Classical Music News

New York’s 2024 Naumburg International Cello Competition Announces Finalists

October 19, 2024

1 MIN READ

Tune in to watch the final round LIVE on The Violin Channel on October 20, 2024

Established in 1926, the Walter W. Naumburg Foundation and its competitions support young classical musicians to launch their professional careers.

On October 20, the final round will be held at MSM's Neidorff-Karpati Hall and will also be streamed on The Violin Channel starting at 12 PM (ET).

The 2024 finalists are cellists Aaron Wolff, Alexander Hersh, James Kim, Leland Ko, and Jonathan Swensen.

The jury for the final round will include David Geber (Jury Chair), Thomas Demenga, Steven Doane, Clive Greensmith, Bonnie Hampton, Joel Krosnick, Nicholas Mann, Philippe Muller, and Hannah Roberts.

This year’s cello edition will award the first prize winner $25,000, two fully subsidized NYC recitals, and a commissioned work. Second prize is valued at $15,000, while third place is awarded with $10,000.

The foundation's competition cycles through various instruments every year. The editions have featured piano, saxophone, chamber music performance, voice, composition, violin, classical guitar, viola, clarinet, flute, and conducting.

Previous winners have included VC Artist Tessa Lark, VC Artist Merz Trio, Louis Kaufman, Li-Wei Qin, Clancy Newman, Robert Mann, Berl Senofsky, Joseph Silverstein, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Leonidas Kavakos, Axel Strauss, and Frank Huang.