About Competition
In September 2030, the Classic Cello International Competition will be returning to the cultural calendar once again, giving practitioners of this storied instrument from all around the world another chance to showcase their talents in front of a distinguished, hand-picked board of international jurors, with a wide range of prestigious prizes, awards, and performance opportunities awaiting the most accomplished of them.
Hosted in the beautiful city of Milan in northern Italy, this second edition of Classic Cello, which shall be led by President Konstantin Ishkhanov and Artistic Director Alexander Chaushian, shall be building on the strong foundations laid during the inaugural entry in London, back in 2026. Here, the first standalone iteration of Classic Cello was held, taking place from the 26th March to the 6th of April at the illustrious Royal College of Music, and welcoming 40 talented cellists from across the world, who progressed through three demanding rounds as they presented programmes that spanned centuries of cello repertoire.
At the heart of the competition was an internationally renowned 11-member jury, bringing together leading performers and influential figures from across the global classical music industry. Chaired by Artistic Director Alexander Chaushian, this included such names as Julian Lloyd Webber (UK), James Williams (UK), Deborah Borda (USA), Dorran Alibaud (France), Florian Leonhard (UK), Angela Dixon (UK), Kathryn Enticott (UK), Michael Haefliger (Switzerland), Ursula Haselböck (Austria), and Paul Hughes (UK).
The 2026 edition culminated in a major orchestral Final Round at the Royal College of Music’s Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall, where the nine finalists each took to the stage alongside the Philharmonia Orchestra, London, conducted by Tomàs Grau, performing two complete cello concertos as they competed for the competition’s principal awards.
More than €130,000 in prize money was offered across the competition, headed by a €50,000 First Prize, together with Second and Third Prizes worth €30,000 and €20,000 respectively. All nine finalists received a share of the overall prize fund, while a number of additional special prizes and professional opportunities further extended the support available to the participating musicians.
Classic Cello 2026 was supported by a group of international partners with established connections to the classical music world, including Larsen Strings, Talent Norge, and the Florian Leonhard Fellowship, with special awards ranging from financial support and professional resources to the prestigious loan of a fine old Italian cello. The Violin Channel, meanwhile, served as the competition’s Official Media Partner, helping bring Classic Cello and its participants to a wider international audience.
Now, four years after London, the move to Milan marks a new stage in the competition’s international journey. A new generation of cellists will take to the stage, a new jury will bring its expertise to the process, and new opportunities will await those who once again manage to distinguish themselves as the finest cellists of their generation!