Classic Cello International Competition Kicks Off at London’s Royal College of Music
The highly-anticipated inaugural edition of the Classic Cello International Competition marked its first day on Thursday 26th March, welcoming a total of ten participants to the stage of the renowned Royal College of Music in London.
Organised by CMDI Group, and led by President Konstantin Ishkhanov and Artistic Director Alexander Chaushian, Classic Cello is the first standalone contest for this storied instrument following its inclusion as part of the Classic Strings series of competitions, while also marking the largest cello contest that the United Kingdom has yet hosted.
For this landmark event, no fewer than 40 contestants from all across the globe are going head-to-head in the UK capital, battling it out for a prize fund of more than €130,000, along with a number of Special Prizes and Awards from a number of the competition’s Official partners, including Florian Leonhard, Talent Norge, and Larsen Strings.
“Larsen Strings are famous for their cello strings globally”, said Justin Wagstaff, speaking on behalf of the company, “and partnering with important competitions like this is something that they’re very keen to continue to do to support musicians in whatever way they can, and particularly for up and coming musicians, help with strings is vital. Competitions like this one allow these musicians to shine and hopefully get a step up; it’s a crucial opportunity for them, and Larsen Strings is very happy to be involved in that journey!”
Their performances are being overseen by a globally-acclaimed jury panel chaired by Chaushian himself, and comprising such names as Dorran Alibaud (France), Deborah Borda (USA), Angela Dixon (UK), Kathryn Enticott (UK), Michael Haefliger (Switzerland), Ursula Haselböck (Austria), Paul Hughes (UK), Florian Leonhard (UK), Julian Lloyd Webber (UK), and James Williams (UK).“I’m very, very happy to be here in London at the Royal College of Music with all these wonderful jury members and some really amazing young cellists!”, Chaushian declared. “It’s been a four year journey to get here, because the idea first started at the last edition in Dubai, so I’m extremely happy to see it all come to life!”
“I don’t think there has ever been, as far as I know, a big, international cello competition like this, not just in London, but in England”, he continued. “I really think this is the first one, which is a bit shocking actually, but I’m thrilled that we can do this, and I would like to thank Konstantin Ishkhanov for helping to make it possible, and I hope that this will just be the beginning, and that we will continue to return again and again!”
Across this First Round, which will run until the 29th of the month, candidates are presenting a total of three compositions, starting with the Prelude from one of J. S. Bach’s Suites for Cello Solo, chosen from a pre-set list, followed by pieces selected from two separate lists that include works by Claude Debussy, Fanny Mendelssohn, Robert Schumann, Rita Strohl, Benjamin Britten, Sofia Gubaidulina, and György Ligeti.
“It’s honestly an immense privilege just to be part of a community of cellists all around the world that have come to London for this event” , said Alejandro Gomez Pareja, one of the contestants who performed on the first day. “In a way that’s already a prize for us! I’m really grateful for it, and to be part of this is a privilege. This is also my first year studying in London, at the Royal Academy of Music, so in a way it feels a lot more like home then if it was elsewhere. The organisation has been amazing as well. I really wasn’t expecting this level of organisation; everything is very clear, everything is very well organised, in time, without any delays… it just works smoothly, and when that happens, then we also feel calmer and everything goes more smoothly for everyone.”
Once this phase is complete, successful candidates will proceed to the Second Round, from the 31st of March to the 2nd of April, before a Final Round that will see the most accomplishedcellists take to the stage alongside the Philharmonia Orchestra, London, under the baton of conductor Tomàs Grau.
