VC LIVE | 2021 Geneva International Cello Competition [WATCH NOW]
This year's semi-final and final stages to be hosted in-person in Geneva from October 23-29 and will be streamed LIVE here on The Violin Channel
This year's semi-final and final stages to be hosted in-person in Geneva from October 23-29 and will be streamed LIVE here on The Violin Channel
Open to cellists aged 14 to 30, this year's first prize winner will receive CHF 20,000 plus an invitation to join the competition's two-year career development program — providing valuable career advice and coaching plus concert and recording opportunities.
Approximately 10 laureates, from this year's competition, will also be invited to join a special workshop to discuss the important industry and career-starter topics with a panel of experts, including career strategies, how to get the appropriate attention of agents, presenters and producers, and the basic know-how of contracts, rights, and health.
36 candidates were originally selected to take part in the opening round of this year's competition, which was held online, with eight young musicians then invited to Geneva to compete in the Semi-Final and Final stages of the competition live in person.
As the official media and broadcast partner, all rounds of this year's cello competition will be streamed right here on The Violin Channel and will be available for playback.
THURSDAY OCTOBER 28, 2021 | 1:00 PM (ET)
2021 GENEVA INTERNATIONAL CELLO COMPETITION
FINAL ROUND
Jaemin Han (15, South Korea) | Georg Fritzsch & Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
- Elgar | Cello Concerto in E minor
Michiaki Ueno (25, Japan) | Georg Fritzsch & Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
- Lutoslawski | Cello Concerto
Bryan Cheng (24, Canada) | Georg Fritzsch & Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
- Elgar | Cello Concerto in E minor
SATURDAY OCTOBER 24, 2021 | 10:00 AM (ET)
2021 GENEVA INTERNATIONAL CELLO COMPETITION
SEMI-FINAL ROUND — SESSION THREE
For the Semi-Final Round, each candidate will perform a Baroque Sonata, contemporary work and a work of their choice.
Min Ji Kim (26, South Korea) | Ivan Venturieri (Piano) | Constance Taillard (Harpsichord)
- Boccherini | Sonata in A Major
- Yun | Glissées
- Shostakovich | Sonata in D minor
- Piatigorsky | Variations on a Paganini theme
Michiaki Ueno (25, Japan) | Julien Gernay (Piano) | Constance Taillard (Harpsichord)
- Bach | Sonata in D major
- Xenakis | Kottos
- Britten | Cello Suite No. 2
- Schubert | Rondo in B minor
SATURDAY OCTOBER 24, 2021 | 1:00 PM (ET)
2021 GENEVA INTERNATIONAL CELLO COMPETITION
SEMI-FINAL ROUND — SESSION FOUR
For the Semi-Final Round, each candidate will perform a Baroque Sonata, contemporary work and a work of their choice.
Bryan Cheng (24, Canada) | Silvie Cheng (Piano) | Constance Taillard (Harpsichord)
- Boccherini | Sonata in C minor
- Poulenc | Cello Sonata, FP 143
- Elliot Carter | Figment
- Shostakovich | Sonata in D minor | 3rd & 4th Mvts
- Falla (arr. Gendron/Cheng) | La vida breve
Maxime Quennesson (26, France) | Katsura Mizumoto (Piano) | Constance Taillard (Harpsichord)
- Bach | Sonata in D Major
- K. F. Abel | Arpeggiata
- E. Carter | Figment
- C.M. Widor | 3 pièces, Op. 2 (No. 1, 3, 2)
- L. Boellmann | Cello Sonata in A minor
FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2021 | 1:00 PM (ET)
2021 GENEVA INTERNATIONAL CELLO COMPETITION
SEMI-FINAL ROUND — SESSION TWO
For the Semi-Final Round, each candidate will perform a Baroque Sonata, contemporary work and a work of their choice.
Samuel Niederhauser (23, Switzerland) | Shi-Yu Tang (Piano) | Constance Taillard (Harpsichord)
- Boccherini | Sonata in C minor
- Klengel | Scherzo in D minor
- J. Harvey | Ricercare una melodia, for violoncello and electronics
- T. Demenga | EFEU
- Prokofiev | Cello Sonata in C major
En-Chun Lin (20, Taiwan) | Julien Gernay (Piano) | Constance Taillard (Harpsichord)
- Boccherini | Sonata in C minor
- E. Carter | Figment
- Robert Schumann | Five pieces in Folkstyle
- Brahms | Sonata No. 2 in F major
FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2021 | 10:00 AM (ET)
2021 GENEVA INTERNATIONAL CELLO COMPETITION
SEMI-FINAL ROUND — SESSION ONE
For the Semi-Final Round, each candidate will perform a Baroque Sonata, contemporary work and a work of their choice.
Maria Zaytseva (20, Russia) | Maria Zaytseva (Piano) | Constance Taillard (Harpsichord)
- Bach | Sonate in G minor
- E. Carter | Figment
- Franck | Violin Sonata in A Major
Jaemin Han (15, South Korea)| Ivan Venturieri (Piano) | Constance Taillard (Harpsichord)
- Bach | Sonata G major
- Yun | Glissées
- Poulenc | Cello Sonata
- Rostropovich | Humoresque
"We will be hosting a hybrid competition this year — virtual for the first round and live in-person, in Geneva, for the semi-final and finals rounds," Didier Schnorhk, Secretary-General of the Geneva International Music Competition, told The Violin Channel.
"We this year have also lowered the application fee, to take into consideration the financial difficulties of our young artists, and we have also provided financial and technical support for all first-round candidates with the recording of their videos. This year, we have also made the decision to cover the cost of all semi-finalists invited to Geneva in October," he has said.
"As you can imagine, these are all important changes we felt necessary to support our young musicians."
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 | 10:00 AM (ET)
2021 GENEVA INTERNATIONAL CELLO COMPETITION
OPENING ROUND — SESSION NINE
Constantin Macherel (30, Switzerland)
- J.S. Bach: Suite No. 3 in C major | Prélude, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande
- Beethoven | Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Kodaly | Sonata for solo cello
Christoph Croisé (27, Switzerland)
- J.S. Bach: Suite No. 2 in D minor | Prélude, Sarabande, Gigue
- Beethoven | Sonata No 4 in C major No. 1
- Ligeti | Sonata for cello solo
- C. Croisé | Clouds above the C
- Tchaikovsky | Pezzo Capriccioso, Op. 62
Alessandra Doninelli (26, Switzerland)
- J.S. Bach | Suite No. 3 in C major | Allemande, Sarabande, Gigue
- Beethoven | Sonata No 4 in C major No. 1
- Kodaly | Sonata for solo cello
- Cassado | Dance of Green Devil
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 | 1:00 PM (ET)
2021 GENEVA INTERNATIONAL CELLO COMPETITION
OPENING ROUND — SESSION TEN
Leland Ko (23, United States)
- J.S. Bach | Suite No. 3 in C major | Prélude, Sarabande, Bourrées
- Beethoven |Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Dutilleux | 3 Strophes sur le nom de Sacher
- Faure | Cello sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 117
Matthias Balzat (22, New Zealand)
- J.S. Bach: Suite No. 3 in C major | Prélude, Allemande, Courante, Gigue
- Beethoven | Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Ginastera | Puñena 2
- Popper | Dance of the Elves, Op. 39
Christoph Heesch (26, Germany)
- J.S. Bach: Suite No. 4 in E flat major | Prélude, Sarabande, Bourrées
- Beethoven | Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Kodaly | Sonata for solo cello
- Rossini | Une larme | Theme and Variations
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 | 10:00 AM (ET)
2021 GENEVA INTERNATIONAL CELLO COMPETITION
OPENING ROUND — SESSION ELEVEN
Stéphanie Huang (25, Belgium)
- J.S. Bach | Suite No. 4 in E flat major | Prélude, Allemande, Sarabande, Gigue
- Beethoven | Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Kodaly | Sonata for solo cello
- R. Schumann | Adagio und Allegro
Jeremias Fliedl (21, Austria)
- J.S. Bach: Suite No. 3 in C major |Allemande, Courante, Gigue
- Beethoven | Sonata No. 4 in C major No.1
- Ligeti | Sonata for solo cello
- Dvorak | Silent Woods, Op. 68
Maxime Quennesson (26, France)
- J.S. Bach: Suite No. 3 in C major
- Beethoven | Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Ligeti | Sonata for solo cello
- Sarasate | Zigeunerweisen
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 | 10:00 AM (ET)
2021 GENEVA INTERNATIONAL CELLO COMPETITION
OPENING ROUND — SESSION SEVEN
Jakyoung Huh (23, South Korea)
- J.S. Bach | Suite N°3 in C major | Prelude, Bourrées, Gigue
- Beethoven | Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Ligeti | Sonata for solo cello
- Poulenc | Cello Sonata
Aaron Wolff (27, United States)
- Bach |Suite N°3 in C major | Prélude, Allemande, Courante
- Beethoven | Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Kodaly | Sonata for solo cello
Florian Pons (26, France)
- J.S. Bach | Suite No. 4 in E flat major | Prélude, Allemande, Courante
- Beethoven | Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Dutilleux | 3 Strophes sur le nom de Sacher
- R. Schumann | Adagio und Allegro
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 | 1:00 PM (ET)
2021 GENEVA INTERNATIONAL CELLO COMPETITION
OPENING ROUND — SESSION EIGHT
Min Ji Kim (26, South Korea)
- J.S. Bach | Suite No. 3 in C major | Prélude, Sarabande, Bourrées, Gigue
- Beethoven: Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Ginastera | Puñena 2
- Dinicu/Heifetz | Hora Staccato
Rolando Fernandez (30, Mexico)
- J.S. Bach: Suite No. 2 in D minor | Prélude, Sarabande, Gigue
- Beethoven | Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Kodaly | Sonata for solo cello
- Tchaikovsky | Pezzo Capriccioso
Michiaki Ueno (25, Japan)
- J.S. Bach: Suite No. 3 in C major | Prélude, Sarabande, Bourrées, Gigue
- Beethoven: Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Hindemith | Sonata for solo cello
- Davidoff | At the Fountain, Op. 20
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 | 10:00 AM (ET)
2021 GENEVA INTERNATIONAL CELLO COMPETITION
OPENING ROUND — SESSION FIVE
Oleksiy Shadrin (28, Ukraine)
- J.S. Bach: Suite No. 2 in D minor | Prélude, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande
- Beethoven | Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Hindemith | Sonata for solo cello
Chase Park (23, United States)
- J.S. Bach | Suite No. 2 in D minor | Sarabande, Menuets, Gigue
- Beethoven | Cello Sonata No. 4 in C minor
- Dutilleux | 3 Strophes sur le nom de Sacher
- R. Schumann | Adagio and Allegro
Daniel Thorell (23, Sweden)
- J.S. Bach: Suite No. 2 in D minor | Prélude, Sarabande, Gigue
- Beethoven: Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Ligeti: Sonata for solo cello
- Chopin (Arr. M. Gendron) | Introduction and Polonaise Brillante
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 | 1:00 PM (ET)
2021 GENEVA INTERNATIONAL CELLO COMPETITION
OPENING ROUND — SESSION SIX
En-Chun Lin (20, Taiwan)
- J.S. Bach | Suite No. 4 in E flat major |Allemande, Courante, Sarabande
- Beethoven | Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Kodaly | Sonata for solo cello
- R. Schumann | Adagio und Allegro
Anouchka Hack (25, Germany)
- J.S. Bach | Suite No. 2 in D minor | Prélude, Courante, Gigue
- Beethoven | Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Kodaly | Sonata for solo cello
- R. Schumann | Fantasiestücke
Marcel Johannes Kits (26, Estonia)
- J.S. Bach | Suite No. 2 in D minor | Prélude, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Menuet, Gigue
- Beethoven | Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Kodaly | Sonata
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2021 | 10:00 AM (ET)
2021 GENEVA INTERNATIONAL CELLO COMPETITION
OPENING ROUND — SESSION THREE
Jaemin Han (15, South Korea)
- J.S. Bach: Suite No. 3 in C major | Prelude, Sarabande, Bourrées
- Beethoven | Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Ligeti | Sonata for solo cello
- Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen
Samuel Niederhauser (23, Switzerland)
- J.S. Bach: Suite No. 4 in E flat major | Prelude, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande
- Beethoven: Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Crumb | Sonata for cello solo
Joanna Twaddle (25, United Kingdom)
- J.S. Bach | Suite No. 3 in C major | Prélude, Sarabande, Bourées
- Beethoven | Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Penderecki | Per Slava
- Schumann | Adagio and Allegro
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2021 | 1:00 PM (ET)
2021 GENEVA INTERNATIONAL CELLO COMPETITION
OPENING ROUND — SESSION FOUR
Ivan Skanavi (24, Russia)
- J.S. Bach: Suite No. 3 in C major | Prelude, Sarabande, Gigue
- Beethoven | Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Kodaly | Sonata for solo cello
- Suk (Arr. W.E. Schmidt) | Love Song No. 1
Raphaël Jouan (27, France)
- Bach | Suite No. 3 in C major | Prélude, Allemande, Gigue
- Beethoven | Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Dutilleux | 3 Strophes sur le nom de Sacher
- Debussy | Cello sonata in D minor
Willard Carter (19, United Kingdom)
- J.S. Bach: Suite No. 3 in C major | Courante, Sarabande, Gigue
- Beethoven: Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Kodaly | Sonata for solo cello
- Paganini | Variations on a Theme of Rossini
Bryan Cheng (24, Canada)
- J.S. Bach | Suite No. 3 in C major | Prélude, Sarabande, Gigue
- Beethoven: Sonata No. 4 No. 1
- Hindemith | Sonata for solo cello
- Boulanger | Trois Pièces (No. 1 and No. 3)
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 | 10:00 AM (ET)
2021 GENEVA INTERNATIONAL CELLO COMPETITION
OPENING ROUND — SESSION ONE
For the opening rounding, recorded and sent in by the candidates, each cellist will perform selected movements from a Bach Solo Cello Suite and a 20th Century Solo Cello Sonata, Beethoven’s Cello & Piano Sonata in C Major plus one or two short pieces of their own choice.
The entire opening round recital is not permitted to exceed 45 minutes in total.
The 2021 jury comprises Ivan Monighetti (Chair), Thomas Demenga, Michaela Fukačová, Ophélie Gaillard, Clive Greensmith, Qin Li-Wei, and Shauna Rolston.
Johannes Gray (24, United States)
- J.S. Bach | Suite No. 3 in C major | Prélude, Allemande, Sarabande, Gigue -
- Beethoven | Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Ligeti | Sonata for solo cello
- Ducros | Encore
Mauro Paolo Monopoli (21, Italy)
- J.S. Bach | Suite No. 4 in E flat major | Prélude, Sarabande, Bourrées
- Beethoven | Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Kodaly | Sonata for solo cello, Op. 8
- Martinu | Variations on a Theme of Rossini
Hayoung Choi (23, South Korea)
- J.S. Bach | Suite No. 3 in C major | Prélude, Sarabande, Gigue
- Beethoven: Sonata No. 4 in C major, Op.102 N°1
- Kodaly: Sonata for solo cello, Op. 8 (1st movement) - N. Paganini: Le Streghe, Op.8
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 | 1:00 PM (ET)
2021 GENEVA INTERNATIONAL CELLO COMPETITION
OPENING ROUND — SESSION TWO
Anton Spronk (27, Switzerland/Netherlands)
- J.S. Bach | Suite No. 3 in C major | Prelude, Sarabande, Bourrées
- Beethoven | Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Ligeti | Sonata for solo cello
- Martinu | Variations on a Theme of Rossini
Milena Umiglia (23, Switzerland)
- J.S. Bach | Suite No. 2 in D minor | Prelude, Sarabande, Menuets
- Beethoven | Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Kodaly: Sonata for solo cello
- Cassado | Dance of the Green Devil
Maria Zaytseva (19, Russia)
- J.S. Bach | Suite No. 4 in E flat major | Prelude, Sarabande, Bourrées
- Beethoven | Sonata No. 4 in C major No. 1
- Hindemith | Sonata for solo cello
- Rostropovich | Humoresque
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