2021 - Cello

The Cello Competition 2021 was open to all candidates born after 29 October 1991. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the first part of the 2021 edition was held online. Selected candidates had until August 15th to submit their video recordings of the Online Recital, which was streamed virtually mid-September. Candidates qualified for the Semi-Finals were invited to pursue the competition from October 23rd in Geneva, Switzerland. The Final round of the Cello Competition was held on 28 October at Victoria Hall with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, conducted by Georg Fritzsch.

• Programme & Rules of the Cello Competition 2021

37 cellists aged 15 to 30 years old from 19 nationalities were selected to take part in the Cello Competition 2021. Selected candidates had until August 15th to submit their video recordings of the Online Recital, which was streamed virtually mid-September.

> SELECTED CANDIDATES

SEMI-FINALISTS

• Mr. Bryan CHENG, 24 years old, Canada
• Mr. Jaemin HAN, 15 years old, South Korea
• Ms Min Ji KIM, 26 years old, South Korea
• Mr. En-Chun LIN, 20 years old, Taiwan
• Mr. Samuel NIEDERHAUSER, 23 years old, Switzerland
• Mr. Maxime QUENNESSON, 26 years old, France
• Mr. Michiaki UENO, 25 years old, Japan
• Ms Maria ZAYTSEVA, 20 years old, Russia

FINALISTS

• Mr. Bryan CHENG, 24 years old, Canada
• Mr. Jaemin HAN, 15 years old, South Korea
• Mr. Michiaki UENO, 25 years old, Japan

FIRST PRIZE
Michiaki Ueno, 25 years old, Japan

SECOND PRIZE
Bryan Cheng, 24 years old, Canada

THIRD PRIZE
Jaemin Han, 15 years old, South Korea

SPECIAL PRIZES

Audience Prize
Bryan Cheng, 24 years old, Canada

Young Audience Prize
Michiaki Ueno, 25 years old, Japan

Students Prize
Bryan Cheng, 24 years old, Canada

Hélène Gallay Prize
Min Ji Kim, 26 years old, South Korea

Guy Fallot Prize
Samuel Niederhauser, 23 ans, Suisse

Rose Marie Huguenin Prize
Michiaki Ueno, 25 years old, Japan
Bryan Cheng, 24 years old, Canada
Jaemin Han, 15 years old, South Korea

Concerts de Jussy Prize
Michiaki Ueno, 25 years old, Japan

If you wish to book on of the Geneva Competition's prizewinners, please contact the competition's office.

OFFICIAL JURY

Ivan Monighetti, Russia, Chair
Thomas Demenga, Switzerland
Michaela Fukačová, Czech Republic
Ophélie Gaillard, France
Clive Greensmith, United Kingdom
Qin Li-Wei, China / Australia
Shauna Rolston, Canada​

PRESELECTION JURY

Ivan Monighetti, President of Official Jury
Ophélie Gaillard, Member of Official Jury
Joël Marosi, Switzerland
Ewa Miecznikowska, Poland
Martina Schucan, Switzerland

Subject to changes

• 30 April: Application deadline      
• 25-27 May: Preliminary round (video selection)
• 4 June: Annoucement of selected candidates
• 15 Aug: Online Recital video deadline
• 13-19 Sept: Online Recital broadcast
• 20 Sept: Results of the Online Recital
• 23 Oct: Semi-Final Round - Sessions 1 & 2 (Geneva)
• 24 Oct. Semi-Final Round - Sessions 3 & 4 (Geneva)
• 28 Oct: Final Round with orchestra (Geneva)

All pieces must be performed by heart, except for the sonatas for cello and piano and the contemporary piece (Semi-Final Round). Exceptions may be accepted upon request. Candidates may choose the order in which they wish to perform their programme during each round.

A. PRELIMINARY ROUND – VIDEO RECORDING (max. 30min) 

1. J. S. Bach : Prelude, Sarabande, Galanteries (Minuets I & II or Bourrées I & II) from one of the following Suites for violoncello solo :

• Suite N° 2 in D min. BWV 1008
• Suite N° 3 in C Maj. BWV 1009
• Suite N° 4 in E flat Maj. BWV 1010

2. A. Piatti or N. Paganini : One Caprice at choice from :  

• Piatti : Caprices Op. 25, N° 3, 6, 7 12
• Paganini : Caprices Op. 1 N° 5, 9, 13, 24

3. Third piece at free choice, with piano accompaniment

The works chosen for the preliminary round may be performed again during the competition. The piece at free choice is meant to show candidates musical personality. Recording all the movements is not mandatory.

B. ONLINE RECITAL : (max. 30 candidates - max. duration 45 min.)

1. J. S. Bach :  one of the following Suites for violoncello solo

• Suite N° 2 in D min. BWV 1008
• Suite N° 3 in C Maj. BWV 1009
• Suite N° 4 in E flat Maj. BWV 1010
  
  Candidates may perform the entire Suite or select movements they wish to perform (minimum 3). They are given the option to play the repeats or not.  Please keep in mind given timing for the Recital.

2. One piece from 20th century for cello solo from the following list :     

• G. Crumb : Sonata for violoncello solo
• P. Hindemith : Sonata for violoncello solo
• Z. Kodaly : Sonata Op. 8 (movement 1)
• G. Ligeti : Sonata fpr violoncello solo
• H. Dutilleux : 3 Strophes sur le nom de Sacher
• K. Penderecki : Per Slava
• A. Ginastera : Puñena 2
• B. Britten : Suite N° 2 (declamato, scherzo, ciaccona)

3. L. v. Beethoven : Sonata for violoncello and piano in C Maj. Op. 102 N°1

4. One piece at free choice (optional) 
   Candidates may add a free choice piece to their Online Recital, provided that it does not exceed the 45-minute limit. 

C. SEMI-FINAL ROUND (8 candidates, max. duration 60 minutes)      

1. One baroque sonata from the Appendix I
2. One contemporary work from the Appendix II
3. Rest of the programme at free choice.

Works already performed in the Online Recital may not be repeated. Determining factors include originality, choice of repertoire and variety.

E. FINAL ROUND WITH ORCHESTRA (3 finalists)

One of the following concertos :

• R. Schumann: Concerto om A minor
• E. Elgar : Concerto
• W. Lutosławski : Concerto
• D. Chostakovich : Concerto N° 2
• H. Dutilleux : Tout un monde lointain

With the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, conducted by Georg Fritzsch

APPENDIX I

List of baroque sonatas at free choice for Semi-Final Round

• J.S. Bach: Sonata for Viola da Gamba in G Maj BWV 1027 (with harpsichord)                 
• J.S. Bach: Sonata for Viola da Gamba in D Maj BWV 1028 (with harpsichord)                 
• J.S. Bach: Sonata for Viola da Gamba in G min BWV 1029 (with harpsichord)                
• L. Boccherini: Cello sonata in C min G. 2 (with pianoforte)                   
• L. Boccherini: Cello sonata in A Maj G. 4 (with pianoforte)
• L. Boccherini: Cello sonata in G Maj G. 5 (with pianoforte)
• L. Boccherini: Cello sonata in C Maj G. 6 (with pianoforte)
• L. Boccherini: Cello sonata in A Maj G. 13 (with pianoforte)
• L. Boccherini: Cello sonata in C Maj G. 17 (with pianoforte)

Pitch will be A=440 and the tuning system will be equal-temperament. For the Boccherini sonatas, please use the Ricordi (rev. Pater Noster) edition.
 
APPENDIX II
 
List of contemporary works at free choice for Semi-Final Round

• Jonathan Harvey: ricercare una melodia, (avec électronique), Violoncello and electronics (1984)
• Kaija Saariaho, Petals, Violoncello and electronics (1988)
• Bernd Alois Zimmermann: Sonata for violoncello solo (1960)
• Krzysztof Penderecki: Capriccio per Siegfried Palm (1968)
• Isang Yun: glissées (1970)
• Helmut Lachenmann: pression (1969)
• Michaël Jarrell:  ....some leaves....  (1999)                                             
• Iannis Xenakis: Kottos (1977)
• Tristan Murail: attracteurs étranges (1992)
• Pascal Dusapin:  incisa (1982) 
• Heinz Holliger: Trema (1981-83)
• Elliott Carter: Figment (1994)
• Isabel Mundry: Cellosolo (1997)
• Youghi Pagh-Pahn: AA-GA I (1984)