Carl Nielsen String Quartet Competition Announces Second Round Participants

Six string quartets have been chosen to moved forward in the competition, which is currently being held in Copenhagen until April 16

The Carl Nielsen International Chamber Music Competition, which will be hosted in Copenhagen between April 12 and 16, celebrates the music of Carl Nielsen by requiring competing ensembles to perform his works, among other music. The competition runs two categories, one for string quartets and one for wind quartets.

The Violin Channel will be streaming the second round and finals of the competition. Tune in here!

The jury has chosen 6 string quartets to proceed to the String Quartet competition's second round on Saturday, April 15. They are:

• Kleio Quartet (London, England)
• Quartet Cervin (Rolle, Switzerland)
• Quartett HANA (Munich, Germany)
• Neuma Quartet (Poland)
• NERIDA Quartet (Germany/Switzerland)
• NOVO Quartet (Copenhagen, Denmark)

They will all play the new commissioned piece by Gustav Bjerre — for which there is a prize for the best interpretation — as well as quartets by Schumann, Mendelssohn, Debussy and Bartok.

First Prize carries a value of €15,000, with the Second and Third prizes worth €10,000 and €5,000 respectively. There is also a €2,500 prize for the best performance of the commissioned work.

The jury for the string quartet portion of the competition will be comprised of Clive Greensmith (chair), Berit Cardas, Gunvor Sihm, Sergei Bresler, and Marie Bitlloch.

The finale round of the String Quartet competition will be held The Royal Danish Academy of Music's Concert Hall on April 16, while the wind quintet finale will be held on April 15.