The XIII International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition culminates in the finals this week. The competition jury has selected six violinists for the finals, including Finnish violinist Otto Antikainen. The other finalists are Gabrielle Després, Claire Wells, Minami Yoshida, Amia Janicki and Sueye Park.

The final rounds will take place at the Helsinki Music Centre from 27 to 29 May. The finalists will perform as soloists with both the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. For the first time in the competition’s history, the final will include performances of modern violin concertos in addition to Sibelius’s Violin Concerto. In the semi-finals, the violinists performed Outi Tarkiainen's Violin Concerto The Seasons Remembered (commissioned by the competition).

The International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition has established itself as one of the most prestigious music competitions in the world. Every five years the competition invites top violinists under 30 years of age from all over the world to demonstrate their talent in Helsinki.

In the finals, the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra will be conducted by Dima Slobodeniouk, and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra by Pietari Inkinen and Geoffrey Paterson.