Prizes Awarded at Turkey’s Benyamin Sönmez International Cello Competition

Russian cellist Rustem Khamidullin has been awarded 1st prize at the 2nd 2017 Benyamin Sönmez International Cello Competition

28 year old Russian cellist Rustem Khamidullin has been awarded 1st prize at the 2nd 2017 Benyamin Sönmez International Cello Competition - in Fethiye, Turkey.

A graduate of the Gnesin Academy of Music, Basel University School of Music and the Stuttgart University of Music, Rustem is a former major prize winner at the Kozolupov International Cello Competiton and the Gisborne International Music Competition.

He will receive €5000 - and a number of important European concert debuts.

No 2nd prize was awarded at this year’s competition.

Joint-3rd prize was awarded to cellists Ülker Tümer from Turkey and Cansın Kara from Turkey.

This year’s jury comprised: Christoph Henkel, Claus Kanngiesser, Dilbag Tokay, Ibrahim Yazici, Munif Akalin and Mehmet Sönmez.

The competition was started in 2015 in commemoration of talented German-Turkish cellist, Benyamin Sönmez who tragically died suddenly from a heart attack - aged just 28.