First Round of Classic Cello Concludes; Twenty Participants Pass to Second Round
Taking place from 26th March to 6th April, the competition has brought together 40 outstanding cellists from across the world, transforming London into a global meeting point for the instrument. Across the last four days, candidates have presented a series of high level performances that made the jury’s task of selection a particularly exacting one.
Nevertheless, after careful deliberation, the panel, consisting of Chairman Alexander Chaushian, alongside Julian Lloyd Webber (UK), Florian Leonhard (UK), Deborah Borda (USA), Paul Hughes (UK), Dorran Alibaud (France), Ursula Haselböck (Austria), James Williams (UK), Kathryn Enticott (UK), Angela Dixon (UK), and Michael Haefliger (Switzerland), presented the official list of contestants who have progressed to the Second Round.
Listed alphabetically by order of surname, these successful participants are:
● Matthias Balzat (New Zealand)
● Christina Bensi (Greece)
● Artyom Ioanisyan (Armenia)
● Juha Jang (South Korea)
● Nagyeom Jang (South Korea)
● Liav Kerbel (Belgium/Israel)
● Jung A. Kim (South Korea)
● Hayoung Lee (South Korea)
● Noah Lee (USA)
● Carson Ling-Efird (USA)
● Vesper Park (South Korea)
● Yi Joon Park (South Korea)
● Vaclav Petr (Czech Republic)
● David Rebull Chavarria (Spain)
● Andres Sanchez (USA)
● Elliot Sloss (Canada)
● Francesco Stefanelli (San Marino/Italy)
● Hayk Sukiasyan (Armenia)
● Mikayel Voskanyan (Armenia)
● Keith Williams (USA)
“It’s an incredible feeling to advance,” one of the successful candidates said. “The standard here is extremely high, and just being part of this group is already very motivating. Performing in London, in front of such a distinguished jury, is already an amazing experience, and I’m really looking forward to the next round!” With the Second Round set to take place from March 31st to April 2nd, the remaining cellists will now compete for a place in the Final Round, where they will perform with the Philharmonia Orchestra, under the baton of Spanish conductor Tomàs Grau.
For Konstantin Ishkhanov, the conclusion of this opening stage marks an important moment in a project that has long been in development, reflecting both his vision and commitment to supporting the next generation of musical talent. “To be at this stage is a moment of real significance”, he said. “What began as an idea a long time ago has now taken shape in a way that truly reflects our ambitions, and it is deeply rewarding to see so many gifted young musicians come together thanks to this platform. The talent on display was extraordinary, but these 20 cellists truly represent the very best of their generation, and I cannot wait to see what they have for us in the coming days.”
With the First Round now complete, the competition enters its next phase, which will take place from the 31st of March to the 2nd of April. Here, the selected cellists will once again take to the stage, going head-to-head for a prize fund in excess of €130,000, along with many other Special Prizes, as they pursue a place in the Final Round, where the very best will perform alongside the Philharmonia Orchestra, London, under the baton of conductor Tomàs Grau (Spain). “I would like to wish all the competitors the very best of luck as they move forward in Classic Cello”, Konstantin Ishkhanov concluded, “and I am truly looking forward to hearing them perform again in the coming rounds. It is my sincere hope that ultimately, this experience will serve as a meaningful step in their artistic journeys, helping to mould them into the future music stars of tomorrow, and leading them towards long and successful careers as professional musicians!”
