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