Philharmonie de Paris Lutherie Competition Announces Prize Winners

Hosted by the Phiharmonie de Paris and the Musée de la musique, the competition was scheduled in conjunction with the 10th String Quartet Biennial, continuing Paris' legacy of hosting top-tier instrument-making competitions.

The competition, which this year focused on cellos, consisted of two main categories, one for professional luthiers termed "Talents of Today," and the other dedicated to luthier schools and their students termed "Talents of Tomorrow."

Competitors for the "Talents of Today" category had to provide proof of their professional luthier status and were allowed to conduct their craft under any legal status. They had the option of choosing what instrument they wished to replicate for the contest as long as both contemporary and classical cello repertoire could be performed on it in normal conditions.

Those who applied for "Talents of Tomorrow," had to have completed at least two years of training. Students competed under their own names but represented their educational institution.

The cello to be replicated by the student contestants was the c.1710 Matteo Gofriller cello, which is part of the collection of instruments at Paris' Musée de la musique. In both categories, the cello could be crafted individually or collaboratively.

Talent today

• 1st prize: Mira Gruszow & Gideon Baumblatt (Havel, Germany)
• 2nd prize: Alexandre Beaussart (Vincennes, France)
• 3rd prize: Stefano Gibertoni & Valerio Nalin (Milan, Italy)

Talent of tomorrow

• 1st prize: Swiss School of Violin Making Brienz (Switzerland)
• 2nd prize: National School of Violin Making of Mirecourt (France)
• 3rd prize: International Lutherie School Antwerpen (Belgium)

Special prizes

• Favorite of the Luthier jury: Arthur Fremont (Caen, France)
• Favorite of the jury Musicians: Mira Gruszow & Gideon Baumblatt (Havel, Germany)
• Audience Award: Stefano Gibertoni & Valerio Nalin (Milan, Italy)
• Special Prize of the Orchester de Paris: Stefano Gibertoni & Valerio Nalin (Milan, Italy)

Chaired by Jean-Jacques Kantorow, the jury comprised of Raphaël Pidoux, Stéphane Vaiedelich, Elena Esper, Frédérique Pusey, Sebastian Kirsch, Delphine Delaby, Philippe Provensal, Emilie Zoulikian, Gilles Chancereul and Julie Rosenkranz.