At the end of the Final, the Artistic Director announced the Jury's decision to award the First Prize to Aozhe Zhang, with Rino Yoshimoto second Prize and Hyun Seo Kim third Prize.

The Artistic Director also announced the violinists who will receive a Special Prize.

Enrico Costa Prize - offered by the Costa family to the youngest competitor admitted to the final €2,000.00 HYUN SEO KIM

Pallavicino Foundation Prize - offered by Prince Domenico Pallavicino, for the best performance of the Concerto for Violin and Orchestra by Niccolò Paganini: €3,000.00 AOZHE ZHANG;

Mario Ruminelli Prize - provided by the "Mario Ruminelli Cultural Association" of Domodossola to the finalist with the highest number of votes from the public €3,000.00 HYUN SEO KIM

Associazione "Amici di Paganini" Prize - for the best performance of the contemporary piece by Daniela Terranova "In a trace of light, fading memories : €2,000.00 YEYEONG JIN

Hotel Bristol Palace-Duetorrihotels Collection Prize - for the best Chamber Music performance: € 5,000.00 TIANYOU MA

The winner will have the opportunity to record a studio recital album on the Platoon label.

On Sunday, October 26, at the Carlo Felice Theatre Aozhe Zhang will have the privilege of playing the Cannone in the closing concert of the 58th Premio Paganini International Violin Competition.

Genoa, October 25, 2025 

The Premio Paganini speaks Chinese. The prestigious title has been awarded to Aozhe Zhang, who performed Paganini’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 6, and Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35.

The victory of Aozhe Zhang, by unanimous decision, was declared by the jury chaired by the great violinist Uto Ughi, and composed of Pavel Berman (Italy), Pamela Frank (USA), Mihaela Martin (Romania), Enzo Restagno (Italy), Sayaka Shoji (Japan), and Ulf Wallin (Sweden).

Rino Yoshimoto took second place on the podium, while Kim Hyun Seo placed third.

The winner, Aozhe Zhang, receives a prize of €30,000, as well as a series of concert engagements at some of the world’s most prestigious theatres and musical institutions.
Among the special awards, the opportunity to record a studio recital album with the Platoon label, presented by Denzyl Feigelson, co-founder and CEO of the label.

The second-place winner, Rino Yoshimoto, receives €20,000, while Kim Hyun Seo, in third place, receives €10,000.

“I am delighted by the participation and affection that the city continues to show for the Premio Paganini, which I have recently described as the Olympics of the violin,” said Silvia Salis, Mayor of Genoa. “Each edition reminds us that music is a universal language capable of uniting talents, peoples, and generations. The victory of Aozhe Zhang confirms how the artistic legacy of Niccolò Paganini continues to inspire young generations. The Premio Paganini is not only a great opportunity but also a great school, where merit, preparation, study, and the value of culture prevail.”
Salis also emphasized how this edition was further honored by “the medal that the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, awarded to the Premio: we are deeply honored by this high recognition and grateful to the Head of State for his closeness and attention once again shown toward Genoa and one of its most important cultural events.”

“The Premio Paganini is the highest expression of Genoa’s musical tradition and an extraordinary bridge between our city and the world. The victory of a young talent like Aozhe Zhang demonstrates the competition’s ability to discover and promote new generations of performers, keeping alive the legacy of Niccolò Paganini on the international scene,” said Giacomo Montanari, Councillor for Culture. “Genoa confirms itself as an essential center for great music and a meeting place of cultures, innovation, and talent. We are proud to see how, through the Premio, our city continues to project to the world the image of a vibrant, creative community deeply tied to its artistic history.”

“The 58th edition confirmed the extraordinary level of the competitors and the international prestige of the Premio. The success of Aozhe Zhang is also the success of the Premio and of Genoa, which continues to be a world reference for violin excellence,” added Giovanni Panebianco, President of the Premio.

“As by a kind of sympathetic resonance—or perhaps because of musical and generational affinities—I feel very close to all the competitors, whom I have known since the pre-selections last April and of whom I am immensely proud. Accompanying them to the final, and finally crowning a winner, was a journey as moving as it was demanding. I therefore wish to thank the jury, which acted with great authority and transparency,” said Nicola Bruzzo, Artistic Director. “I am certain that, thanks to such a rigorous and high-level selection, Aozhe Zhang and all the finalists will embark on extraordinary international careers, becoming true ambassadors of the Premio Paganini.”

“We heard young musicians of exceptional calibre. The choice was not easy, but Aozhe Zhang showed remarkable talent across the complex articulation of the various stages,” concluded Jury President Uto Ughi. “I wish every success—he now has before him an important journey that could not have begun in a better way: tomorrow he will perform with the legendary Cannone, and I can imagine the emotion.”

A major novelty of the 2025 edition is the Gala Concert, scheduled for tomorrow, Sunday, October 26, at 6:00 p.m. at Teatro Carlo Felice.

Aozhe Zhang, together with the Carlo Felice Orchestra conducted by Maestro Philipp von Steinaecker, will perform on Paganini’s celebrated Cannone violin.
The program includes Niccolò Paganini’s Violin Concerto and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8.
Proceeds will be donated to Gaslini Hospital, in collaboration with the Gaslininsieme ETS Foundation.

As in every edition of the Premio Paganini, the following special prizes have also been awarded:

• Mario Ruminelli Memorial Prize, offered by the Associazione Culturale Mario Ruminelli of Domodossola, to the finalist receiving the highest recognition from the audience (€3,000) to Kim Hyun Seo
• Fondazione Pallavicino Prize, offered by Prince Domenico Pallavicino, for the best performance of Niccolò Paganini’s Violin Concerto (€3,000) to Aozhe Zhang
• Hotel Bristol Palace – Duetorrihotels Collection Special Prize for the best chamber music performance (€5,000) to Tianyou Ma
• Enrico Costa Memorial Prize, offered by the Costa family, to the youngest finalist (€2,000) to Kim Hyun Seo
• Associazione Amici di Paganini Prize for the best performance of the contemporary piece in the preliminary round (€2,000) to Yeyeong Jin