The Swiss violin making school impressed in Paris
Laura Gartmann and Thibault Jaberg's viola was awarded a prize at the Concours international de lutherie 2026.
After successful participations in 2022 and 2024, the Brienz Swiss violin making school also at this year's third Concours international de lutherie from January 14 to 18 in Paris. Laura Gartmann and Thibault Jaberg, fourth-year apprentices, built the viola that won an award in the «Talents de demain» category. It was awarded a bronze medal and the jury's special «Coup de Cœur» prize for outstanding craftsmanship. First and second place in the competition went to the French École nationale de Lutherie in Mirecourt.
The Concours international de lutherie is one of the most prestigious competitions in international violin making. In the «Talents de demain» category, violin makers in training are judged according to the strictest criteria of craftsmanship, design and sound. According to the Swiss violin making school, receiving the special jury prize underlines the high quality and independence of the training in an international comparison, confirms the school's sustainable training approach and strengthens its international visibility.
Nine schools with 15 instruments took part in this year's edition. An international jury of experts judged a total of 75 violas from 22 countries in the two categories «Talents d'aujourd'hui» and «Talents de demain».
