Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition


The Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition is an international music competition for viola players established in 1980 to honor the memory of the English viola virtuoso Lionel Tertis. Up to 2019 this triennial event was held at the Erin Arts Centre, Port Erin, Isle of Man. The competition did not take place during the years of the Coronavirus pandemic and resumed in January 2025 at The Glasshouse, Gateshead. The competition has now been paired with the Cecil Aronowitz International Viola Competition. The two competitions will run concurrently. Participants in the Tertis competition are of any nationality and must be aged between 19 - 30 at the time of the competition.
The 14th Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition was held from 19 to 25 January 2025.
The 13th Lionel Tertis International Festival was held from 6 to 13 April 2019, and attracted 107 entries from around the world.

Required composition

A compulsory work to be performed by all competitors is commissioned for each competition.