Cello Competition 2025
The organizer of the competition is the Gustav Mahler Institute Prague in cooperation with the Gustav Mahler Philharmonic Jihlava. The mission and goal of the competition is to deepen the interest and motivation of young talented celloists to interpret mutual understanding, interpretative confrontation, inspiration and love for music. The personality of the genius conductor and musical composer Gustav Mahler, who lived in Jihlava for the first 15 years of his life and inspired and enriched so much, reminds him of his noble ideas about the mission of music and is a permanent inspiration source and model for young musicians from all over the world.
Closing date: January 2, 2025
Announcement of results: February 8, 2025
Results
(competitors are ranked in order of best by points scored)
Grand Prize - Gustav Mahler Prize 2025
Absolute winner, Personalized Glass Trophy, Prize Money 30,000 CZK, Diploma
Joshua Kováč
Prize of Gustav Mahler Philharmonic Jihlava / Awarded by the Gustav Mahler Philharmonic Jihlava and presents the possibility of a concert performance in Jihlava (orchestral or chamber concert) in future years/: Joshua Kováč
Prize of Chief Conductor of the Gustav Mahler Philharmonic Jihlava / Honorary Prize: Bobby Kostadinov
Prize of Jury President / Honorary Prize: María Auxiliadora Bozada Waflar
Prize of Director of the Gustav Mahler Institute Prague / Honorary Prize: Jejun Son
Prize for the best Czech competitor / Honorary Prize: Anna Bumbálková
Honorable Mention for the interpretation of a composition by Daniel van Goenz and Invitation to the Visegrad Youth Music Academy 2025 in Pezinok/Slovakia: Anna Bumbálková
Honorable Mention for the interpretation of a composition by Antonín Josef Rejcha and Invitation to the Třeboňská letní setkávání 2025: Martin Bernášek
Category 1
1st Prize and Category Winner
Jejun Son / South Korea / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: Francœur Sonate for Violoncello and Piano in E Major, 1st Movement, Francœur Sonate for Violoncello and Piano in E Major, 2nd Movement teacher/school: Sojung Lee, North London Collegiate School Jeju (NLCS jeju)
1st Prize
Xietian Wang / China / video 1 repertoire: David Popper: Concert Polonaise in D minor, Op. 14 teacher/school: Yan Pan, Xinsen Wang, Xiamen Music School
Yilin Dan / China / video 1 repertoire: Camille Saint-Saëns - Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33, I.Allegro non troppo teacher/school:
Zhao Qianqian / China / video 1 repertoire: Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33 （I. Allegro non troppo） teacher/school:
Xifan Wang / China / video 1 repertoire: Davydov Cello Concerto No 1 in b minor Op 5 Allegro Moderato teacher/school: Peiyao Guo, Hanghai Conservatory of Music and Tianjin Juilliard School
James William Lin / USA / video 1 repertoire: Allegro Appassionato, Op. 43, by Camille Saint-Saens teacher/school: Eugene Kim, New England Conservatory
Anna Bumbálková / Czechia / video 1 repertoire: D. van Goenz: Tarantella teacher/school: Vladimír Sůva, ZUŠ Jana Hanuše, Praha 6
Noa Černá / Czechia / video 1 repertoire: L. van Beethoven: Contredanse J. B. Weckerlin: Chanson J. Ph Rameau: Tambourin teacher/school: Kateřina Hroníková, ZUŠ Jana Hanuše, Praha 6
2nd Prize
Urlateanu Cătălin-Mihail / Romania / video 1 repertoire: 1. Vasile Jianu "Joc" 2. Henri Squire "Tarantella" teacher/school: Ani Marie Paladi, School of Arts "Iosif Sava", Bucharest, Romania
Matěj Prokop / Czechia / video 1 repertoire: A.Vivaldi: Koncert C major I. Allegro K. Blacwell: Latin nights teacher/school: Kateřina Hroníková, ZUŠ Jana Hanuše, Praha 6
Wong Yue Ching Effie / Hong Kong / video 1 repertoire: Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No. 1, Op.33 teacher/school: Miss Judy Lui, Rococo Strings
3rd Prize
SongXu(Bayan) / New Zealand / video 1 repertoire: Saint Saens Cello Concerto No.1,1st movement teacher/school: Lisa Chung, Saint Kentigern Colleage
Zheng Yiwei / China / video 1 repertoire: L. van Beethoven: Zwölf Contretänze, WoO 14, No. 12 teacher/school:
Chen Yucheng / China / video 1 repertoire: Concerto No 2 in Dmajor III（Breval） teacher/school: Zhou Xiaolai/Lanzhou city Chengguan district water car park primary school
Evan Liang /Canada / video 1 repertoire: Allegro appassionato—Camille Saint-Saëns,Op.43 teacher/school: Josephine van Lier, École Frère Antoine Catholic School- Grade 4
Honorable Mention
Yinuo Wang / China / video 1 repertoire: August Nölck：Concertino in D major (No.2) teacher/school:
disqualified for failure to comply with the conditions of the competition
Wang Wansha / China /
Category 2
1st Prize and Category Winner
Antonina Kubica / Poland / video 1 repertoire: F.A.Kummer-Study op.57 No.2 B.Marcello-Sonate F major op.2 No.1, cz.I i II teacher/school: Arkadiusz Płaziuk, Primary and Secondary Henryk Wieniawski Music School, Sosnowa 9 str, LODZ, POLAND
2nd Prize
Suri Wang / China / video 1 repertoire: Saint Saëns：Cello Concerto No.1, Op.33 teacher/school: International School of Beijing
Antim Arnautu / Romania / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: John Garth - Cello Concerto no. 4 in Si Major, p. I David Popper - Gavotte No. 2 in D Major, op. 23 teacher/school: Ani Marie Paladi, `"George Enescu" National College of Music - Bucharest
Anna Švédová / Czechia / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: Bohuslav Martinů: Suite Miniature IV William Henry Squire: Dance Rustique teacher/school: Mgr. Judita Šprochová /Základní umělecká škola J. A. Komenského, Studénka
3rd Prize
Jana Kotelyuk / Czechia / video 1 repertoire: J.B.Bréval - Sonata C dur, 1. věta Ch. M. Markus - Melodie teacher/school: Milan Bělanský-ZŠ a ZUŠ Jesenice
Category 3
2nd Prize
Andrei Dutulescu / Romania / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: C. Dimitrescu - "Villlage dance", Op. 15 G. Goltermann - Capriccio teacher/school: Ani Marie Paladi, `"George Enescu" National College of Music - Bucharest
3rd Prize
Markéta Štenclová / Czechia / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: Bohuslav Martinů: Pastorale II Artemij Sergejevič Ajvazjan: Georgian dance teacher/school: Základní umělecká škola J. A. Komenského, Studénka
Honorable Mention
Tadeáš Leština / Czechia / video 1 repertoire: William Henry Squire - Tarantella Op. 23 teacher/school: Markéta Leštinová, SZUŠ Natanael, Horní Dvořiště, Czech Republic
Category 4
1st Prize and Category Winner
Yicheng Zhao / China / video 1 repertoire: Kabalevsky Cello Concerto No.1 in G minor. Op.49, III. Allegretto teacher/school: Yan Tang, Music Middle School Affiliated to Wuhan Conservatory of Music
1st Prize
Martin Bernášek / Czechia / video 1 repertoire: J. Rejcha: Koncert A dur- I. Allegro moderato G. Cassadó: Requiebros teacher/school: Kateřina Hroníková, ZUŠ Jana Hanuše, Praha 6
Zosia Klimaszewska / Poland / video 1 repertoire: F. Chopin - Etude op. 25. no. 7, David Popper - Tarantella op. 33 teacher/school: dr hab. prof. AMP Tomasz Lisiecki, Poznańska Ogólnokształcąca, Szkoła Muzyczna I stopnia Nr 2, ul. Bydgoska 4, 61-127 Poznań
2nd Prize
Carla Stefania Achim / Romania / video 1 repertoire: Polonaise de concert- David Popper teacher/school: Ani Marie Paladi - "Iosif Sava" Secondary Art School Bucharest
Category 5
1st Prize and Category Winner
Débora Sofia Marques Panda Cid / Portugal / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: G. Fauré- Elegy op.24 J. Feld- Burleska teacher/school: Jaroslav Mikus and Katerina Mikusova, ARTAVE (Escola Artística do Vale do Ave)
2nd Prize
Anny Wang / Australia / video 1 repertoire: Elgar cello concerto in E minor, 1st movement teacher/school: Edith Salzmann and Josephine Vains, Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School (VCASS)
Zitong Chen / Canada / video 1 repertoire: Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, Op. 107 by D. Shostakovich teacher/school:
3rd Prize
Patrycja Wieczorek / Poland / video 1 repertoire: Cello Concertino No 1 in C major Op 7 By Julius Klengel teacher/school: Maria Kubisa, F. Chopin High School of Music I and II degree in Bytom
Category 6
1st Prize and Category Winner
Stefan Iordachi / Romania / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: Alfredo Piatti - Caprice op.25, no.12 Dmitri Shostakovich - Cello Concerto no.1, 1st movement teacher/school: Ani Marie Paladi, "George Enescu" National College of Music, Bucharest
1st Prize
Feina Wang / China / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: David Popper Polonaise de Concert Op.14 Ernst Bloch：Prayer teacher/school: Professor Mingqing Yu 2019 to 2021; Teacher Jianan Zhao 2021 to present at China Conservatory of Music Middle School
2nd Prize
Lyam Chenaux / Switzerland / video 1 / video 2 repertoire:Saint-Saëns, Camille: Cello Concerto No.1, Op.33 (mvt 1) R.Schumann: 5 Stücke in Volkston, mvt 4 and 5 teacher/school: Denis Severin, HEM Geneva Neuchâtel
3rd Prize
Udval Tumenjargal / Mongolia-Russia / video 1 repertoire: Zigeunerweisen by P. Sarasate teacher/school: Vladimír Tonkha, Moscow Gnessin Special School of Music
Lia Matos Wunderlich / UK / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: J.S. Bach | Prelude, Cello Solo Suite 4 in E flat Major, BWW 1010 David Popper | Polonaise de Concert Op.14 teacher/school: Ben Davies, Royal Academy of Music, Junior Department, London
Yiyi Shen / China / video 1 repertoire: Dvorak Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104, 3rd movement teacher/school: Weixi Luo, Music Middle School Affiliated to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music
Louis Walter Goldstein / Norway / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: Dvorak Cello Concerto in B minor (first movement) Popper Polonais de Concert teacher/school: Ole Eirik Re Barratt Due Music School Oslo
Honorable Mention
Kaya Edwards / UK / video 1 repertoire: Franz Schubert - Arpeggione Sonata in A minor, D.821, I: Allegro moderato teacher/school: Robert Max, Junior Royal Academy of Music
Tigran Nakhalov / Ukraine/Switzerland / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: Jovanni Sollima Lamentatio, Pyotr Tchaikovsky Nocturne teacher/school: Sarah Weilenmann, Musik Konservatorium Zurich
Category 7
1st Prize and Category Winner
Hugo Domínguez / Spain / video 1 repertoire: D.Shostakovich: Cello sonata (4th mov.) teacher/school: Ivan Monighetti, Escuela Reina Sofía
2nd Prize
Hayden Ren / USA / video 1 repertoire: Dvorak Cello Concerto 1st movement teacher/school:
Aiden Chang / USA / video 1 repertoire: Chopin: Cello Sonata in G minor Op. 65 1st movement teacher/school: Laurent Perrin
Yichen Yuan / China / video 1 repertoire: Schubert - Arpeggione Sonata the first moment teacher/school: Yi Xin
Yuki Ariel Wilson / USA / video 1 repertoire: Cello Concerto in A minor op 129 1st movement by Robert Schumann teacher/school: Philippe Muller/ Lycée François de New York
3rd Prize
Sára Musálková / Czechia / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: Antonín Dvořák - Klid lesa op.68 David Popper- Tarantella op.33 teacher/school: MgA. Tomáš Svozil, Janáčkova konzervatoř v Ostravě
Toh Le En Shavaun / Singapore / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: J S Bach Cello Suite No.4 - Prelude - Sarabande teacher/school: Sungyong Lim
Ge Changtong / China / video 1 repertoire: Gaspar Cassadó - Suite for Cello Solo II&III teacher/school: Tao Ni, New England Conservatory Prepartory School
Tadeáš Jadrný / Czechia / video 1 repertoire: Antonín Dvořák - Rondo in G minor op. 94 teacher/school: MgA. Jan Zemen, Konzervatoř Pardubice
Honorable Mention
Marc Morosanu / USA / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011 - I. Prelude (J.S. Bach); and Etude No. 27, Op. 73 (D. Popper) teacher/school: Pablo Issa, The Hartt School Community Division
Isaac Ward / USA / video 1 repertoire: Dvorak Cello Concerto Mvt. 1 teacher/school: Dr. Melissa Kraut
Category 8
1st Prize and Category Winner
Joshua Kováč / USA/Czechia / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: Serge Prokofiev - Sinfonia Concertante, op. 125 I. Andante, J.S. Bach - Suite no. 6 in D major, BWV 1012 I. Prelude teacher/school: Daniel Veis, International Center for Music at Park University
3rd Prize
Jodie Wung / USA / video 1 repertoire: Cello Sonata in G minor largo first movement - Henry Eccles Cello Sonata opus 6, allegro ma non troppo - Samuel Barber teacher/school: Nancy Masaki, Masaki School of Music
Mayuchi Ono / UK / video 1 repertoire: Edward Elgar Cello Concerto in E minor Op.85, 4th movement teacher/school: Gemma Rosefield, Junior Academy, Royal Academy of Music
Category 9
1st Prize and Category Winner
María Auxiliadora Bozada Waflar / Spain / video 1 repertoire: Kodály Cello Solo Sonate op.8 in B minor ( II. "Adagio con gran espressione") teacher/school: Prof. Peter Bruns / Hochschule für Musik und Theater " Félix Mendelssohn Bartholdy " Leipzig ( Germany)
1st Prize
Daiyi Wu / China / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: Dvorak - Cello concerto 1 Mov, Sarasate - ZIGEUNERWESEB teacher/school: Niklas Schmidt Hochschule für Musik und Theathet Hamburg
2nd Prize
Julia Tripodo / Italy-Spain / video 1 repertoire: Ginastera Pampeana No.2 teacher/school: Professor Leonid Gorokhov, Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover
Yiting Wang / China / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: Edward Elgar: Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85, First Movement, Second Movement teacher/school: YiChen Yang, Central Conservatory of Music
3rd Prize
David Goltsev / Germany / video 1 / video 2 / video 3 repertoire: M. Weinberg - Solo Sonata for Cello no. 1 op.72 [l. Adagio] [II. Allegretto], B. Martinu - Sonata for Violoncello and Piano No. 1, H.277 [I. poco Allegro] teacher/school: Thomas Schmitz, HMTMH Hannover
Tao Shengxin / China / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: Elgar - Cello Concerto in e minor,Op.85 I. Adagio - Moderato, Paganini - Variations on a Theme from Mose teacher/school: Wang Siwen/Tianjin Conservatory of Music
Honorable Mention
Chuang Fu-Chia / Taiwan / video 1 repertoire: Haydn concerto in D major teacher/school: TangYan, Wuhan Conservatory of Music
Category 10
1st Prize and Category Winner
Jisoo Kim / South Korea / video 1 / video 2 / video 3 repertoire: Haydn Cello Concerto in C Major, Popper Elfentanz, Schumann Adagio und Allegro teacher/school: Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt/Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar
1st Prize
Shicong Li / China / video 1 / video 2 / video 3 repertoire: Jérôme Ducros encore Hadyn cello concerto C major 1st mouvement Popper Elfentanz teacher/school: Clemens Hagen/Mozarteum
disqualified for failure to comply with the conditions of the competition
Huiying Cao / China/Singapore /
Category 11
1st Prize and Category Winner
Bobby Kostadinov / Germany / video 1 / video 2 / video 3 repertoire: Pablo de Sarasate: "Zigeunerweisen" Op. 20, Niccolo Paganini: "Mosesfantasy", Jules Massenet: "Meditation" teacher/school: Prof. Peter Bruns
1st Prize
Keisuke Morita / Japan / video 1 / video 2 / video 3 repertoire: Cello Concerto in B minor op.104 1st movement / Antonin Dvorak Suite No.6 in D major Prelude / J. S. Bach Cello Sonata No.3 in A major op.69 1st movement / L. v. Beethoven teacher/school: 2024 - ongoing Troels Svane (Professor of Lübeck Academy of Music), 2023 - 2024 Vashti Hunter (Professor of HMTM Hannover), 2019 - 2023 Gustav Rivinius (Professor of Hochschule für Musik Saar), 2013 - 2019 Dai Miyata (Cellist, graduate of Kronberg Academy), 2010 - 2019 Sumiko Kurata (Specially Appointed Professor Emeritus of Toho Music College, Japan)
2nd Prize
Jonas Campos-Siebeck / Spain/Germany / video 1 / video 2 / video 3 repertoire: B. Martinu Cello Concerto, I. Allegro moderato P de Sarasate Zigeunerweisen A. Piatti, Caprice No 3 teacher/school: HfMDK Frankfurt am Main
Karolína Žáková / Czechia / video 1 / video 2 / video 3 repertoire: B. Martinů: Variations on the theme of Rossini A. Dvořák: Silent Woods, D. Shostakovich: Cello sonata in d minor, 2nd movement (Allegro) teacher/school: Denis Severin, Haute école de musique de Geneve
3rd Prize
Alice Mirabella / Italy / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: A. Piatti, Caprice no.6 George Crumb, Sonata for cello solo teacher/school:
Honorable Mention
Doğuş Ergin / Turkey / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: 1. J. S. Bach: Suite for Solo Cello - Allemande - Courante 2. B. Britten: Suite for Solo Cello - Canto Terzo - Bordone - Moto Perpetuo e Canto Quarto teacher/school: Gustav Rivinius / Hochschule für Musik Saar
Mahler's first public concert
"On 13-10-1870 there was, by way of an exception, an Abonnement suspendu, the reason being that a nine year-old boy, the son of a local Jewish tradesman named Mahler, was to be heard for the first time playing the piano before a large audience. The great success the future virtuoso achieved with his audience did him honour; one could only wish that for his excellent playing he had had an equally good instrument at his service. If the young artist's former teacher, Herr Kapellmeister Viktorin, hears of yesterday's success, he can certainly be pleased with his protege."
Winners
Rules
- The competition will be via videos published only on www.youtube.com.
- The competition is open for competitors of all nationalities up to the age of 32, the competition is divided into 11 age categories.
- The competition is a one-round competition, and the condition of the competition is to play from memory.
- The repertoire is free and should consist of one or more pieces which has to fulfill the time limit.
- Play solo, or with (only) piano accompaniment.
- The video must be a real recording without editing, shot in one static shot, with the camera slightly away from the competitor. Must be visible on the competitor's hands and body at all times.
- The video recording not more than 6 months old must be placed on www.youtube.com, the competitor will include in the application the exact internet link to the video recording.
- Each piece/composition can have a separate link.
- The full names of the pieces, the composer and the competitor, must be included in the video title or description (in English)
- The video must be public and accessible for the duration of the competition and for the next 6 months after the end of the competition.. The competitor will not seek a financial reward for posting the video and gives consent to post the video on the organiser's web site to announce the results.
- The organiser reserves the right not to open a category for organisational reasons or not to accept an application or to shorten the competition deadline for the competition for capacity reasons.
- The competition deadline: 2.1.2025.
- Announcement of results: 8.2.2025.
- Failure to comply with the above conditions, as well as an apparent reading of the notes during the game, may result in the competitor being eliminated from the competition.
- Application shall be submitted exclusively electronically by completing an online form at www.mahler.institute (at the end of this page) and paying a registration fee.
Age Categories
Category Year of birth Time limit
1. 2014 and younger 2 - 5 min.
2. 2013 4 - 8 min.
3. 2012 4 - 8 min.
4. 2011 5 - 10 min.
5. 2010 5 - 10 min.
6. 2009 7 - 10 min.
7. 2008 7 - 10 min.
8. 2007 9 - 12 min.
9. 2004 - 2006 9 - 12 min.
10. 2000 - 2003 10 - 13 min.
11. 1992 - 1999 13 - 20 min.
Awards
Prizes totalling €5000 will be awarded.
Gustav Mahler Prize - Grand Prix - Personalized Glass Trophy, Prize Money 30,000 CZK, Diploma - the Absolute Winner
Concerts in Jihlava
Prize of Gustav Mahler Philharmonic Jihlava
Prize of Chief Conductor of the Gustav Mahler Philharmonic Jihlava
Prize of Jury president
Prize of Director of Gustav Mahler Institute Prague
Prize for the best Czech competitor
Prizes for the interpretation of a compositions
Each competitor receives a diploma (by email) and the evaluation of the performance
Jury
Mgr.art. Jan Pospíšil
solo cellist, concertmaster of Slovak National Theatre Orchestra, teacher at the Church Conservatory in Bratislava
MgA. Petr Nouzovský
leading Czech cello soloist, teacher at the Prague Conservatory, a faculty member at the New York University Prague
Mgr. Jiří Jakeš
Chief conductor of Gustav Mahler Philharmonic Jihlava, Czech Republic
- The jury will assess the competitive performance of the competitors, determine the order of the competitors in each category, determine the absolute winner of the competition, determine the award holder.
- The jury's deliberations are not public, the jury does not publish evaluations.
- The jury's decision is final, indisputable and there is no appeal.
Application Procedure
The application is submitted exclusively electronically by filling in the online form at www.mahler.institute (at the bottom of this page) and paying the registration fee. Proof of payment of the fee must accompany the application. Applications can be submitted until 2 January, 2025 at the latest. You will receive a final confirmation of your participation in the selection procedure once you have submitted your application and the registration fee has been credited to our bank account (takes a few days!!!). Please wait for the confirmation email. If you do not receive a confirmation email within a few days, please send us a reminder.
Registration fee: categories 1 - 6: € 45
categories 7 - 9: € 75
categories 10 - 11: € 95
To pay the registration fee, use our bank account:
IBAN: CZ4820100000002601525645
BIC/SWIFT: FIOBCZPPXXX
Owner: Institut Gustava Mahlera, z.s.
address: Fio banka, a.s., Millennium Plaza, V Celnici 10, 117 21 Prague, Czech Republic
Čeští účastníci mohou platit ekvivalent v korunách na účet: 2601525645/2010. Fakturu rádi vystavíme na vyžádání, sdělte nám Vaše fakturační údaje.
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Application form
Please, fill in in English only!