XU JINGXUAN

Xu Jingxuan, widely regarded as a rising star and one of the most promising young violinists of China's younger generation, aged only 15, has formally qualified for the final stage of the upcoming 58th International Violin Competition "Premio Paganini", which will be held in Genoa, Italy in October 2025, becoming the youngest contestant in this year's competition. Xu Jingxuan was born in 2009 and began learning the violin from an early age; he is currently a third grade student at the Affiliated Middle School of the Central Conservatory of Music. Since 2020, he has been studying under the violinist and educator Wang Jiazhi.

In recent years, Xu Jingxuan has repeatedly won honors in many domestic and international youth music competitions; these include reaching the finals of the Belgium Ysaÿe International Youth Violin Competition in 2022, winning fourth place in the Sixth Belgium Kogan International Youth  Violin Competition in 2022, and winning fourth place in the Incheon International Music Competition's Young Performers Category in 2024, among others.  In 2022, Xu Jingxuan won the championship in the Children's Professional Group of the Qingdao National Concerto Competition and, as the first-place winner, collaborated with the Qingdao Symphony Orchestra conducted by renowned conductor Zhang Guoyong to perform the award-winning piece; in 2025, he participated for the first time in the Morningside Music Bridge selection and successfully obtained qualification to attend masterclasses.

In 2025, Xu Jingxuan applied for the 58th International Violin Competition "Premio Paganini"; standing out from 107 contestants worldwide, he successfully advanced to the final stage, not only setting the record for the youngest contestant in this year's competition but also becoming the youngest violinist in China's history to participate in an international top-tier music competition.

Was there a specific moment or experience that made you realize you wanted to become a musician?

That specific moment came when I for the very first time stood on stage. I suddenly realized that I was playing something beautiful and that I wanted to bring enjoyment to my audience. When I participated in the preliminary stage of this year’s Premio Paganini, I felt exactly the same. I cannot wait to further study and become a professional musician in the future.

When you perform, what do you hope to communicate or make the audience feel?
I have always believed that music evokes unique feelings in each person. Even the most subtle emotional shifts in the heart can be translated into a performance. Therefore, I truly hope to convey my inner thoughts to the audience, in the hope that we can resonate with each other.

If you had to present yourself by playing a single piece from the entire repertoire, which one would you choose, and why?

 My choice would be Carmen Fantasy by Jenő Hubay. I hope to lead a dramatic and wonderful life, and this piece tells exactly that.