International Cello Competition 'Anna Kull' about to start

International Cello Competition “Anna Kull”

From 10 to 22 February 2020 the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz will be the venue of the International Cello Competition “Anna Kull” which will take place for the first time. The university will present a multi-day festival of cello music to its audience – with free admission to all rounds.

95 young cellists from 30 nations have applied to participate in the competition which has three age categories (age group I: born 2005/2006, age group II: born 2003/2004, age group III: born 2000/2001/2002) and will prove their talents in front of an international jury which is composed of Julian Arp, David Geringas, Monika Leskovar, Milos Mlejnik, Gergely Mohl, Ditta Rohmann, Wen-Sinn Yang and Anke Schittenhelm (chair).

In addition to coaching and feedback sessions with the jury members, concerts with much-celebrated cellists - Jens Peter Maintz and Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt as Cello Duello on February 13 as well as David Geringas with his program Bach plus on February 16 - will make the competition an event with lingering effects.

The highlight during the competition: Prizewinners have the tremendous opportunity to share the stage with the Graz Philharmonic Orchestra in Austria’s second largest opera house, the Oper Graz on February 22, 2020.

Concert organisers as for example the styriarte Festival, Jeunesse and Musikverein Graz have already confirmed to invite prizewinners to their stages and a performance in October together with the LGT Young Soloists will wait for the first prizewinners of age group II and III! Also, the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz collaborates with the Scandinavian Cello School in Denmark to offer a mini-residency to one selected prizewinner.