National Cello Competition 2022

National Cello Competition

The National Cello Competition is the most exciting part of the Cello Biennale.

Fifteen young cellists (<27 y.o.) from the Netherlands (or studying in the Netherlands) will be performing in front of an international jury and live audience for the grand prize in this year’s ninth edition.

The jury will be judging not only the winners of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes but also the winners of the incentive prize and the prize for the best interpretation of a specially commissioned piece. And as always, the audience will decide the public prize.

Finalists 2024

Bruno Tobon
Thomas Prechal
Ori Ron

Candidates 2024

Andrej van Brakel
Charlotte Brussee
Mudrė Buckutė
Efstratia Chaloulakou
Marianne Fusenig
Silvia Gira
Joshua Hassler-Forest
Thomas Larichelière-Banken
Hattie McGregor
Thomas Prechal
Ori Ron
Margherita Maria Gianna Succio
Bruno Tobon
Laurens Toet
Beste Yildiz

The prizes

There are several additional prizes besides the 1st (€8,000), 2nd (€6,000), 3rd (€4,000), incentive (€2,000), audience (€1,000) and best interpretation (€1,000) prizes.

Sena Cello CD Prize
The Sena Cello CD Prize enables the competition winner to make a (debut) CD. The prize is made possible by Sena Performers in cooperation with record label TRPTK.

Start in Splendor Prize
The winner of the Start in Splendor Prize will have the opportunity and budget to prove themselves as a cultural entrepreneur on a professional stage. The prize is awarded to the competition participant who has submitted the most interesting plan for this purpose and has reached the Second Round.

Kronberg Academy Master Class Prize
This prize is provided by the Kronberg Academy and allows the three finalists to attend master classes at the Academy in Kronberg, Germany.

Dörfler bow
Bow maker Dörfler Bogen is offering the competition winner a beautiful copy of a Tourte bow: the *EGIDIUS DÖRFLER*** master bow.

Gewa Cello case
The finalists of the National Cello Competition will be offered a cello case by Gewa Music.

Photoshoot with Sarah Wijzenbeek
The three finalists will be offered a photo shoot by photographer Sarah Wijzenbeek.

Strings
Cellist Mirjam Daalmans of 'De Cellowinkel' is offering second round participants a free comprehensive string consultation, with cellists receiving the new string set-up as a gift.

The prize winners of the competition are offered concerts in various concert series and festivals in the Netherlands:

Sunday 17 November Delft, Theater de Veste
Wednesday 20 November Amsterdam, Concertgebouw - lunch concert
Thursday 21 November London Embassy - private concert
Sunday 19 January Concert series Valthermond
Sunday 9 February Oosterbeek, Oude Kerk

Yet to be scheduled concerts at:
Wilp Jonge Meesters
24Chambers
Delft Chamber Music Festival
Wonderfeel
Storioni Festival
Oranjewoud Festival
Schiermonnikoog Festival
Grachtenfestival
De Flint
Cello Biënnale Amsterdam 2026
Dordt in Cello
Cellofestival Zutphen
Cello Café Dieren

Laureates

2024

Thomas Prechal

First prize, Audience award

Bruno Tobon

Second prize

Ori Ron

Third prize, Prize for best interpretation of commissioned work

Mudrė Buckutė

Incentive prize, Start in Splendor prize

2022

Stefano Bruno

First prize

Isaac Lottman

Second Prize

Emma van Schadewijk

Third Prize, Audience prize, Prize for best interpretation of commissioned work

Emma Warmelink

Start in Splendor prize

Florianne Remme

Incentive prize

2020

Benjamin Kruithof

First prize, Audience prize, Prize for best interpretation of commissioned work

Melle de Vries

Second prize

Tom Feltgen

Third Prize, Start in Splendor prize

Pedro Silva

Fourth prize

Reinier Wink

Incentive prize

2018

Eline Hensels

First prize, Audience prize

Amke te Wies

Second prize, Prize for the best interpretation of the commissioned work, Start in Splendor prize

Irene Enzlin

Third prize

Tom Feltgen

Incentive prize

2016

Alexander Warenberg

First prize, Audience prize

Anastasia Feruleva

Second prize, Prize for best interpretation of the commissioned work

Jobine Siekman

Third prize

Kalle de Bie

Incentive prize, Start in Splendor prize

2014

Anton Mecht Spronk

First prize, Audience prize, Prize for the best interpretation of the commissioned work

Boris Nedialkov

Second prize

Rolando Fernandez Lara

Third prize

Jan Oppelaar

Incentive prize

2012

Harriet Krijgh

First prize, Audience prize

Jonathan Roozeman

Second prize

Jonathan Butler

Third prize, Prize for the best interpretation of the commissioned work

Dana de Vries

Incentive prize

2010

Joann Whang

First prize, Audience prize

Pedro Vaz

Second prize

Bas Jongen

Third prize "Kirill Kondrashin"

Ella van Poucke

Incentive prize

Lidy Blijdorp

Prize for the best interpretation of the commissioned work

2008

Amber Docters van Leeuwen

First prize

Immanuel van IJzerlooij

Second prize, Audience prize, Prize for the best interpretation of the commissioned work

Steven Bourne

Third prize "Kirill Kondrashin"

Willem Stam

Incentive prize

2006

Joris van den Berg

First prize

Maartje-Maria den Herder

Second prize, Prize for the best interpretation of the commissioned work

Sietse-Jan Weijenberg

Third prize "Kirill Kondrashin"

Lidy Blijdorp

Incentive prize