BREAKING | Semi-Finalists Announced at Munich's ARD International Cello Competition

The 6 candidates progressing to the Semi-Final round of the 2019 ARD International Cello Competition have been announced

The 6 candidates progressing to the Semi-Final round of the 2019 ARD International Cello Competition have just minutes ago been announced – in Munich, Germany.

The 2019 Semi-Finalists are:

• Anton Spronk from Netherlands/Switzerland
• Marcel Johannes Kits from Estonia
• Sihao He from China
• Friedrich Thiele from Germany
• Haruma Sato from Japan
• Jérémy Garbarg from France

Open to cellists of any nationality born between 1988 and 2000, the 1st prize winner will receive €10,000 (US $11,500).

ANTON SPRONK & NAOKO SONODA | BEETHOVEN CELLO SONATA NO. 4 | 2019 ARD INTERNATIONAL CELLO COMPETITION

MARCEL JOHANNES KITS | LIGETI SOLO CELLO SONATA | 2019 ARD INTERNATIONAL CELLO COMPETITION

SIHAO HE & VICTOR ASUNCION | SHOSTAKOVICH CELLO SONATA | 4TH MVT | 2019 ARD INTERNATIONAL CELLO COMPETITION

FRIEDRICH THIELE & NAOKO SONODA | BRAHMS CELLO SONATA NO. 2 IN F MAJOR | 1ST MVT | 2019 ARD INTERNATIONAL CELLO COMPETITION

HARUMA SATO & NAOKO SONODA | BRAHMS CELLO SONATA NO. 2 IN F MAJOR | 1ST MVT | 2019 ARD INTERNATIONAL CELLO COMPETITION

 JEREMY GARBARG & KOJIRO OKADA | PROKOFIEV CELLO SONATA | 1ST MVT | 2019 ARD INTERNATIONAL CELLO COMPETITION

The 2019 cello jury comprises: Lynn Harrell (Chairman), Ophélie Gaillard, Matt Haimovitz, Maria Kliegel, Torleif Thedéen, Tamás Varga and Pieter Wispelwey.

This year’s ARD Competition will be held in 4 instrument categories: Cello, Clarinet, Bassoon and Percussion.

The Violin Channel, as the cello competition’s official media and broadcast partner, will be providing streaming coverage direct from Munich.