Johann Sebastian Bach Competition Leipzig Announces Cello Finalists

Six cellists will proceed to the final round, where they will compete for First Prize of €10,000

Hosted by Bach-Archiv Leipzig, the International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition is held every second year and is led by Robert Levin. The 2024 edition focuses on the cello, the organ, and the voice, and is being held from July 16 to 27.

Six cellists have progressed to the finals: Bartolomeo Dandolo Marches (30, Italy), Victor Garcia Garcia (30, Spain), Jakob Solle (22, Germany), Johannes Gray (27, US), Guillem Gràcia Soler (18, Spain), and Léo Ispir (22, France).

In the finals, they must perform movements from the Bach solo suites, choosing from the E-flat major, C minor, or D major suites — or they may play Jean-Louis Duport’s Exercise 10. Then, they must play one of the following concerti: CPE Bach’s Concerto in A major, Jean-Louis Duport’s Concerto no. 6 in D minor, or Michael Haydn’s Concerto in B major.

First Prize is worth €10,000, while Second Prize is €7,500 and Third Prize is €5,000. There are a number of extra prizes available, including scholarships, CD recording deals, concert engagements, and editions by Bärenreiter and Peters.

In 2024, the cello jury comprises Hidemi Suzuki (Head), Phoebe Carrai, Timothy Eddy, Ophélie Girard, Jens Peter Maintz, Werner Matzke, and Pieter Wispelwey.