The International Violin Competition Henri Marteau takes place every three years at the Haus Marteau in Lichtenberg and the Freiheitshalle in Hof. Founded in 2002 by the Freundeskreis der Musikbegegnungsstätte Haus Marteau e.V., the District of Upper Franconia took over the responsibility for the competition in 2007. The Hofer Symphoniker are responsible for the artistic and general coordination.

The goals of the competition are to encourage highly skilled young musicians on their way to an international career and to underline the importance of musical education for young people, to contribute to international understanding, to enable the exchange between young talented musicians and to recollect the name and work of the grand violinist Henri Marteau.

The International Violin Competition Henri Marteau 2023 encourages young musicians by providing cash and non-cash awards, by enabling them to meet internationally known violinists and by providing a subsequent support program which includes scholarships, the procurement of debut concerts and broadcast productions with the Bayerischer Rundfunk.

Media Partner of the competition is the Bayerischer Rundfunk which provides an ideal platform for the performances of the young musicians through an intense media coverage. Many families in Lichtenberg and environs are accommodating the participants and their accompanists during the competition.