Prizewinners Announced at the Orpheus Swiss Chamber Music Competition for 2024

The Dora Piano Trio (violinist Sofia De Falco, cellist Axelle Richez, and pianist Rocco Michela) received First Prize

The Orpheus Swiss Chamber Music Competition, which has been running for the last 50 years, recently came to a close at the Bern Conservatory of Music.

The competition is open to all chamber music ensembles whose members are studying in Switzerland, and each year it largely attracts players who are studying in Basel, Geneva, and Lucerne.

Out of the sixteen competing ensembles, the Dora Piano Trio received first prize of 5,000 CHF, as well as the opportunity to commission a new work. In addition, they will attend the 2025 Swiss Chamber Music Festival, Festival Musikdorf Ernen, Zunftkonzerte Zürich, and Piano Trio Fest in Bern — and a performance opportunity in the Rheinau Masterclasses.

Comprising violinist Sofia De Falco, cellist Axelle Richez, and pianist Rocco Michela, the Dora Piano Trio is a Swiss-Italian ensemble. Its players all study at the Basel University of Music.

Second Prize went to the Sax&Perc duo, who received 3,000 CHF, while the MOMO Quartet won Third Prize of 2,000 CHF. Both ensembles will also appear at 2025 Swiss Chamber Music Festival and commission a new work. A further two groups, the Wendel Quartet and the Arda Quartet, received an honorary mention and an appearance at the Swiss Chamber Music Festival.

In 2024, the competition jury comprised Reito Bieri, Chiara Samatanga, Sarah Dayan, Raphael Camenisch, and Benjamin Engeli.