The mission of the Julius and Esther Stulberg String Competition, Inc. is to promote excellence in string instrument performance by gifted young artists under the age of twenty. It was out of a desire to memorialize Julius' commitment to youth and music that the Stulberg International String Competition was born.

Since its creation in 1975, the organization has developing from a regional attraction to an internationally recognized event. Past Competition winners have gone on to significant artistic careers. They include Joshua Bell, concert violinist now director of St. Martin in the Fields; Sheryl Staples, Principal Associate Concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic; Ivan Chan, first violinist of the Miami Quartet; Cathy Basrak, Assistant Principal Viola of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Principal Viola of the Boston Pops; and Kalamazoo's own Anthony Ross, principal cellist of the Minnesota Orchestra.

The performance scope of the competition has changed over time. Collaborations with regional symphony orchestras provide growth opportunity for gifted young musicians. The Burdick-Thorne gold medalists perform with either the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra or the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra. The silver medalist performs with the Western Michigan University Symphony Orchestra, and the Pinehurst bronze medalist performs with the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra. The Kalamazoo Bach Festival Society shares in providing the Bach Award, a cash prize given to the best performance of a Bach piece by a semifinalist.

The competition is now a two-tiered event (semifinals and finals) and Master Classes are offered by the competition judges for string instrument students from around the area and the state of Michigan.

Most recently, an outreach program has been developed for under-served populations. Performances by returning competition winners and Master Class participants provide top-notch listening experiences for people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to enjoy.