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2025 Award Winners

VMAAI 2025

Convention/Competition

October 13-17, 2025

Four Points by Sheraton Tucson Airport

7060 South Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85756

VIOLIN TONE

Classical

Gold: Jim Claseman, 7

Silver: Wen Fei Luo, 37

Merit: Zachary Johnson, 74

Honorable Mention: Honman Ip, 25

VIOLIN TONE

Steel

Gold: Hristo Tchechmedijev, 70

Silver: Anthony Rizzo, 44

Merit: Felix Sandre, 66

VIOLA TONE

Gold: Anthony Rizzo, 45

Silver: Honman Ip, 30

Merit: John Hosking, 22

CELLO TONE

Gold: Zoran Stilin, 50

Silver: Damian Stoppani, 49

Merit: Erick Diaz, 62

VIOLIN

Workmanship/Varnish

Classical

Gold: Jaime Gonzales, 67

Silver: Damian Stoppani, 47

Merit: Howard Needham, 40

VIOLIN

Workmanship/Varnish

Steel

Gold: Pablo Alfaro, 3

Silver: Honman Ip, 27

Merit: Felix Sandre, 65

VIOLA

Workmanship/Varnish

Gold: Damian Stoppani, 48

Silver: Honman Ip, 29

Merit: Hristo Tchechmedijev, 72

CELLO

Workmanship/Varnish

Gold: Damian Stoppani, 48

Silver: Erick Diaz, 62

Merit: Martin Cruz, 76

QUARTET TONE

Gold: Honman Ip, 3

Silver: Honman Ip, 2

Merit: Hristo Tchechmedijev

BOB WALLACE

Grand Champion Contest Winner

Zachary Johnson, Best Sounding Violin, 74

BILL BARNITZ

Best in Show

Damian Stoppani, Cello, 49

ABOUT US

Located in the beautiful Sonoran desert in Tucson, AZ, the VMAAI conference brings together violin maker's from around the world.

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