SALVATORE ACCARDO (I) - PRESIDENT OF THE JURY

Born in 1941, the first professional recital of the violinist was when he debuted with Paganini’s 24 Caprices at the age of just 13. Two years later he won the International Music Competition in Geneva, and in 1958 he also claimed victory at the Paganini Competition in Genoa. His repertoire spans Baroque to contemporary music and works have been written for him by, among others, Donatoni, Xenakis and Piazzola. As a consequence of his dedication to supporting chamber music and gifted young artists, he participated in the foundation of the Walter Stauffer Academy, Cremona in 1986, and he re-founded the Orchestra da Camera Italiana made up of the best students of the Academy. In 1992, he went on to establish his own ensemble, Quartetto Accardo. Holder of numerous awards, he was presented with the Cavaliere di Gran Croce in 1982 by then president of Italy Sandro Pertini. Currently, Salvatore Accardo plays on a Guarneri del Gesù violin (ex ‘Hart’, 1730).