Classic Cello International Competition
In spring 2026, CMDI Group is proud to announce the arrival of the 2026 Classic Cello International Competition, a spectacular global event dedicated to celebrating the artistry of cellists worldwide which will be hosted at the acclaimed Royal College of Music in London from the 26th of March to the 6th of April!
Having already enjoyed three widely-lauded entries that have been held in Riga, Vienna and Dubai, respectively, as part of the Classic Strings series of contests, this fourth edition, helmed by President Konstantin Ishkhanov and Artistic Director Alexander Chaushian, will mark the first standalone iteration of the event, a superb milestone that stands in testament to the immense popularity and rapid growth that the competition has enjoyed over its short yet eventful history.
Open to participants of all nationalities, provided that they are no older than 40 years of age by the time of the Opening Ceremony, Classic Cello shall offer an unrivalled platform to no fewer than 40 talented cellists from around the world, who will be chosen through an exhaustive video audition process. Once in London, they shall be going head-to-head over three challenging rounds, presenting a programme specifically designed to test all facets of their abilities.
With an eclectic repertoire that includes within it compositions from such luminaries as Johann Sebastian Bach, Robert Schumann, Ludwig van Beethoven and Dmitri Shostakovich, to mention a select few, the contestants will be evaluated by a distinguished jury featuring Alexander Chaushian, Julian Lloyd Webber, Kathryn Enticott, Friedemann Eichhorn, Florian Leonhard, Dorran Alibaud, Deborah Borda, Angela Dixon, and Paul Hughes, amongst others.
Over the two-week duration, they will be battling it out for a stunning prize pool totaling over €129,000, with a First Prize of €50,000, as well as various Special Prizes and awards that are also set to be on offer, including a two-year loan of a professional-grade cello generously contributed by Florian Leonhard.
