Participants

Alejandro Gomez Pareja

(Spain)

Liav
Kerbel

(Belgium / Israel)

Carson
Ling-Efird

(USA)

Matthias
Balzat

(New Zealand)

Mikayel
Voskanyan

(Armenia )

Nagyeom
Jang

(South Korea)

Olivia Yelim
Cho

(Canada )

Sam
Chung

(Canada)

Sandra
Lied Haga

(Norway )

Václav
Petr

(Czech Republic)

Waynne
Kwon

(Australia )

Yaroslav
Schmidt

(Russia / Netherlands)

YiJoon
Park

(South Korea)

Yiqi
Chen

(China)

Zimo
Zhai

(China)

Noah
Lee

(USA)

Andres
Sanchez-Linares

(USA)

Vesper
Park

(South Korea)

Andrej
van Brakel

(Netherlands)

Christina
Bensi

(Spain)

Artyom
Ioanisyan

(Armenia)

Azamat
Mukhtaruly

(Kazakhstan)

Issak
Batyrkhan

(Kazakhstan)

Ettore
Pagano

(Italy)

Flora
Valila

(Finland)

Zoltán
Despond

(Switzerland)

Maria Clara
Mandolesi

(Italy)

Hanna
Daub

(Germany)

David Rebull
Chavarria

(Spain)

Niccolò
Citrani

(Italy)

Elliot
Sloss

(Canada )

Francesco
Stefanelli

(Italy)

Hayk
Sukiasyan

(Armenia )

Hayoung
Lee

(South Korea)

Jeongbin
Ann

(South Korea)

Juha
Jang

(South Korea)

Jung A
Kim

(South Korea)

Keith
Williams

(USA)

Kokoro
Ryu

(Japan)

Léo
Léna

(France)

Alejandro Gomez Pareja

(Spain)

Spanish cellist Alejandro Gómez Pareja started playing the cello at the age of four. First Prize winner at the international Joël Klepal competition and the Shkolnikova Academy Concerto Competition, and Second Prize winner at the Pau Casals International Cello Award and the Elizabeth Loker International Concerto Competition (Maryland, USA), his recent performances include his debut with the Royal Seville Symphony Orchestra, the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra of Catalonia, the Orchestre de Caen, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra and the Südwestdeutsches Kammerorchester Pforzheim, with conductors such as Alondra de la Parra, David Afkham, Nicolas Simon, Michael Repper and David Fernández Caravaca.

Alejandro is a passionate and devoted chamber musician, having collaborated with musicians such as Midori Goto, Vivian Weilerstein, Nicholas Mann, Anthony Marwood, Natasha Brofsky, Marta Gulyás, Alena Baeva, Marc Coppey, John Myerscough (Doric Quartet), Krzysztof Chorzelski (Belcea Quartet) or Jonathan Brown (Casals Quartet). He has also been invited to international festivals like Yellow Barn, the Mozarteum International Sommerakademie in Salzburg, the Brunswick Festival in Maine, the Pau Casals Festival in El Vendrell, the Moritzburg Festival or the Rutesheim Cello Festival, having the opportunity to work with teachers such as Maria Kliegel, Orfeo Mandozzi, Torleif Thedeen, Danjulo Ishizaka, Frans Helmerson, Laurence Lesser, Natalia Shajovskaya, Astrid Schween, James Ehnes, Jörg Widmann, Steve Doane or Wolfgang Schmidt.

Beyond the concert stage, Alejandro is deeply engaged with the social dimension of music and with the creative renewal offered by contemporary repertoire. A highlight of the 2023–2024 season was his participation in the ICEP project in Laos and Japan with Midori Goto. He has also been invited on several occasions to the Musethica festival, bringing live music to communities at risk of social exclusion. In May 2025, he took part in Classical Link at the Bergen Festival alongside Amalie Stalheim, Alexandra Peral, and Andreas Grimstad, premiering new works by young composers.

In June 2024 he finished his Bachelor degree at the Reina Sofía School of Music with Jens Peter Maintz, having received the award for the most outstanding student the previous year. He is currently studying a master’s degree at the Royal Academy of Music with John Myerscough, thanks to the Caixa Postgraduate Fellowships Abroad 2025 and the scholarship of the musical institution.

Gómez Pareja plays a 1933 Colin Mezin cello.

Liav <br>Kerbel — Classic Cello · International Competition

Liav
Kerbel

(Belgium / Israel)

Belgian-Israeli cellist Liav Kerbel was born into a musical family and began his musical journey at an early age, first on the recorder and piano before discovering his artistic voice through the cello. Today, he is active as a soloist and chamber musician, performing a wide-ranging repertoire from Baroque to the 21st century, with concerts throughout Europe and North America.

His playing has been described as “inspiring” and “deeply touching” by violinist Maxim Vengerov.

Liav is a prizewinner of numerous international competitions, including First Prize at the David Geringas International Cello Competition in Klaipėda (2025) and First Prize ex aequo at the Grunewald International Competition in Berlin (2024).

Earlier distinctions include prizes at the Paulo International Cello Competition in Helsinki and the Classic Strings International Competition in Dubai. In 2018, he won the Eisenberg-Fried Concerto Competition at the Manhattan School of Music, making his New York City debut performing Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1.

A defining moment in his early career came in 2016 with his debut at the Center for Fine Arts (BOZAR) in Brussels, where he performed Brahms’ Double Concerto alongside Maxim Vengerov and the Belgian National Orchestra. He later shared the stage with one of his musical idols, Mischa Maisky, in Vivaldi’s Double Cello Concerto, after which Maisky described him as an “exceptional young musician.” Since then, Liav has appeared with numerous orchestras across Europe, including the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Tapiola Sinfonietta, Sinfonia Lahti, I Musici di Parma, and the Flemish Symphony Orchestra, among others.

Chamber music lies at the heart of Liav’s artistic life. He has participated in leading international programs and festivals such as the Ravinia Steans Institute, the Perlman Music Program, Musica Mundi, MusicAlp, and the Verbier Festival Academy, where he was awarded the Prix Jean-Nicolas Firmenich. Through these experiences, he has collaborated closely with artists including Midori, Menahem Pressler, Ivry Gitlis, and David Grimal.

His extensive artistic collaborations include performances with Emanuel Ax, Renaud Capuçon, Clive Greensmith, Frans Helmerson, Steven Isserlis, Hans Jørgen Jensen, Ralph Kirshbaum, Gavriel Lipkind, Arto Noras, Ferenc Rados, Heinrich Schiff, Jian Wang, Uzi Wiesel, and members of the Borromeo and Talich String Quartets.

In 2022, Liav co-founded Duo Chaos with violinist Kristina Georgieva, exploring repertoire built on contrast, dialogue, and risk. Since 2025, he has been a member of Trio Tokava, collaborating with pianist Nadia Azzi and violinist Kristina Georgieva.

Alongside his performing career, Liav is committed to teaching and mentoring young musicians and currently serves as Professor of Chamber Music at the Musica Mundi School in Waterloo, Belgium.

Liav’s musical training reflects a broad and international path. He began his studies in Belgium with Claudine Steenackers and Vladimir Perlin, continued at the Manhattan School of Music with Philippe Muller, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree, and pursued his Master’s degree at the New England Conservatory with Laurence Lesser. He later completed postgraduate studies at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg with Giovanni Gnocchi, and earned an Artist Diploma at the Barenboim–Said Akademie in 2024 under the guidance of Frans Helmerson.

Liav performs on a Giovanni Battista Cerruti cello (Cremona, 1798), generously loaned by Bank DELEN in Belgium and a private donor, and plays with a bow made especially for him in 2025 by Belgian bow maker Victor Bernard.

Carson <br>Ling-Efird — Classic Cello · International Competition

Carson
Ling-Efird

(USA)

His playing has been described as “inspiring” and “deeply touching” by violinist Maxim Vengerov.

Alongside his performing career, Liav is committed to teaching and mentoring young musicians and currently serves as Professor of Chamber Music at the Musica Mundi School in Waterloo, Belgium.

Matthias <br>Balzat — Classic Cello · International Competition

Matthias
Balzat

(New Zealand)

New Zealand-born cellist Matthias Balzat (1999) has gained recognition as an international soloist and chamber musician. He has won first and second prizes in many prestigious competitions, including the Schoenfeld International Cello Competition (China), Accordi Musicali International Cello Competition (Italy), 69th ROSL Annual Music Competition (UK), Sieghardt-Rometsch Concerto Competition (Germany), and the National Concerto Competition (NZ, twice). He has performed with leading orchestras such as the NZSO, Harbin Symphony Orchestra, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonietta Köln, and St. Matthews Chamber Orchestra, and collaborated with conductors including Jindong Chi, Guy Noble, Benjamin Northey and Rüdiger Bohn.

Balzat has appeared at major festivals like Aspen Music Festival, Classiche Forme, and Edinburgh Fringe. He has worked with renowned cellists, including Daniel Müller-Schott, Johannes Moser, and Wolfgang Schmidt. After completing his postgraduate studies at the Robert Schumann Hochschule under Pieter Wispelwey, he now holds a Master's and Konzertexam degree, as well as a Bachelor's from Waikato University, which he began at the age of 14 under James Tennant.

Mikayel <br>Voskanyan — Classic Cello · International Competition

Mikayel
Voskanyan

(Armenia )

Praised for his 'fantastic technique and great intensity' (Gustav Rivinius), Armenian cellist Mikayel Voskanyan is rapidly establishing himself on the international stage.

The 2025/26 season was highlighted by Voskanyan's debut at Muziekgebouw Eindhoven, where he presented a rigorous program featuring works by Prokofiev, Debussy, and Schnittke. His season further includes a significant chamber music engagement in March 2026, joining esteemed colleagues Lisa Jacobs, Razvan Popovici, and Cătălin Şerban.

Voskanyan has shared the stage with many of the world's most distinguished artists, including Boris Brovtsyn, Shunske Sato, Kristóf Baráti, Nabil Shehata, and Alexander Chaushian.

His performances have appeared at prestigious international venues, including the Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall, Teatro Marrucino, Theater aan het Vrijthof, and Stevenson Hall.

Following initial studies in Armenia, Mikayel is currently in the class of Professor Alexander Chaushian at the Conservatorium Maastricht. He has also developed his artistry through masterclasses with cellists, including Steven Isserlis, Frans Helmerson, Jens Peter Maintz, Gustav Rivinius, Quirine Viersen, Johannes Moser, and Marc Coppey.

Mikayel Voskanyan performs on a cello crafted by Fabio Piagentini.

Nagyeom <br>Jang — Classic Cello · International Competition

Nagyeom
Jang

(South Korea)

Acclaimed for her “warm and burnished sound” (Cleveland Classical) and “sensitive phrasing” (Kultur Regional), cellist Nagyeom Jang embarked on her cello journey in South Korea before continuing her studies at the Juilliard School in New York. A versatile soloist and chamber musician, Nagyeom thrives on collaboration and brings both depth and energy to every performance.

Nagyeom made her orchestral debut at the age of nine with the Salzburg Chamber Orchestra and has since performed as a soloist with orchestras worldwide, including the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, Baden-Baden Philharmonie, Bravura Philharmonic, and the Korea National Symphony Orchestra.

She made her recital debut at Kumho Art Hall in Seoul in 2016 as part of the Kumho Prodigy Concert Series, and her performances have since taken her to major venues in the United States and abroad, including Carnegie Hall, David Geffen Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Seoul Arts Center.

A devoted chamber musician, Nagyeom is a founding member of the Amara Trio, Gold Prize winner at the 2024 Chesapeake International Chamber Music Competition. The trio has performed at Alice Tully Hall and been featured on WQXR as part of Juilliard’s Earth Month celebration. In 2026, Nagyeom will begin a residency at the renowned Marlboro Music, following formative summers at The Perlman Music Program, Kneisel Hall, and Taos School of Music. Since 2022, she has served as Principal Cellist of the Juilliard School Orchestra, collaborating with distinguished conductors including John Adams, David Robertson, and Simone Young.

Nagyeom is currently a Jerome L. Greene Scholarship Fellow at The Juilliard School, where she is pursuing her Master of Music, and holds a Bachelor of Music from Juilliard, where she studied with Joel Krosnick and Clara Minhye Kim. Deeply committed to community engagement, she serves as a Teaching Artist for the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and regularly performs outreach concerts at Mount Sinai Hospital West and local retirement communities. Her artistic development has also been shaped by mentorship from Frans Helmerson, Kian Soltani, Laurie Smukler, and Itzhak Perlman.

In 2012, Noah Lee, at 12 years of age, caused an international sensation by winning 1st prize at the 7th International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians in Montreux, Switzerland, becoming the first and only cellist, from the United States, to be given this honor. In 2014, in a field of 82 cellists from 22 countries, he won the grand prize at the 10th International Cello Competition “Antonio Janigro” in Porec, Croatia. There, he received the Zagreb Management Award as well as the Zagreb Soloists Award.

Subsequently, Noah performed a solo, European recital debut, and a solo debut with the Zagreb Soloists. Additionally, he has been featured as a soloist in various concert series with the Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra, Ensemble 212, Lausanne Sinfonietta, Russian State Orchestra, and Princeton Symphony Orchestra. In November of 2019, he was invited to solo with the Seongnam Philharmonic Orchestra in the Seongnam Arts Center in South Korea, performing the Dvorak Cello Concerto, under the baton of Maestro Kum Nanse. Noah is currently pursuing a Master of Performance with Danjulo Ishizaka at the Musik-Akademie Basel. He earned an A.B. in Economics from Harvard College and an M.M. in Cello Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music. Past influential teachers include Laurence Lesser, Richard Aaron, Soo Youn Lee, Hans Jensen, and Jens Peter Maintz.

Olivia Yelim <br>Cho — Classic Cello · International Competition

Olivia Yelim
Cho

(Canada )

Equally committed to performance, pedagogy, and outreach, Canadian-Korean cellist Olivia Yelim Cho is devoted to pursuing multifaceted artistry that builds community. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Southern California with Ralph Kirshbaum, where she serves as a Teaching Assistant and most recently won the Thornton Strings Concerto Competition (2024) and Thornton Strings Bach Solo Competition (2025). Concurrently, she holds a position at the Colburn School’s Center for Innovation and Community Impact (CICI) which champions the institution’s community engagement and student career development initiatives.

Hailed as one of CBC Music’s “30 hot classical musicians under 30,” Olivia debuted with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in 2020 with conductor Alexander Shelley, receiving praise for her “ravishing tone and organically felt phrasing… sincerity, wonderful taste, and a mature aplomb beyond her years” (ARTSFILE). She is a top prize winner of the HKGNA International Music Competition (2025) and Shean Strings Competition (2023), and two-time winner of the Award of Excellence at the National Youth Orchestra of Canada (2021, 2022). Olivia has performed with musicians such as Shunske Sato, Tessa Lark, and Blake Pouliot, and attended on full scholarship festivals such as the Heifetz International Music Institute Chamber Music Seminar, New York String Orchestra Seminar, Orford Music Academy, and Aspen Music Festival and School.

With a keen interest in expanding arts accessibility through interdisciplinary collaboration and thoughtful pedagogy, Olivia has engaged in activities such as presenting for TEDxYouth on the value of music and performing for the Colburn School’s Musical Encounter Interactive, which brought an educational show blending music and drama to over 1,500 Title I elementary school students. In 2020, Olivia worked with her sister to organize a hybrid socially-distanced and online benefit concert titled con moto to raise funds for local groups supporting the Black & Indigenous Lives Matter movements. She has previously enjoyed leading cello workshops at the Vancouver Academy of Music and teaching through Colburn’s Jumpstart Scholarship Program, a fully funded after-school music program for students at the intersection of need and merit.

Olivia began her cello studies with Joseph Elworthy at the Vancouver Academy of Music. She completed her B.M. at the University of Michigan with Richard Aaron and M.M. at the Colburn Conservatory with Clive Greensmith.

Sam <br>Chung — Classic Cello · International Competition

Sam
Chung

(Canada)

Sam Chung has been enjoying a versatile solo and chamber career throughout New York. Some of Sam’s international appearances include Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and Kammermusik Salle at the Berlin Philharmonie. Most recently, he was invited to compete in the 15th International Mozart Competition in Salzburg String Quartet edition and 2024 International Naumburg Competition Cello Edition.

Sam has been part of a numerous masterclass series including Jian Wang, Hans Jensen, Marti Roussi and Amaury Coeytaux. As a chamber musician, he has been part of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Masterclass from the renowned Danish String Quartet, Erin Keefe and Misha Amory. Finalist at the Canadian Music Competition in 2015, first prize winner in Lillian Fuchs Competition and winner of the Ruth Widder String Quartet Competition, Sam has been enjoying his competition success in both solo and chamber fields.

An avid string quartet player Sam has been very proactive as a string quartet cellist. As part of the Elysian String Quartet, Sam has performed at the WQXR Radio station Midday Special concert, and the opening of the MET Museum’s Art Gallery Inaugural Concert. Also he was invited to the Heifetz International Music Festival: Ashkenasi/Kirshbaum Chamber Music Seminar in the summer of 2020. Most recently, he has joined the Dyllis String Quartet, and despite being a very fresh team, they were accepted into the 15th International Mozart Competition in Salzburg, participated in the Robert Mann String Quartet Institute at Manhattan School of Music and received personal guidance from Walter Küssner and Gregory Sigl in Berlin. During their time in Europe they had a chance to perform at the Solitaire hall of Mozarteum University and Kammermusik Salle at the Berlin Philharmonie.

A native from Vancouver Canada, Sam has received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Manhattan School of Music under the tutelage of Philippe Muller and David Geber with a President’s Award Scholarship and graduated with a commencement award (Hugo Kortschak Award) for outstanding achievement in chamber music. Most recently, Sam graduated from MSM with a Robert Mann Endowed Scholarship for Violin and Chamber Studies for a Professional Performance Diploma under the tutelage of Qiang Tu (New York Philharmonic Orchestra) and David Geber.

Sandra <br>Lied Haga — Classic Cello · International Competition

Sandra
Lied Haga

(Norway )

Norwegian cellist Sandra Lied Haga stands on the threshold of a major career, having won four international competitions, a number of European Prizes and the prestigious Equinor Classical Music Award, previously given to Leif Ove Andsnes, Truls Mørk, Lise Davidsen and Vilde Frang a.o. She made her debut with symphony orchestra at age 10. Her rich, beautiful sound and prodigious talent have attracted attention worldwide and made her a sought after soloist, who captivates her listeners with what is described as a uniquely beautiful cello tone.

Since her Wigmore Hall debut at the age of 12, Sandra’s passionate playing and the deep feelings she expresses has resonated with audiences and musicians all over the world, in prestigious concert venues such as London’s Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory, St. Petersburg Philharmonia, London’s Wigmore Hall, the Athenaeum Bucuresti, Salzburger Festspielhaus, Tivoli Vredenburg, Philharmonic Hall of Vilnius, Verbier Festival and many more. Recent highlights include Brahms Double Concerto for Violin and Cello with Maxim Vengerov in London’s Royal Albert Hall, Istanbul and Eskisehir, a three week tour with Midori in Japan, a new album release for Simax, and her Carnegie Hall Debut in the “Carnegie Hall Presents” series.

In 2019 she recorded her debut album featuring Dvorak’s Cello Concerto and Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations (original version) in the legendary Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory. The recording, released on Simax Classics/Naxos in May 2020, received overwhelming international praise by some of the leading classical music publications and radio channels, and a prestigious nomination for the Norwegian Grammy award. Her second album, presenting the newly rediscovered Rita Strohl Sonata and the Franck Sonata, was released in 2023, and two new recordings are planned.

Sandra has collaborated with a number of prominent artists such as Maxim Vengerov, Leif Ove Andsnes, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Janine Jansen, Yo-Yo Ma, Midori, Truls Mørk and Paul Lewis.

She has performed with numerous European orchestras, under conductors such as Thomas Søndergård, James Gaffigan, Juanjo Mena, Rodolfo Saglimbeni, Joana Carneiro, Nathanaël Iselin, Terje Mikkelsen, Ari Rasilainen, Marios Papadopoulos, Sergej Krylov, M° Georgios Balatsinos, Shao-Chia Lü, Michael Repper and Can Okan.

Following her participation in the Verbier Festival Academy, she was invited to give a recital at the Verbier Festival at the age of just 17. Invitations from other major international festivals followed, including the Utrecht Festival, Salzburger Festspiele, Moritzburg Festival, Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad, Weilburg Schloss Festspiele, Heidelberger Frühling and Pärnu Music Festival. In addition, she is a regular guest at all the major festivals in Scandinavia.

Since 2023 she has been Artistic Director of the newly founded Kristiansand Chamber Music Festival.

Born in Oslo in 1994, Sandra started playing the cello at the age of three. A remarkably rare absolute pitch formed her intuitive musicianship from the very beginning, and she was the youngest participant ever accepted in the Barratt Due Institute of Music ́s programme for gifted children. Truls Mørk was her teacher for 6 years, after studies with Oleg Kogan at the Razumovsky Academy in London from 2004-2009. Her subsequent teachers have been Frans Helmerson in Berlin, Torleif Thedeen and Lars Anders Tomter at the Norwegian Academy of Music, and Paul Watkins at Yale University.

She plays a cello by Joannes Florenus Guidantus (Bologna, 1730), provided by Dextra Musica.

Václav <br>Petr — Classic Cello · International Competition

Václav
Petr

(Czech Republic)

Václav Petr ranks among the most prominent Czech cellists of his generation. He is a semifinalist of Grand Prix Emannuel Feurmann competition, 3rd prize winner at Dubai international cello competituon and the winner of the 70th edition of the prestigious international competition Prague Spring. He began picking up awards from an early age performing at a wide range of competitions including the International Heran Cello Competition and the International Cello Competition in Linz, Austria. Particularly noteworthy accolades included collecting 1st prize from Prague Junior Note and becoming the absolute winner of the Talents for Europe competition.

He has also been awarded the laureate title at many other competitions: the Concertino Praga, the International David Popper Competition in Hungary, the International Antonio Janigro Competition in Croatia, the Bohuslav Martinů Competition in Prague, the International Dotzauer Competition for young cellists in Germany, and the Rudolf Matz International Competition for Strings in Dubrovnik.

Václav Petr learnt the nuts and bolts of cello playing from Mirek Škampa at the Jan Neruda Grammar School in Prague. At the Music Academy of Performing Arts he was a student in Daniel Veis’ class, going on to complete his studies with Michal Kaňka.

He has also perfected his playing under the guidance of Wolfgang Boettcher at the Universität der Künste in Berlin. In addition to the above, Václav Petr has also attended international masterclasses in Kronberg, Hamburg and Vaduz, the music academy in Bonn while was selected to attend Maria Kliegel’s class as part of The International Holland Music Sessions. In 2015 he took part in masterclass at the Carl Flesch Academy in Baden-Baden, delivering a solo performance with the Baden-Baden Philharmonic.

He has been performing as a soloist since he was 12, playing with orchestras such as the Czech Philharmonic, the PKF – Prague Philharmonia, the Prague Radio Symphonic Orchestra, the Prague Chamber Orchestra, Pilsen Philharmonic, the Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava, the Bohdan Warchal Slovak Chamber Orchestra and more. As a soloist he has performed with great conductors as well such as Semjon Bychkov, Jakub Hrůša, Jiří Bělohlávek, Tomáš Netopil, Ingo Metzmacher, Giovanni Antonini and others.

Last but by no means least, Václav Petr is also an avid contributor to chamber music. A member of the Josef Suk Piano Quartet in years 2009-2020, with whom he picked up 1st prizes at a chamber ensemble competition in Val Tidone, Italy as well as the Salieri – Zinetti chamber ensembles competition and at a prestigious competition for chamber ensembles including piano – the “Premio Trio di Trieste”. He now is a playing along with the concertmaster of the Czech Philharmonic Jiri Vodicka and pianist Martin Kasik in a piano trio called “TheTrio” Back in October 2013 Václav Petr successfully auditioned for the position of concertmaster at the Czech Philharmonic. At just 24 years of age, this makes him one of the youngest concertmasters in the history of the Czech Philharmonic.

Václav Petr plays a cello from the workshop of Giovanni Battista Guadagnini nicknamed “Teschenmacher" which dates back to 1757, on loan from the private collection.

Waynne <br>Kwon — Classic Cello · International Competition

Waynne
Kwon

(Australia )

Described as giving performances that are ‘larger than life, with boundless emotion’ (Limelight), Waynne Kwon enjoys a varied musical career as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician. Born in South Korea and raised in Australia, he began learning the cello at the age of three.

Waynne studied with Hannah Roberts at the Royal Northern College of Music, where he received his Bachelors and Masters in Music, along with a Postgraduate Diploma Advanced Studies in Performance. During his time at the RNCM Waynne was awarded the RNCM Gold Medal and the Sir John Barbirolli Cello Prize and won the RNCM Concerto Competition. He has won numerous awards at competitions such as the London Festival Orchestra Muriel Taylor Scholarship, Bromsgrove International Music Competition, Tunnell Trust Music Club Award and Australian Young Performer’s Award. He is very thankful for the support of the Haworth Trust, the Biddy Baxter and John Hosier Music Trust, the Countess of Munster Musical Trust, Help Musicians UK, the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust, the Australian Music Foundation and the Tait Memorial Trust.

Waynne is currently Sub-Principal Cello of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He has appeared as Guest Principal with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Asian Philharmonic Orchestra (under Maestro Myung-Whun Chung) Philharmonia Orchestra, and Manchester Camerata, as well as Guest Co-Principal with the London Symphony Orchestra.

As a keen chamber musician, Waynne performs recitals regularly in venues such as the Wigmore Hall, Stoller Hall, Bridgewater Hall, Seoul Arts Centre and Sydney Opera House with pianist Victor Lim. He was also a founding member of the Louko Piano Trio.

Yaroslav <br>Schmidt — Classic Cello · International Competition

Yaroslav
Schmidt

(Russia / Netherlands)

From 2020 to 2024, he is a student of the Gnessin Moscow Secondary Special Music School (College), class of Sergey Slovachevsky, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, Associate Professor at the MGIM.

Currently a 2nd year student at the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory, class of Boris Andrianov, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, Associate Professor.

Winner of national and international competitions:
In 2022:
- winner of the I prize of the IV International Gnessin Competition-Festival of Young Performers "cello-bass" (Moscow)
- winner of the III prize of the International Youth Competition named after M. N. P. N. Mussorgsky (St. Petersburg)

In 2023:
- winner of the I prize of the All-Russian competition "Young Talents of Russia" (Moscow)
- winner of the II degree of the International Rachmaninov Music Competition (St. Petersburg)
- winner of the III prize of the XV International Competition "GRAND Prix "GOLDEN TALENTS" (Kursk)
- Scholarship holder of the International Charitable Foundation "New Names"
- Soloist of the St. Petersburg House of Music.

In 2024 :
- winner of the II prize of the International Competition "II Grunewald International Music Competition 2024 " (Germany, Berlin)

In 2025 :
- winner of the III prize of the International Knushevitsky Cello Competition (Saratov)

Participated in master classes by Sergei Roldugin, Frans Helmerson, Ivan Monighetti, Claudio Bohorquez, Boris Andrianov, Alban Gerhard, Kirill Rodin, Alexander Ramm, Alexander Chaushyan, David Geringas, Folfgang Emmanuel Schmidt.

YiJoon <br>Park — Classic Cello · International Competition

YiJoon
Park

(South Korea)

YiJoon Park is a South Korean cellist currently pursuing his studies at the Korea National University of Arts (K-ARTS).

A versatile performer, Park has earned distinction in numerous prestigious competitions, including second prize at the Osaka International Music Competition (Cello), second prize at the KBS-Hanjeon Music Competition (Strings), and first prize at the Ewha-Kyunghyang Competition (Cello).

Throughout his formative years, Park has refined his artistry through masterclasses with renowned pedagogues such as Jens Peter Maintz and Troels Svane. His stage presence has been highlighted in various performances, including the Kumho Young Artist Concert, the Yewon School Regular Concert, and collaborations with the Leeum Orchestra.

Park’s musical identity is defined by his quest for deep sonorities, expansive musical lines, and a compelling sense of narrative. He remains dedicated to broadening his expressive range and deepening his interpretive insight through a rigorous schedule of performances and international competitions.

Yiqi <br>Chen — Classic Cello · International Competition

Yiqi
Chen

(China)

Yiqi Chen was born December 2007 in Shenzhen, China, began learning the cello at age 7 under the guidance of teacher Gu Enwei. At age 10, he made his debut at the “Cello Family” Cello Festival in Busan, South Korea, where he was hailed as a next-generation prodigy. At 11, he studied with Professor Mingqing Yu (President of the Chinese Musicians Association Cello Society) and was admitted with top honors to the 5th grade of the Central Conservatory of Music Affiliated Primary School in Beijing. At 13, he advanced to the affiliated middle school with the highest scores in his major and maintained first place throughout his studies. At 14, he received a maestro’s recommendation to study at the Gnessin Special Music School in Moscow. In 2023, he studied cello with Professor Ivan Monighetti, and in 2024 he began studies at the Queen Sofía College of Music in Madrid. At 16, he successfully held the “I Artist – My Journey in Learning” music sharing concert and presentation at Shenzhen Poly Theater, where he publicly taught children for the first time.

He is also a resident student at the Liechtenstein Academy of Music. From 2023 to 2025, he was selected through a worldwide audition to attend the Gstaad Music Festival’s string master classes, performing chamber music alongside Professor Ivan Monighetti. In 2024, he was selected for the 28th Morningside Music Bridge in the United States and performed in the event’s highlight concert.

Over his ten years of cello study, Yiqi Chen has received guidance from numerous masters, including Lynn Harrell, Ronald Leonard, Laurence Lesser, Hans Jørgen Jensen, Maciej Kulakowski, Martti Rousi, Philippe Muller, Michel Strauss, Michaela Fukačová, Clara Minhye Kim, Liwei Qin, and Sol Gabetta. Music critics at international competitions have praised his playing: “This young performer not only has a distinctive tone that is crystal-clear and transparent, and extraordinary talent with superb technique, but his playing flows with elegant musical lines completely free of any flashy ornamentation.”

Awards and Competitions
• 2017: Second Prize, Children’s Division, Hong Kong International Music Festival String Competition
• 2019: First Prize, Children’s Division, Ai Qin Prize International Cello Competition
• 2019: Third Prize in the 6th Scholarship Competition at the Central Conservatory of Music Affiliated School (Beijing)
• 2020: First Prize, Youth Cello Division, San Francisco International Innovative Music Competition (USA)
• 2020: First Prize and Special Award for Outstanding Young Talent, Artist Grand Prix International Music Competition (Bonn, Germany)
• 2020: First Prize, International Best Performance Competition for Works by Camille Saint-Saëns (United Kingdom)
• 2020: First Prize and Grand Prix Award, 30th International Young Musicians Competition “City of Barletta” (Italy)
• 2020: Grand Prix, Music Star Award Global Classical Music Competition; invited to record an album with classical label KNS
• 2021: First Place in his category and the Director’s Award of the Gustav Mahler Institute at the 3rd “Gustav Mahler Prize” Cello Competition (Czech Republic)
• 2022: Second Prize (First Prize vacant), 7th Mravinsky International String Competition (Russia)
• 2023: First Place, Moscow Mayor’s Competition in the Field of Culture and Arts
• 2023: Second Prize, Adult Division, 6th Svyatoslav Knushevitsky International Cello Competition
• 2023: Invited to the 15th “VIVA CELLO” International Cello Festival; awarded the “Bright Future” Performance Award; performed at the closing ceremony with cellists Boris Andrianov and Alexander Ramm

Performances and Activities
• Participated in multiple solo, chamber music, and charity performances. Appeared in the recording of CCTV Music Channel’s concert program “Enjoy Music – Sounding East”
• Served as the cellist for the children’s puppet show “Kandinsky on the Beach” (charity project)
• Soloist at the 2023 memorial concert for violin master Oleg Kagan held at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory Concert Hall
• Performed on Children’s Day 2025 in the Royal Theatre project “Mini Classics – Discovering Strings,” aimed at providing music education to children
• Interviewed in 2025 by Royal News of Madrid

Zimo <br>Zhai — Classic Cello · International Competition

Zimo
Zhai

(China)

Zimo Zhai is a Chinese cellist currently based in Basel. He is pursuing a Master’s degree in Cello Performance at the Hochschule für Musik Basel, where he studies with Professor Danjulo Ishizaka. He previously completed his studies at the Central Conservatory of Music in China before continuing his artistic development in Switzerland.

He has received prizes at several international competitions, including First Prize at the Karl Davidov International Cello Competition and the Knushevitsky International Cello Competition.

His performance activity includes solo recitals, concerto appearances, and chamber music projects in China and Europe. In parallel with his solo work, he is a member of the Kammerorchester Basel Akademie, further broadening his orchestral experience.

Noah <br>Lee — Classic Cello · International Competition

Noah
Lee

(USA)

Andres <br>Sanchez-Linares — Classic Cello · International Competition

Andres
Sanchez-Linares

(USA)

Cellist Andres Sanchez-Linares, born in Allentown PA, began his cello studies at the age of eight years old under the wing of former Puerto Rico symphony cello principal Miguel Rojas. He continued his studies with cellist Jesus Morales, member of the Dali Quartet and former principal of the Puerto Rico Symphony. At 10 years of age, Andres made his first solo debuts in the Midwest Clinic of Chicago and the Ocean City Pops orchestra. Three years later, he made his Carnegie hall debut as soloist with the ArCoNet chamber orchestra and at age 16 was accepted to the Curtis Institute of Music where he studied with cellists Peter Wiley and Carter Brey. Following his graduation from the Curtis Institute of Music in 2020, he continued his studies at the New England Conservatory with Paul Katz and graduated spring of 2024.

1st Prize Winner of the 29th Annual Sphinx Competition, Andres has been a participant of several competitions including the 73rd ARD International Competition, 2024 Walter W. Naumburg Competition, the 2018 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, 2018 M-Prize, 2017 Hudson Valley, Greenfield, and the Carlos Prieto International Cello competition. Andres was named a Semi-Finalists of the 2025 Schoenfeld International Cello Competition. In 2018, his piano trio was awarded 1st prize in the WDAV competition, and the trio also won joint first prize in the 2020 Yellow Springs Competition. The following year, the AYA trio was nominated as a semi finalist of the Naumburg Foundation Chamber Music Competition and the Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition.

Andres has made solo appearances with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Longwood Symphony, Kenneth Square Symphony, the Central Jersey Symphony, the Summit Symphony, Pennsylvania Sinfonia, and the Gabrieli Ensemble. As member of the AYA Trio, he made his Beethoven triple concerto debut with the Waterbury Symphony and performed across the country in esteemed series including Concerts International in Memphis TN, the Schneider Concert series at the Mannes School of Music, the Brevard Music Center and New York City’s Merkin Concert Hall.

Vesper <br>Park — Classic Cello · International Competition

Vesper
Park

(South Korea)

Cellist Vesper Park was born in Korea in 1997, she began studying the cello at the age of eleven and quickly gained recognition for her musical sensitivity and expressive depth.

She received her early training under Myung-hwa Chung and Hyung-won Chang, and later studied at the Korea National University of Arts with Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi. She continued her studies in Germany at the Hochschule für Musik Lübeck, where she worked with Troels Svane. Since 2025, she is pursuing the Artist Diploma at the Yale School of Music under Paul Watkins.

As a soloist and chamber musician, she has performed with ensembles and orchestras including the Sydney Conservatory Orchestra, Australian Symphony Orchestra, Vladivostok Symphony Orchestra, Armenian Philharmonic, Busan Philharmonic, Kangnam Symphony Orchestra and the KNUA Ensemble.

Vesper is the winner of Liezen International Competition, Vienna Music Competition, Dong-A Music Competition, and the Tallinn International Competition. In 2024, she was awarded Second Prize at the Grunewald International Music Competition in Berlin.

She was selected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea as a representative cultural artist from 2017–2019, presenting concert tours abroad.

She has appeared professionally as a substitute musician with major orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic and the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, gaining extensive experience within leading orchestral environments. She has also appeared as an invited artist at the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival.

Vesper plays a violoncello by Vincenzo Panormo dating from 1800.

Andrej <br>van Brakel — Classic Cello · International Competition

Andrej
van Brakel

(Netherlands)

Andrej van Brakel (b. 2005) has performed at numerous international festivals and prestigious venues, including the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Muziekgebouw Eindhoven, De Doelen Rotterdam, and Theater aan ’t Vrijthof, among others.

A laureate of the Vladimir Spivakov Foundation, he performed the festival’s closing concert with orchestra and appeared at the Moscow State Philharmonic Society, the International Performing Arts Centre, and the Tchaikovsky State Conservatory. In 2021, he appeared as a soloist with orchestra before 6,000 attendees at Boris Berezovsky’s festival in Elabuga. He has also performed multiple times at the ‘Les Pianos Folies’ festival.

Andrej has made several television appearances, including a recent solo performance on the national show Podium Klassiek, where he was featured as a ‘Young Hero’.

He began his musical journey at the age of four and studied in the Young Talent Class at the Conservatory of Maastricht with Prof. Gabriel Schwabe, and privately with Prof. Godfried Hoogeveen, both of whom have been central to his development as a cellist. He continued his studies at the Lübeck Conservatory with Prof. Troels Svane, and has participated in masterclasses with Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, Jens-Peter Maintz, Gary Hoffman, Tanja Tetzlaff, Jakob Koranyi, Wen-Sinn Yang, and Gabriel Schwabe.

Andrej is a laureate of the Royal Concertgebouw Competition (2019), Classic Young Masters (CYM, 2021), and the International Vienna Music Competition (2020) in the category Strings up to 19 years. He is also included in the Dutch Talents Foundation and Foundation Talent Empowerment, which support his development through masterclasses and other projects, as well as the Dutch National Music Instrument Foundation.

He currently plays a Franz Johann Glass cello (1898), generously on loan from the Sinfonima Stiftung.

Christina <br>Bensi — Classic Cello · International Competition

Christina
Bensi

(Spain)

Christina Bensi is a cellist currently pursuing her Master’s degree at the Musikhochschule Lübeck in the class of Professor Troels Svane, following her Bachelor’s studies with Professor Xenia Jankovic at the Hochschule für Musik Detmold. Her artistic foundations were further shaped at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester under Nicholas Jones. Her earliest musical guidance came from her father and Marina Kislitsina.

She has distinguished herself in international competitions, including the Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy University Competition, and in 2024 was a finalist of the Possehl Music Prize in Lübeck as well as a semifinalist and special prize winner at the 50th International Jeunesses Musicales Competition in Belgrade. Her artistic path has been supported by scholarships from the Deutschlandstipendium, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, Yamaha, and Chetham’s School of Music.

Christina has performed as Principal Cellist of the Lübeck University Orchestra under Trevor Pinnock and is currently an academy member of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Hanseatic City of Lübeck. She has participated in the Gustav Mahler Academy in Bolzano and appeared at the Brahms Festival in Lübeck, with concert highlights including performances at Carnegie Hall with Athens Philarmonia as well as festival and chamber music projects across Europe.

She has worked in masterclasses with artists such as Troels Svane, Peter Bruns, Wen-Sinn Yang, Raphael Wallfisch, Antonio Meneses, and Maria Kliegel.

Artyom <br>Ioanisyan — Classic Cello · International Competition

Artyom
Ioanisyan

(Armenia)

Armenian cellist Artyom Ioanisyan (b. August 1, 2003) has garnered international recognition through his compelling performances. He has appeared at prestigious festivals and competitions worldwide, giving recitals and performing as soloist with orchestras including the Graz Philharmonic Orchestra, the Czech Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, the Armenian National Symphonic Orchestra, the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra. His discography includes recordings with the National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia, featuring works by Mendelssohn.

Artyom has worked closely with distinguished cellists including Thomas Demenga, Steven Isserlis, Alban Gerhardt, Thomas Grossenbacher, and Anne Gastinel, participating in masterclasses and festivals such as the Schaffhauser Meisterkurse (Switzerland), the Cello Akademie Rutesheim (Germany), the 72nd Ljubljana Festival (Slovenia), and the Esperia Festival (France).

From 2020 to 2022, he was a member of the Khachaturian Trio, performing an extensive chamber music repertoire throughout Armenia and internationally.

Artyom holds a Bachelor's degree from the Bern University of the Arts, where he studied under Prof. Denis Severin. Since 2025, he has been continuing his studies at the Berlin University of the Arts with Prof. Jens Peter Maintz.

He performs on a 19th-century cello modeled after a Tecchler instrument, crafted by an unknown luthier and generously entrusted to him by Manuel Derron.

Azamat <br>Mukhtaruly — Classic Cello · International Competition

Azamat
Mukhtaruly

(Kazakhstan)

Azamat Mukhtaruly began playing the cello at the age of six, under Professor Akmaral Emreeva in his hometown Almaty, Kazakhstan. Within just one year of starting the cello, Azamat made his public debut and was awarded first prize in the Second International Cello Competition in Orsk, Russia, paving the way for his growing cello career. In 2011, he joined the The Ahmet Zhubanov Reublican Kazakh Specialised Music Boarding School and subsequently in 2022, he was offered a full scholarship and place at the prestigious Yehudi Menuhin School, London. He is currently studying at the Maastricht Conservatory under the guidance of Professor Alexander Chaushian.

Azamat was awarded top prizes at many international competitions including: 1st prize in the International competition of performers named after A. Zhubanova; 2nd prize in the International Cello competition ProArt 2017, Khmelnitsky, Ukraine; 2nd prize in ICF International Classical Bridge 2021, Ukraine; 2nd prize in the VII Russian Open Competition of Young String Musicians West-Siberia-East named after Yu.M.Kramarova, 2018, Novosibirsk, Russia. He was also a participate in the acclaimed X International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians in 2017. Given his incredible competition success at such a young age, Azamat has had the opportunity to work with the celebrated State Ensemble of Classical Music Camerata Kazakhstan, as well as three orchestras in the Ukrainian cities of Lvov, Khmelnitskaya and Kamen Podolsk.

Chamber music is also something Azamat is extremely passionate about and has thus given him the opportunity to collaborate with artists such as Ashley Wass, Dinara Klinton and Natalia Lomeiko, as well as giving him the possibility to perform in venues such as the esteemed Kings Place Hall in London, Grange Park Opera and the Razumovsky Academy.

Azamat has also received guidance and attended masterclasses with many great musicians, in particular V. Lyudmila Kruzhkova, V. Kirill Rodin, Denis Severin, Atanas Krastev, Raphael Pidoux, A.A. Dzhulmukhammedova and Eldar Saparayev and Marc Coppey.

Issak <br>Batyrkhan — Classic Cello · International Competition

Issak
Batyrkhan

(Kazakhstan)

Batyrkhan Issak is an 19-year-old cellist from Astana, Kazakhstan. He is currently a first-year Bachelor’s student at the Academy of Music of the University of Ljubljana, where he studies under Professor Eldar Saparayev.

He began his musical education at a specialized music school in Astana and continued his studies at the Kazakh National University of Arts. His artistic development has been shaped by the guidance of Professors Bakhytzhan Mussakhodzhayeva and Eldar Saparayev.

Batyrkhan is a laureate of numerous national and international competitions, including:

IV International People’s Assembly of Arts “Talents of the 21st Century” – First Prize (2017)
International Competition named after A. Zhubanov – Third Prize (2017)
International Competition “Jumeirah Sounds” – Grand Prix (2018)
XIV International Competition “Astana–Merey” (ages 12–13) – First Prize (2018)
International Competition “Astana–Merey” (ages 13–15) – First Prize
I International Competition named after Eva, Joseph, and Semyon Kogan – Third Prize
I International Television Competition – Grand Prix
XXV International Competition of Creative Youth “Shabyt” – First Prize (2022)
44th Republican Competition of Creative Youth among Colleges – First Prize (2023)
International Ensemble Competition, Middle East Classical Music Academy – First Prize (2024)
I International Competition “Voce di Cello” – Grand Prix (2024)
Chamber Music Competition named after V. T. Uzbekov – First Prize (2024)
Accordi Musicali Academy International Competition – Second Prize (2025)

Batyrkhan has participated in masterclasses with distinguished cellists such as Gustav Rivinius, Marc Coppey, and Alexander Chaushian, which have played an important role in shaping his artistic perspective.

Batyrkhan Issak is a dedicated and ambitious young artist, striving to build a successful international solo career.

Ettore <br>Pagano — Classic Cello · International Competition

Ettore
Pagano

(Italy)

Winner in 2025 of the Premio Abbiati, awarded by the Italian Musical Critics Association, and of the Classeek Award at the ICMA (International Classical Music Awards), Ettore is born in Rome in 2003, and began studying cello at the age of nine. Graduating with highest marks, honors, and Honourable mention at the Conservatory Santa Cecilia in Rome, Ettore also obtained the Artist Diploma at the W.Stauffer Academy in Cremona under the guidance of A.Meneses and previously, attended the Pavia Cello Academy with E.Dindo. A student of the Accademia Chigiana since 2019 under the guidance of Maestros A.Meneses and D.Geringas, he was awarded the Honorary Diploma.

He is currently attending J.P.Maintz courses at the UDK Berlin.

In June 2022 he was awarded First Prize, The Prize for Best Sonata and two other Special Prizes at the XVIII Kachaturian International Competition.

The most recent international recognition enriching his already substantial list of achievements includes Second Prize along with two special prizes — the Audience Award and the prize for the best Sonata — at the 2024 Enescu Cello Competition.

In addition to the aforementioned awards, he has won numerous prizes in national and international competitions since 2013. Notably, in 2020 he won first prize at the 27th J.Brahms International Competition, getting full marks from the jury in the final round, the first time this was awarded in the history of the competition, and also in 2020, he won the A.Kull Competition in Graz, Austria.

Also noteworthy are the first prize at the Competition for “Young Musicians” organized by the Filarmonica della Scala in Milano, the First Prize at the Jugend Musiziert 56th Bundeswettbewerb Competition, First Prize in addition to two special prizes, at the International Klaipeda Cello Competition 2019. In 2017 he was the winner of the second prize (1st not awarded) given by the New York International Artist Association, for which he was able to make his debut in the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York.

he began an intense concert activity at an early age, playing Recitals and as a soloist in Italy and across the Europe, Asia, and United States, in institutions of the highest prestige, among which we mention his debut with the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI, both in Torino with live TV broadcast, and internationally at the Opera House in Muscat, and the debut with the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. He has collaborated, among others, with the Düsseldorfer philhamoniker, Croatian Radiotelevision Symphony Orchestra, Graz Philharmonic, stuttgarter philarmoniker, Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, as well as invitations as soloist from numerous Italian orchestras, including the Haydn Orchestra, ORT, I Pomeriggi Musicali, and Orchestra Theaters of Bologna, Trieste, Genova. He has recently debuted at Teatro la Fenice in Venezia, with conductor K.Yamada, and among others, Ettore also collaborates with conductors such as A.Orozco-Estrada, L.Viotti, T.Guggeis, G.Pehlivanian, P.Inkinen, H.Haenchen, V.Alekseenok, F.Chaslin, D.Jurowski, D.Renzetti, A.Bonato, D.Ceretta, Lu Jia, A.Ioffe, M.Mariotti, G.Mengoli, E.Yashima, H.Soudant.

More occurrences of international relevance in 2025 are the “Una vita nella Musica – Giovani” prize from the Teatro La Fenice in Venice (with the “Life in Music” award given to R.Buchbinder) his invitations to the “Stars & Rising Stars” series in Munich and “Stars von Morgen” at the Brucknerhaus in Linz.

Ettore plays a 1777 Ignazio Ongaro cello (Venice), entrusted to him thanks initiative ‘Adopt a Musician’, conceived and financed by MusicMasterpieces SA - Lugano.

Flora <br>Valila — Classic Cello · International Competition

Flora
Valila

(Finland)

Flora Valila began playing the cello at the age of five under the guidance of Raju Vidali. In 2020, she moved to London to study with Professor David Cohen, where she was generously awarded a full scholarship for her undergraduate studies. Flora is currently pursuing her Master’s degree at the Royal College of Music, studying with Alexander Chaushian.

At the age of 12, Flora made her orchestral debut performing Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C, after which she has performed regularly. She has appeared throughout Europe both as a soloist and with ensembles, gaining diverse musical experience through performances at festivals in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, and England, including the Ljubljana Festival and Festival Verão Clássico in Lisbon.

As a soloist, Flora has performed with numerous orchestras, including l’Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie, the Kensington Philharmonic Orchestra, and the St James Chamber Orchestra, among others. She has further enriched her musical education by participating in highly regarded masterclasses with world-class cellists such as Gary Hoffman, Jens Peter Maintz, Leonid Gorokhov, Claudio Bohorquez, Peter Bruns, Martti Rousi, Raphael Wallfisch, Leonard Elschenbroich, and Natalie Clein.

Flora is a proud recipient of several awards, including the Trinity College of London Scholarship, the Gladys Bratton Scholarship, the Barbirolli Memorial Prize for Cello, and first prize winner of the Royal College of Music Cello Competition, the Vivian Joseph Classical Concerto Competition, and the Vera Kantrovich Prize, among others.

Zoltán <br>Despond — Classic Cello · International Competition

Zoltán
Despond

(Switzerland)

Zoltán Despond captivates and holds the attention of his listeners, critics and peers with his profound musicality, dazzling energy, sensitivity and particular power of expression.

Zoltán performs as a soloist, recitalist and chamber musician on the most illustrious stages and festivals, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Musikverein, the Auditorio Nacional de Musica Madrid, the Luxembourg Philharmonic, the Leipzig Gewandhaus, the Auditori Barcelona, the Oslo Konserthus and the Basel Stadtcasino, the DR Koncerthuset in Copenhagen, the Alte Oper in Frankfurt, the Salle Gaveau in Paris, the Casino in Berne, the Bozar in Brussels, the Mozarteum in Salzburg, the National Music Forum (nfm) in Wroclaw, the Grieghallen in Bergen, the Harmonie in Heilbronn, the Warsaw Philharmonie, the Budapest Music Center, the Rodolfinum in Prague and many others. He has also been invited to make his debut at the renowned Lucerne Festival.

As a chamber musician, he has performed with musicians such as Ilya Gringolts, Andrey Baranov, Joë Christophe, Thomas Reif, Benjamin Engeli, Yulia Miloslavskaya, Jérémie Conus, Isabel Pfefferkorn, Thomas Grossenbacher, Richard Kogima. A special focus is on the duo formation with pianist Vesselin Stanev.

In addition to his concert activities, Zoltán is invited as a lecturer to teach masterclasses. In May 2024, he gave a masterclass to professional students and young talents from the IFF section (Institut zur Früh-Förderung musikalisch Hochbegabter) at the Hanover University of Music.

The Swiss cellist, born in 1992, took his first cello lessons at the age of 10 years old in the class of teacher Pierre-Bernard Sudan in his home region of Gruyère, at the Bulle music school. For his Bachelor's degree, he then joined the class of Sine Nomine quartet cellist Marc Jaermann at the Haute Ecole de Musique de Lausanne (hemu), before joining the renowned musician and teacher who has always inspired him so much: cellist Thomas Grossenbacher at the Zurich University of the Arts (zhdk). With him he developed through two successive Masters: the concert Master's degree and the soloist's Master's degree. Alongside his studies, the cellist has cultivated his curiosity by attending the masterclasses of cellists Franz Helmerson, Antonio Meneses, Christophe Coin, Giovanni Sollima, Martin Ostertag and Enrico Dindo.

Maria Clara <br>Mandolesi — Classic Cello · International Competition

Maria Clara
Mandolesi

(Italy)

Born in Turin, Italy, in 2003, Maria Clara began studying the cello at the age of five.

A decisive moment came at just 15 years old, when she met Antonio Meneses, who selected her for advanced training courses at the Walter Stauffer Academy in Cremona, where she obtained the Stauffer Artist Diploma. She is currently continuing her studies at the same academy under the guidance of Frans Helmerson.

At the same time, she is attending the Master’s program at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Munich with Maximilian Hornung.

From 2021 to 2023, she was a student at the Accademia Chigiana with Antonio Meneses, where she received the Diploma di Merito, and was recently selected for the project “Talenti Musicali Italiani nel Mondo,” in collaboration with CIDIM.

At just 17 years old, she was admitted with special merit to the Bachelor of Arts in Music program in the class of Asier Polo at the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana, where she graduated in 2024.

Since 2012, she has won national and international competitions.

Among her most important awards: First Prize at the 4th Classic Strings Competition in Vienna, First Prize at the Verão Classic Festival Award in Lisbon, awarded by Frans Helmerson; First Prize at the New Year’s Competition in Vienna, followed by her solo debut with the Wiener StadtOrchester performing Elgar’s Cello Concerto; First Prize at the G. Mahler International Cello Competition in Prague; and First Prize à l’unanimité at the Cap Ferret International Competition in France.

She made her first solo debut at just 10 years old with the Leopold Mozart Sinfonietta as part of the Atelier Giovani project promoted by the Unione Musicale of Turin.

Since then, she has performed regularly as a soloist and in chamber ensembles for concert seasons across Italy and abroad.

She has attended masterclasses with internationally renowned musicians, such as Frans Helmerson (at the Kronberg Academy), Mischa Maisky, Steven Isserlis, Sol Gabetta, Jens Peter Maintz, Troels Svane, Jérôme Pernoo, Maximilian Hornung, Mario Brunello, Peter Bruns.

She currently performs on a “Stradivari Piatti 1720” model cello by Luiz Amorim, made in Cremona in 2024.

Hanna <br>Daub — Classic Cello · International Competition

Hanna
Daub

(Germany)

Hanna Daub began playing the cello at the age of nine, receiving her first lessons from Barbara Rieger at the Tübingen Music School. In 2019, she became a junior student in the class of Professor Tristan Cornut at the State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart, where she completed her Bachelor’s degree in 2025. She is currently pursuing her Master’s studies with Professor Jean-Guihen Queyras at the Freiburg University of Music.

Further artistic inspiration came through her studies at the Stauffer Academy in Cremona with Professor Frans Helmerson, as well as an Erasmus semester at the Conservatoire de Paris with Professor Raphaël Pidoux.

She has also benefited from masterclasses with renowned cellists such as David Geringas, Gary Hoffman, and Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt.

Hanna plays a cello made by Claude-Augustin Miremont, generously loaned to her by the Landessammlung Baden-Württemberg.

David Rebull <br>Chavarria — Classic Cello · International Competition

David Rebull
Chavarria

(Spain)

Born in Amposta in 2004, he began cello lessons at the age of 5 with teacher Naiade Martinez at the Lira Ampostina. From the age of 9 to 18, alongside his lessons at Lira Ampostina, he received private tuition initially with Professor Iñaki Etxepare and later with Professor Oriol Aymat.

Additionally, he attended masterclasses with renowned cellists such as Asier Polo, Timora Rosler, Cristoforo Pestalozzi, Peter Thiemann, Roel Dieltiens, Johannes Moser, Gustav Rivinius, and many others. Since 2022, he studies at the University of Saarland (Germany) with Professor Gustav Rivinius.

During his training, he has received awards in several competitions, including the XVI Musical Interpretation Prize in Girona, the Jaime Dobato Benavente Young Cellists Competition, the Grand Prize Virtuoso Paris Online, the BBVA Music Prize for Individual Talent, the International Cibulka Competition, and the David Popper International Cello Competition. He was also awarded the Extraordinary Prize for Professional Artistic Training in Music by the Generalitat de Catalunya and received the Ezequías Wardwell Scholarship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

As a soloist, highlights include his participation in the centenary celebrations of the Pau Casals Orchestra in 2021, performing Cant dels Ocells at the Barcelona Conservatory Auditorium with an ensemble of twenty cellos. He has also appeared in university concert series, performed as a soloist with Friedrich Gulda’s Cello and Wind Orchestra Concerto at the New Year’s concert in the Chapel of L'Aldea in 2024, and performed as a soloist with a wind band at the Stefaniensaal in Graz.

Additionally, he has taken part in chamber music festivals such as the Delta Chamber Music Festival, collaborating with renowned European musicians.

Niccolò <br>Citrani — Classic Cello · International Competition

Niccolò
Citrani

(Italy)

Niccolò’s musical journey began with a ‘love at first sound’ for the cello, sparking a flourishing career that has led him to perform alongside renowned artists and in prestigious venues worldwide. From a young age, he gained extensive orchestral experience as principal cellist of the Juniorchestra of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, sharing the stage with luminaries such as Sir Antonio Pappano, Salvatore Accardo and Giovanni Sollima.

In the 2023/2024 season, he was invited by Italian cellist Enrico Dindo to perform at the Filarmonica Romana in Rome, presenting the lesser-known Cello Sonata by Kabalevsky as part of the concert series Il Violoncello Svelato (The Unveiled Cello).

As an orchestral musician, Niccolò has performed with the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Sinfonietta, appearing at major venues including the Santa Cecilia Hall in Rome, the Southbank Centre and Barbican Centre in London, and Snape Maltings Concert Hall. He has worked under the direction of acclaimed conductors such as Semyon Bychkov, Manfred Honeck, Sir Mark Elder, Nicholas Collon and Kirill Karabits.

Niccolò’s musical training has been deeply shaped by distinguished mentors, beginning with Jorge Schultis and Diego Romano in Rome, and continuing with Robert Cohen at the Royal Academy of Music, where he was awarded the Derek Simpson Bursary for his interpretation of Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1. He is currently pursuing postgraduate studies at the Royal College of Music with Alexander Chaushian as a Frederick Johnston Scholar.

His artistic development has also been enriched through guidance from musicians such as David Geringas, Claudio Bohórquez, Marc Coppey, Gustav Rivinius and Enrico Dindo, all of whom have contributed to his evolving musical voice.

In 2017, Niccolò took part in the star-studded charity event Celebrity Fight Night at the Colosseum, performing alongside Sir Elton John, Andrea Bocelli, 2Cellos, Steven Tyler and others, an experience that further exemplified his diverse musical interests.

Elliot <br>Sloss — Classic Cello · International Competition

Elliot
Sloss

(Canada )

Elliot Sloss started playing the cello when he was four years old, and in the 18 years since, his love for the cello and music has taken him many places.

Elliot attends the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia where he studies with Peter Wiley, Gary Hoffman, Nick Canellakis, Yumi Kendall, and Christine Lee. Previously, he studied with Paul Widner and Joe Johnson at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada where he participated in the Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists for many years.

Elliot is a three-time 1st place winner in the national round for strings in the Canadian Music Competition. Elliot won three concerto competitions in 2019. He won the North York Music Festival Competition and performed with the Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra. He won the Taylor Academy Chamber Orchestra Concerto Competition and the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition. Elliot is also a finalist at the 2025 Shean Strings Competition in Edmonton. Outside of Canada, Elliot recently participated in the 2025 Isang-Yun Competition in South Korea.

Elliot plays on a 1706 Giuseppe Guarneri ‘filius Andreae’ cello made in Cremona, and a 1925 Victor Fetique bow made in Paris.

Francesco <br>Stefanelli — Classic Cello · International Competition

Francesco
Stefanelli

(Italy)

Francesco Stefanelli was born in 1999 in San Marino, he studied with Jens Peter Maintz at the Escuela Reina Sofia and he currently studies with Frans Helmerson at the Stauffer Academy. He is the winner of numerous prizes such as 2nd prize at the Krzysztof Penderecki 2018, 3rd prize at Belgrade Jeunesses 2022 WFIMC, 3rd prize at Rahn Music Prize Zurich 2018, 1st prize at the Antonio Janigro competition in Croatia 2016 and 1st prize "Maura Giorgetti" of the Filarmonica della Scala 2015 as best young Italian cellist.

He has performed as a soloist with the Serbian Radio Television Orchestra, WDR Sinfonieorchester, North Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, FORM, Solisti Veneti.

He recorded David Fontanesi's cello concerto with “I Virtuosi Italiani" for DaVinci.

As a chamber musician he played in Unione Musicale, MITO Settembre, IUC Sapienza, Trame Sonore, Musikamera, Ente Concerti Pesaro, Sagra Musicale Malatestiana. He plays regularly with pianist Nicola Pantani; they recorded a CD with DaVinci Classical and they won 2nd prize at the Pinerolo International ChamberMusic Competition 2025. He also played with soloists like Louis Lortie, Nicolas Baldeyrou, Antonio Meneses, Miguel Da Silva and Alessandro Marangoni, with whom he recorded Castelnuovo piano quintets for Naxos.

He has attended masterclasses with David Geringas, Enrico Dindo, Antonio Meneses, Thomas Demenga, Ivan Monighetti, Marianne Chen, W.E. Schmidt, Young-Chang Cho, Asier Polo. He received scholarships from Switzerland government “ESKAS per l’Eccellenza”, De Sono Associazione per la Musica Torino, Musikakademie Liechtenstein.

Hayk <br>Sukiasyan — Classic Cello · International Competition

Hayk
Sukiasyan

(Armenia )

Cellist Hayk Sukiasyan is active as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral principal. Since 2025, he has served as Principal Cellist of the Osnabrück Symphony Orchestra.

As a soloist, he has appeared with orchestras including the Sinfonieorchester Basel, Orchestre National de Cannes, Kammerakademie Halle, Encuentro de Música y Academia Santander festival Orchestra, the Freixenet Orchestra and the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra, collaborating with conductors such as Sir András Schiff, Gabriel Venzago, Peter Csaba, Kaspar Zehnder, Josep Caballé Domenech, and Pablo Heras-Casado. In June 2023, he gave the premiere performance of Aram Khachaturian’s Concerto-Rhapsody for Cello and Orchestra with the Sinfonieorchester Basel under Gabriel Venzago.

His repertoire spans from Baroque and Classical works to contemporary music. He has been closely involved in modern repertoire, including the German premiere of Paul Patterson’s Cello Concerto op. 90 and intensive collaboration with Helmut Lachenmann on Pression. In 2025, he gave the U.S. premieres of Julian Anderson’s Maisema (Landscapes) for solo cello and Helena Tulve’s “To night travelers, the light...” for cello and piano at the Yellow Barn Festival (USA).

As a chamber musician, he has shared the stage with Anne-Sophie Mutter, Zakhar Bron, Diemut Poppen, Ivan Monighetti, Jonathan Brown, Natalia Prishepenko, Felix Renggli, Massimo Mercelli and many others. He has appeared at international festivals including the Osterfestival Bayreuth, Encuentro de Música y Academia Santander, Yellow Barn Festival, Classic d’Antibes, Cello Akademie Rutesheim, the Pablo Casals Festival in El Vendrell, and other major European concert series.

He is currently completing his Konzertexamen at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln in the class of Johannes Moser. Previous studies were with Ivan Monighetti, Günter Pichler, Sol Gabetta, Danjulo Ishizaka, Nicolas Altstaedt and Ramón Jaffé at leading European institutions including the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía in Madrid, the Musikakademie Basel and the Hochschule für Musik “Hanns Eisler” Berlin.

He performs on a 1687 Cremonese cello by Francesco Ruggieri, on a private loan.

Hayoung <br>Lee — Classic Cello · International Competition

Hayoung
Lee

(South Korea)

Hayoung Lee is a South Korean cellist. She completed the Young Artists Program at the Korea National University of Arts and studied at the same institution under Kangho Lee, Hyejin Wang, and Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi.

She won First Prize and a Special Prize at the David Popper International Cello Competition, and has also received First Prizes at major national competitions in Korea, including the JoongAng Music Competition, the Ewha–Kyunghyang Music Competition, the Busan Music Competition, and the Shinhan Music Award.

Lee made her recital debut in 2017 as a Kumho Young Artist. She has since appeared in solo performances at venues including the Korean Cultural Center in Berlin and the Korean Cultural Center in Hungary. She has also performed with orchestras including the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra, and the TIMF Ensemble Orchestra.

She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Germany at the Karlsruhe University of Music, where she studies with László Fenyö.

Jeongbin <br>Ann — Classic Cello · International Competition

Jeongbin
Ann

(South Korea)

Cellist Jeongbin Ann is a young cellist who has gradually stood out, not only winning first place in the Seoul Arts High School's music competition for three consecutive years, but also winning first place in the Seoul Arts High School's chamber music competition. He won first place in the Korea Strad Competition, Music Journal Competition, Segye newspaper Music Competition, and Sungjeong Music Competition, and has consistently been listed in leading domestic competitions, recently winning the joint first place in the Ehwa-Kyunghyang Music Competition.

He played at the Young Musicians Festival, gained musical experience on various stages, including the KCO National Music Competition Winner's Concert, Yewon School Chamber Music Concert, and Seoul Arts High School Competition Winner's Concert, and participated in the Kirishima International Music Festival and Montecito International Music Festival. He also developed his musical literacy by receiving master classes from world-class cellists such as Richard Aaron, Troels Svane, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Li-Wei Qin, Amir Eldan, and Alan Shepansky.

He graduated from Yewon School and is currently a third grade at Seoul Arts High School, and at the same time, he continues to learn at the Korea National Institute for the Arts' Gifted, and is scheduled to enter the Korea National University of Arts in 2026. While developing his dream of becoming a cellist, he is studying hard as a student and developing his ability to become a world-class cellist.

Juha <br>Jang — Classic Cello · International Competition

Juha
Jang

(South Korea)

Born in June 2009, Juha Jang is a young Korean cellist recognized for his strong musical individuality and artistic maturity beyond his age. He is currently based in Seoul, Korea.

Juha is completing his fifth year at the Korea National Institute for the Gifted in Arts (KNIGA) and will enter the Korea National University of Arts (KNUA) as a freshman in 2026, having been admitted two years ahead of his peers.

He has received top prizes in numerous national and international competitions. In October 2025, Juha won First Prize at the David Popper International Cello Competition in Hungary.

His previous achievements include First Prize at the Ewha–Kyunghyang Competition (2024) and Second Prize at the International Dotzauer Competition (2022), along with multiple first prizes at major Korean competitions such as the Music Chunchu Competition, Seongjeong Competition, Strad Competition, and the Dong-A Junior Music Competition. He was also selected to perform in the Kumho Young Artist Recital Series.

As a soloist, Juha has given recitals at major venues including the Seoul Arts Center, the Daegwallyeong Music Festival, and International Art Hall, further establishing his presence on professional concert stages.

Juha studies cello under the guidance of Ms. Sun Yee Chung and Professor Kangho Lee.

Jung A <br>Kim — Classic Cello · International Competition

Jung A
Kim

(South Korea)

Jung A Kim is a South Korean cellist who made her solo debut at the age of ten through the Kumho Prodigy Concert Series. In 2023, at the age of eleven, she was awarded First Prize and four Special Prizes at the 11th Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians, gaining international recognition.

She has received First Prize and Grand Prizes at major national competitions in Korea, including the Kwon Hyuk-Ju Competition and the Music Journal Competition.

Internationally, she has won First Prize at the International Dotzauer Competition, the David Popper International Cello Competition, the National Artists Competition, and the Manhattan Competition.

Jung A Kim has appeared as a soloist with numerous orchestras, including the KBS Symphony Orchestra, the Korean Chamber Orchestra, and the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra. Her recent performances include the K-Classic Genius Concert in Belgium, an invitation concert by the Korean Cultural Center in Hungary, the 1000th The House Concert at Lotte Concert Hall, and the 12th International Chamber Music Festival in Shanghai.

In 2025, she continues to perform on international stages, including the 185th Anniversary Concert of Tchaikovsky in Moscow, the Musical Festival of the Academic Symphony Orchestra named after S. V. Rachmaninoff in Tambov, and the Mostly Cello Festival in Seoul at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.

She is currently a student at the Korea National Institute for the Gifted in Arts, where she studies cello with Kangho Lee and Noeul Park.

Keith <br>Williams — Classic Cello · International Competition

Keith
Williams

(USA)

Before he was 20, Juilliard-trained cellist Keith Williams had performed as soloist, chamber musician, and orchestra principal, in five of the most globally iconic concert halls: Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Vienna’s Musikverein, New York’s Carnegie Hall, and Boston’s Symphony Hall and Jordan Hall.

Known for his “dramatic embrace of his instrument” (Boston Musical Intelligencer) with his playing praised by the Boston Globe for its “fierce intensity and focused vigor” his performing career has been recognized with top prizes in numerous competitions, including First Prize at Burbank Philharmonic’s Hennings-Fischer Young Artist Competition, winning the prestigious Beverly Hills National Auditions with his duo partner, pianist Dr. Andrew Boyle, and most recently being one of ten cellists worldwide selected for the Semifinals of the 2025 Washington International Competition. He enjoys playing the standard and 20th-Century concerto repertoire with orchestras across the United States, featured recently in California as soloist with the Biola Symphony Orchestra (Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations) and the Hollywood Chamber Orchestra (Barber’s Cello Concerto).

As an award-winning chamber musician, graduating with Honors in chamber music with his Master of Music from University of Southern California, Williams has shared the stage with the critically acclaimed Verona Quartet and UCLA’s Che-Yen Chen of the Ehnes Quartet, and is a founding member of the Los Angeles-based Biola Piano Trio. He has worked with members from the esteemed Amernet, Borromeo, Brentano, Cleveland, Colorado, Juilliard, Orion, and Shanghai string quartets, as well as renowned artists such as Robert McDonald, Jeffrey Kahane, Max Levinson, Glenn Dichterow, Augustin Dumay, Yura Lee and the Boston Trio.

Festival highlights include the Taos Festival and the cello fellowship to the Foulger International Music Festival, performing in Lincoln Center, as well as Juilliard ChamberFest.

His experience as former principal cellist of three different orchestras has helped his students secure their own principal positions, having played under the baton of luminaries such as Carl St. Clare, Alan Gilbert, James Levine, Itzahk Perlman, Nicholas Mcgegan, and Esa-Pekka Salonen, among others. Dedicated to education, Keith teaches the next generation of artists as Adjunct Professor of Cello at Biola University, and also founded College of Cello, a school tailor-made for adult cellists. His students have also achieved success in attending prestigious music festivals, including Aspen Music Festival and Sarasota Music Festival. Keith completed his cello studies at the University of Southern California with internationally celebrated soloist Ralph Kirshbaum for his Master of Music Degree, with honors in Chamber Music, and with world-renowned pedagogue Timothy Eddy for his Bachelor’s Degree at the Juilliard School.

Excited about sharing the riches of classical music with anyone, Keith has played over fifty concerts coast-to-coast with Groupmuse, a house-concert organization. Keith also regularly performs with the Boyle/Williams duo, as well as with his wife and duo partner, pianist Sarah Rasmussen, on Music Mornings, hosted by LA Music Lessons, a concert series for families with young children.

Kokoro <br>Ryu — Classic Cello · International Competition

Kokoro
Ryu

(Japan)

Kokoro Ryu started playing the piano at 4 years old and the cello at 9 years old. A member of Live music now München, she was awarded the Antonio Meneses prize in 2023 and was the 2nd prize winner of 2022 Student Music Concours of Japan. She has also had many other prizes awarded to her in Japan, Taiwan, and the Uk.

At the age of 12, she showed great potential by being accepted into the Purcell School for young musicians in London, and was also chosen to premiere “Upon One Note” by Oliver Knussen at Elizabeth Hall in 2020. After returning to Tokyo in 2021, she was accepted into the the Music High School Attached to the Faculty of Music, Tokyo University of the Arts, and was awarded the New Artist Award by the Tokyo International Association of Art and became a full scholarship recipient of the same association. She also receives full scholarship of the Salamanca Hall STROAN project.

Festival appearances include Ozawa International Chamber music Academy Okushiga, Rutesheim Cello Academy, Kusatsu Music Festival, Antonio Janigro Festival, Cellissimo Music for Galway, Le Chateau Kaminoyama, Asian Youth Orchestra.

Kokoro has made her debut with the Schumann Cello Concerto as a soloist with Junge Münchner Symphoniker in Herkulessaal, Munich in 2025, and has previously shared stages with world renowned artists such as Eva Gevorgyan, Oliver Herbert, Federico Agostini, Alain Meunier, Daniel Müller-Schott, Ayana Tsuji.

Also very passionate about chamber music, She is a member of Quartett Amistella, founded in 2024, which has already won a place in Live Musik Now Scholarship with unanimous vote from the jury, and has appeared in many stages including the Musique à Flaine Music festival and the Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition 2025.

She has studied with professors Wen-Sinn Yang, Kenji Nakagi, Masaharu Kanda, Lana Hsieung, Pal Banda, and also had opportunities to gain valuable experiences from cellists Antonio Meneses, Alban Gerhardt, Jakob Koranyi, Jakob Spahn, Lluis Claret, Robert DeMaine, Tamas Varga, Tsuyoshi Tutumi, Sadao Harada, Natalie Clein, Amedeo Cicchese, Paolo Bonomini, and Hakurou Mouri.

Right now, she is pursuing her bachelors degree at the Munich University of Music and Performing Arts(HMTM) and a Chamber music Masters degree in the Quatour Ebene Academy.

Léo <br>Léna — Classic Cello · International Competition

Léo
Léna

(France)

Léo Léna is a 22-year-old cellist currently pursuing a Master’s degree at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP), where he studies in the class of Marc Coppey.

He has already appeared as a soloist, performing works such as Schumann’s Cello Concerto and Brahms’ Double Concerto, alongside violinist Nicolas Debart.

Deeply passionate about chamber music, Léo Léna regularly performs with outstanding partners, notably pianists Nicolas Queyroux and Paul Lecocq, at numerous festivals. In 2023, he founded the Quatuor Sol, with which he has been actively developing an intense chamber music activity.

Alongside his studies, he has taken part in masterclasses with distinguished musicians including Gary Hoffmann, Ophélie Gaillard, Marie Hallynck, and Xavier Phillips.

Participants

Alejandro Gomez Pareja

Liav Kerbel

Carson Ling-Efird

Matthias Balzat

Mikayel Voskanyan

Nagyeom Jang

Olivia Yelim Cho

Sam Chung

Sandra Lied Haga

Václav Petr

Waynne Kwon

Yaroslav Schmidt

YiJoon Park

Yiqi Chen

Zimo Zhai

Noah Lee

Andres Sanchez-Linares

Vesper Park

Andrej van Brakel

Christina Bensi

Artyom Ioanisyan

Azamat Mukhtaruly

Issak Batyrkhan

Ettore Pagano

Flora Valila

Zoltán Despond

Maria Clara Mandolesi

Hanna Daub

David Rebull Chavarria

Niccolò Citrani

Elliot Sloss

Francesco Stefanelli

Hayk Sukiasyan

Hayoung Lee

Jeongbin Ann

Juha Jang

Jung A Kim

Keith Williams

Kokoro Ryu

Léo Léna

Liav
Kerbel

Carson
Ling-Efird

Matthias
Balzat

Mikayel
Voskanyan

Nagyeom
Jang

Olivia Yelim
Cho

Sam
Chung

Sandra
Lied Haga

Václav
Petr

Waynne
Kwon

Yaroslav
Schmidt

YiJoon
Park

Yiqi
Chen

Zimo
Zhai

Noah
Lee

Andres
Sanchez-Linares

Vesper
Park

Andrej
van Brakel

Christina
Bensi

Artyom
Ioanisyan

Azamat
Mukhtaruly

Issak
Batyrkhan

Ettore
Pagano

Flora
Valila

Zoltán
Despond

Maria Clara
Mandolesi

Hanna
Daub

David Rebull
Chavarria

Niccolò
Citrani

Elliot
Sloss

Francesco
Stefanelli

Hayk
Sukiasyan

Hayoung
Lee

Jeongbin
Ann

Juha
Jang

Jung A
Kim

Keith
Williams

Kokoro
Ryu

Léo
Léna