public schools, community centers, hospitals and other organizations to connect these institutions and groups with artists for reduced fees or free of charge. All institutions or organizations must operate in the United States and meet at least one of the following requirements: A music program associated with a public school (priority given to those public schools that are identified as Title 1) or private school; an institution or organization that is identified as a senior center, memory unit, care center, community center, hospital, library or a community music program; an organization or institution that is a not-for-profit or with an annual operating budget of less than $75,00. Applications are currently being accepted.
The Elevar Foundation, through partnerships with internationally-renowned luthiers, artisans and, most recently, the Volta Music Foundation, has been able to donate much needed instruments and supplies to young musicians and organizations in need. This vital program provides the tools necessary for individuals and organizations to thrive through music.
All individuals, organizations or institutions must reside or operate in the United States and meet the following criteria: An individual must be between the ages of 10-18 and is currently studying music as part of a music program in a public or private school or in a private studio; an institution or organization must be either a not-for-profit or a public school, priority is given to students and public schools that participate in or present music programs at Title 1 public schools. Applications will be accepted on a bi-annual basis. Submissions for the first half of 2022 will be accepted from January 12, 2022 through March 30, 2022.
Being able to access a network of music professionals who are deeply committed to the care and wellbeing of their students is invaluable. The Elevar Foundation pulls from its vast resources to connect students and organizations to artists who believe in Elevar’s mission. Lessons and networking sessions are free of cost for eligible students. All individuals must live in the United States and meet the following criteria: An individual must be between the ages of 10-18 and currently studying music as part of a music program in a public or private school. Priority is given to those students who are attending a Title 1 school. Applications are currently being accepted.
The Elevar Foundation, home to the Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition (EOIVC), believes in the transformative power of music and music education. Its goal is to make music and supplies accessible to underserved communities by utilizing EOIVC Laureates as well as its deep connections within the music industry. By forging active partnerships and through donor support, Elevar is able to offer free or low-cost opportunities such as masterclasses, performances, instruments and supplies, workshops, lessons, and information sessions to those in need. For more information, please visit elevarfoundation.org
Elmar Oliveira, Founder and Artistic Director of the Elevar Foundation, remains the first and only American violinist to win the Gold Medal at Moscow's coveted Tchaikovsky International Violin Competition. He has performed with many internationally-acclaimed ensembles, including the Boston and Chicago Symphonies; the Cleveland and Philadelphia Orchestras; the London Symphony and New York Philharmonic; as well as the Leipzig Gewandhaus. He is a Grammy-nominated artist and has premiered works by many contemporary composers including Morton Gould, Aaron Jay Kernis, and Joan Tower. In 2016 he founded the Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition (EOIVC) to support the career development of young violinists ages 16-32. Additionally, he founded the John Oliveira String Competition, which is held annually and exclusively for string players studying at the Lynn University Conservatory of Music, where he holds the position of Distinguished Artist in Residence.