2026 VMAAI Competition Judges
Click a judge's picture to read their biography:
Grace Nakano
Tone - Violin
TBD
Tone - Viola
Christopher Germain
Workmanship and Varnish
Juan Mejía
Tone - Cello
David Rife
Tone - Violin
Christopher Germain
Workmanship and Varnish
Christopher Germain makes award-winning violins, violas and cellos from his studio in Philadelphia, PA. Mr. Germain graduated from the Chicago School of Violin Making in 1985. From 1985 to 1991 he worked for the Chicago firms, Kenneth Warren & Son Ltd. and Bein and Fushi Inc., focusing on restorations of rare stringed instruments. In 1995, Mr. Germain was invited by legendary restorer Vahahn Nigogosian to be an instructor at the Oberlin Restoration Workshop. Mr. Germain became director of the VSA/Oberlin Violinmaker’s Workshop in 1997, which recently celebrated it’s 20th Anniversary.
Mr. Germain has served as the President of The American Federation of Violin and Bowmakers as well at The Violin Society of America and has also served on the Governing Boards of both organizations. In 2006, he organized The American Violin, a historical perspective on the history of violin making, which took place at The Library of Congress in Washington DC. He is co-author of The American Violin (2016 AFVBM). In addition, Mr. Germain is the author of numerous other articles, which have appeared in publications and scholarly journals, such as The Journal of The Violin Society of America, VSA Letters, The Strad magazine, Strings and others.
Mr. Germain is also a member of Entente Internationale Maitres Luthiers et Archetiers d’Art and has served as judge on numerous international violin making competitions, including The Violin Society of America International Competition, the International Triennale in Cremona, Italy, the China International Violinmaking Competition and others. He has lectured on violinmaking and demonstrated his craft at venues around the world.
Grace Nakano
Tone - Violin
Grace Nakano is the Assistant Concertmaster of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. A native of Japan, Grace received her Masters of Music degree in Classical Performance from the Manahattan School of Music with Lucie Robert and Bachelors of Music degree from Boston University with Bayla Keyes. She was a recipient of the Fine Arts Award at the Interlochen Arts Academy with Hal Grossman. Accolades include First Prize Winner of the Duxbury Music Festival Chamber Competition in 2012 and solo performance of Sarasate’s Zigueunerweisen with the National Repertory Orchestra in 2016. She has served as concertmaster at the Spoleto Festival USA in 2017-2018, and guest concertmaster with various ensembles including the Arizona Philharmonic and the Helios Ensemble. Grace has served principal positions with various orchestras and festivals including Spoleto Festival USA, National Repertory Orchestra, National Orchestral Institute, Round Top Music Festival, Texas Music Festival.
David Rife
Tone - Violin
David Rife received his bachelor of Music Degree in Violin Performance from the Eastman School of Music and a Master of Music Degree in Violin Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music. David moved to Tucson, Arizona in 1983 to join the Tucson Symphony Orchestra where he has held the positions of Associate Concertmaster, Assistant Concertmaster, Principal Second Violin, and Assistant Principal Second Violin. He was on the faculty of Quest for Education and Arts for 6 years where he was the director of the Advanced Orchestra. From 2010-2024 he was on the faculty of the Rocky Ridge Music Center Junior Artist Immersion Program in Estes Park, Colorado. David is a dedicated violin teacher, and first violinist of the Southwest String Quartet. He was the first violinist of the Tucson Symphony String Quartet for almost 30 years. In 2005 he was the recipient of the Outstanding Private String Teacher Award in Arizona by the American String Teachers Association. His students have won local competitions, soloed with the local orchestras and many have attended music schools and conservatories throughout the country. David was inducted into the Tucson Musicians Museum in 2012.
Juan Mejía
Cello
Originally from Medellín, Colombia, Juan David Mejía moved to Tucson in 2016. He is currently a core cellist in the Tucson Symphony Orchestra as well as an active member of the local music community. He frequently performs in chamber music concerts at the Benderly-Kendall Opera House for the Santa Cruz Foundation for the Arts in Patagonia, Arizona, where he has served as artist in residence. As a member of the board of the Arizona Friends of Chamber Music (AFCM), he co-directs multiple programs including the Tucson Adult Chamber Players (TACP) and the Chamberhood ensemble. Juan David holds a Doctorate in Music from the University of Arizona, having completed his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He performs on a Montagnana model cello made for him by local Tucson luthier Zoran Stilin.
