Organized by CMDI, the Classic Cello International Competition will take place from March 26 to April 6, 2026, at London’s Royal College of Music. Cellists will compete for over €130,000, including a First Prize of €50,000.

Led by Artistic Director Alexander Chaushian and President Konstantin Ishkhanov, the competition will welcome the following 40 musicians for eleven days, to be covered by The Violin Channel as an official media partner.

  • Jeongbin Ann (South Korea)
  • Matthias Balzat (New Zealand)
  • Christina Bensi (Greece)
  • Yiqi Chen (China)
  • Olivia Cho (Canada)
  • Sam Chung (Canada)
  • Niccolò Citrani (Italy)
  • Hanna Daub (Germany)
  • Zoltán Despond (Switzerland)
  • Alejandro Gomez Pareja (Spain)
  • Artyom Ioanisyan (Armenia)
  • Batyrkhan Issak (Kazakhstan)
  • Juha Jang (South Korea)
  • Nagyeom Jang (South Korea)
  • Liav Kerbel (Belgium)
  • Jung A Kim (South Korea)
  • Waynne Wooseok Kwon (Australia)
  • Noah Lee (USA)
  • Hayoung Lee (South Korea)
  • Léo Léna (France)
  • Sandra Lied Haga (Norway)
  • Carson Ling-Efird (USA)
  • Maria Clara Mandolesi (Italy)
  • Azamat Mukhtaruly (Kazakhstan)
  • Ettore Pagano (Italy)
  • Vesper Park (South Korea)
  • Yi Joon Park (South Korea)
  • Vaclav Petr (Czechia)
  • David Rebull Chavarria (Spain)
  • Kokoro Ryu (Japan)
  • Andres Sanchez (USA)
  • Iaroslav Shmidt (Russia/Netherlands)
  • Elliot Sloss (Canada)
  • Francesco Stefanelli (San Marino)
  • Hayk Sukiasyan (Armenia)
  • Flora Valila (Finland)
  • Andrej van Brakel (Netherlands)
  • Mikayel Voskanyan (Armenia)
  • Keith Williams (USA)
  • Zimo Zhai (China)

In addition, organizers have also announced a waiting list of 10 participants, who will be ready to step in should any of the selected contestants be unable to attend. These candidates are:

  • Konstantin Arestov (Germany)
  • Yeonwoo Choi (South Korea)
  • Jaume Ferrer Moreno (Spain)
  • Johannes Gray (USA)
  • Dawoon Kim (South Korea)
  • Thomas Lim (USA)
  • Marco Messina (France)
  • Jiyou Park (Australia)
  • Canon Shibata (Japan)
  • Lyana Ulikhanyan (Armenia)

The competition will culminate in a Final Round with London's Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Tomàs Grau.

In addition to the main prizes, participants will be eligible for a range of prestigious special awards offered by the competition’s distinguished partners and Official Sponsors, including:

  • A two-year professional cello loan from the Florian Leonhard Fellowship;
  • A NOK 30,000 prize from Talent Norge;
  • Substantial prize support from Larsen Strings, including their new cello set for the top three laureates, personalised workshops with Dr Thomas Zwieg for the top two winners, and a one-year supply of strings for the Winner, along with “Larsen Friend” status.

The live rounds will be judged by an 11-member jury chaired by Chaushian, and featuring Julian Lloyd Webber, Kathryn Enticott, Michael Haefliger, Ursula Haselböck, Florian Leonhard, Dorran Alibaud, Deborah Borda, Angela Dixon, James Williams, and Paul Hughes.