Cello Competition 2026
The competition is organized by the Gustav Mahler Institute Prague in collaboration with the Gustav Mahler Philharmonic Jihlava. Its mission is to cultivate the passion and artistic motivation of young, gifted cellists by fostering mutual understanding, interpretative dialogue, creative inspiration, and a profound love of music.
The towering figure of the maestro and composer Gustav Mahler—who spent the first fifteen years of his life in Jihlava, a time that shaped and enriched his genius—serves as a constant reminder of his noble vision of music's purpose. His legacy remains a timeless source of inspiration and an enduring model for young musicians from across the globe.
Closing date: February 28, 2026
Announcement of results: April 6, 2026
Results
(competitors are ranked in order of best by points scored)
Grand Prize - Gustav Mahler Prize 2026
Absolute winner, Personalized Glass Trophy, Prize Money 30,000 CZK, Diploma
Aiden Kim / USA
Prize of Gustav Mahler Philharmonic Jihlava / Awarded by the Gustav Mahler Philharmonic Jihlava and presents the possibility of a concert performance in Jihlava (orchestral or chamber concert) in future years/: Martin Bernášek / Czechia
Prize of Chief Conductor of the Gustav Mahler Philharmonic Jihlava / Honorary Prize: Youyi Zhu / China
Prize of Director of the Gustav Mahler Institute Prague / Honorary Prize: Daniel Wang / USA
Prize for the best Czech competitor / Honorary Prize: Martin Bernášek
Category 1
1st Prize and Category Winner
Youyi Zhu / China / video 1 repertoire: N. Paganini: Variations on a Theme of Rossini, MS 23 "Mose-Fantasia" teacher/school: Mu Zhu / Beijing SMIC School
1st Prize
Xinyue Geng / China / video 1 repertoire: Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No.1 in A Minor, Op.33 I. Allegro non troppo teacher/school: Prof. Wenbin Geng
2nd Prize
Noa Černá / Czechia / video 1 / video 2 / video 3 repertoire: A. Scarlatti: Sonáta d moll č. 1 - I. Largo, B. Martinů: Miniaturní suita - č. IV, J. Massenet: Meditace teacher/school: Kateřina Hroníková, ZUŠ Jana Hanuše, Praha 6
Julia Jelińska / Poland / video 1 repertoire: .S.Lee: etude no.2 Op.31, M. Gąsieniec Spanish dance teacher/school: Franciszek Skóra, State Music School named after Franciszek Rybicki in Tychy
Dorota Ostrolucká / Slovakia / video 1 repertoire: W. H. Squire - Danse rustique teacher/school: Mgr.art. Gregor Regeš/ZUŠ M. Ruppeldta, Bratislava
Mina Shin / South Korea / video 1 repertoire: C. Stamitz Cello Concerto No.3 in C Major, 1st mov. teacher/school: Junyoung Ann / Namsan Elementary School
Ho Hou Pok / Hong Kong / video 1 repertoire: J. S. Bach: Cello Suite no. 3 | Prelude (1st), Allemande (2nd) & Courante (3rd) teacher/school: Mr Ray Cheung
Jeah Won / USA/South Korea / video 1 repertoire: Saint-Saëns: Cello Concerto No.1 in A Minor, Op.33 – I. Allegro non troppo teacher/school: Dr.Stella Cho, Colburn School
Matěj Prokop / Czechia / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: B. Marcello: Sonáta C dur č. 5 - II. Allegro, B. Martinů: Miniaturní suita - č. IV. teacher/school: Kateřina Hroníková, ZUŠ Jana Hanuše, Praha 6
3rd Prize
Martin Dvořák / Czechia / video 1 repertoire: L. van Beethoven - Contredanse, M. Hajdu - Two Pieces (I. Andante sostenuto) teacher/school: ZUŠ E. Randové Ústí nad Labem, pedagogue: Alena Kramerová, piano: Jan Štěpka
Zhiyuan Ren / China / video 1 repertoire: O.Riding:Concerto in a minor 1st movement teacher/school: Xiang Xiao
Category 2
1st Prize and Category Winner
Qian Yiwen / China / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: Popper:Dance of the Elves, Saint Saëns: Cello Concerto No.1 in A minor, Op.33, mov.1 teacher/school: Li-Wei Qin
Category 3
1st Prize and Category Winner
Jiyu Jung / South Korea / video 1 repertoire: E. Lalo Cello Concerto in D minor 3rd mov teacher/school: Jeongju Choi/ Gyesung Elementary School
2nd Prize
Angeline Sun / China / video 1 repertoire: Joseph Haydn - Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Hob. VIIb:1 teacher/school: Yu Mingqing, Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao
Mason Kwon / USA / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: 1, from Concerto No. 1 in A minor by C. Saint-Saëns, Impromptu in G Major from Impromptu for Cello and Orchestra by A. Arutiunian teacher/school: Ruslan Biryukov / Pacific Trails Middle School (San Diego, CA
3rd Prize
Suri Wang / China / video 1 repertoire: Joseph Haydn: Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major, 1. Moderato teacher/school: XuYang Zhao
Jana Kotelyuk / Czechia / video 1 repertoire: G. Goltermann: Cello Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 65, 1. věta teacher/school: Milan Bělanský/ZŠ a ZUŠ Jesenice
Category 4
1st Prize and Category Winner
Daniel Wang / USA / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: Cassado Suite for Solo Cello, 1st movement, Haydn Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major, 3rd movement teacher/school: Richard Aaron / San Francisco Conservatory of Music
1st Prize
Liwon Kim / South Korea / video 1 repertoire: Dvořák Cello Concerto in B minor, op.104, B.191 - III. Finale. Allegro moderato teacher/school: Jeong Joo Choi / Yewon School
2nd Prize
Min-Seo Kim / South Korea / video 1 repertoire: G. Goltermann - Cello Concerto No.2 Op.30 in D minor I. Allegro moderato teacher/school: JUNYOUNG ANN/Homeschooling
3rd Prize
Markéta Štenclová / Czechia / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: Johann Christian Bach - Concerto in C minor - 1. Allegro molto ma maestoso, Camille Saint-Saens - Allegro appassionato, op. 43 teacher/school: Judita Šprochová, J. A. Komensky Elementary Art School Studénka
Markéta Krpcová / Czechia / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: C. Saint:Saëns: The Swan, J. Mysliveček: Sonata in G major, Allegro teacher/school: Mgr. Martina Pražáková, ZUŠ Moravská Ostrava, Sokolská tř. 15
Category 5
1st Prize and Category Winner
Soyul Bae / South Korea / video 1 repertoire: Sarasate Zigeunerweisen Op.20 teacher/school: Jeongjoo Choi / Yewon School
1st Prize
Danylo Semenyuk / Germany / video 1 repertoire: Robert Schumann - Cello Concerto in A minor, Op.129: I. Nicht zu schnell teacher/school: Pre-College Cologne, Cologne University of Music and Dance, Teacher: Grigory Alumyan
2nd Prize
Martin Bernášek / Czechia / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: D. Popper: Hungarian Rhapsody Op. 68, F. Francoeur: Sonate E dur - I. Adagio cantabile, II. Allegro vivo teacher/school: Kateřina Hroníková, ZUŠ Jana Hanuše , Praha 6
Yifei Pan / China / video 1 repertoire: David Popper - Hungarian Rhapsody Op. 68 teacher/school:
Zimo Qin / China / video 1 repertoire: Bach: Suite No. 3 in C major for Unaccompanied Cello BWV 1009–VI Gigue, Giovanni Sollima: Alone for solo cello teacher/school: Professor Yibing CHU, Cello
3rd Prize
Zofia Klimaszewska / Poland / video 1 repertoire: F. Chopin - Largo z Sonaty g-moll, D. Popper - Polonez d-moll op. 14 teacher/school: Tomasz Lisiecki, Ogólnokształcąca Szkoła Muzyczna II st. im. Jadwigi Kaliszewskiej
Veronika Murashkovskaia / France / video 1 repertoire: E. Elgar Concerto in E minor Op. 85 teacher/school: CRR de Paris (Conservatoire à rayonnement régional de Paris)
Category 6
1st Prize and Category Winner
Lyana Ulikhanyan / Armenia / video 1 repertoire: György Ligeti - Sonata for Cello solo teacher/school: Denis Severin , Langenthal International String Academy, Switzerland
1st Prize
Seowoo Alice Jeon / South Korea / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: S. Prokofiev Sinfonia Concertante for Cello and Piano, 2nd Mov., A. Dvorak Cello Concerto in b minor, 1st Mov. teacher/school: Jungjoo Choi / Korea International School
2nd Prize
Zhixian Ye / China / video 1 repertoire: Edward Elgar: Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85 I. Adagio, Moderato teacher/school: Mingwei Zhao, Sichuan Conservatory of Music Affiliated Secondary School of Arts
Honorable Mention
Li Yue Yan Pan (Lisa) / USA / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: Rococo Variations: Tchaikovsky, Concert Polonaise: Popper teacher/school: Private teacher: Yingjun Wei, School: Woodbridge High School
Category 7
1st Prize and Category Winner
Aiden Kim / USA / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: Ernest Bloch- Schelomo: Rhapsodie Hébraïque, Debussy Cello Sonata in D minor, I. Prologue teacher/school: Jonathan Koh
1st Prize
Yiyi Shen / China / video 1 repertoire: Kodály, Sonata for solo cello Op. 8, I. Allegro maestoso ma appassionato teacher/school: Weixi Luo, Music Middle School Affiliated to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music
Chenyuan Hu / China / video 1 repertoire: Haydn Cello Concerto in D major Op.101, I.Allegro moderato teacher/school: Wenbin Geng, Music Middle School Affiliated to Shanghai Conservatory of Music
2nd Prize
Ella Schmalzl / Austria / video 1 repertoire: Claude Debussy - Cello Sonata in D minor teacher/school: István Várdai / University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, István Varga / Franz Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest
Kaiping Qiu / China / video 1 repertoire: Prokofiev cello sonata 1st movement teacher/school: Youxin Liu Affiliated Secondary School of NUA
3rd Prize
Luna Corina Diaz Cruz / Mexico / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: Bach Suite no. 2 in D minor (prelude), D. Popper, Polonaise de concert teacher/school: Jean Carlos Coronado Cabrices, Instituto Superior de Música Esperanza Azteca (ISMEA)
Honorable Mention
Kaya Edwards / United Kingdom/Japan / video 1 repertoire: Dvořák, Concerto in B minor, Op. 104, B. 191, I. Allegro teacher/school: Robert Max, Royal Academy of Music Junior Department
Category 8
1st Prize and Category Winner
Jesse Krentz / USA / video 1 repertoire: Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-flat, Mvmts III-IV teacher/school: Kevin Krentz
1st Prize
Melissa Lam / USA / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: Cello Suite No.5 in C minor, BWV 1011, I. Prelude, Dvořák Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104, I. Allegro teacher/school: Sergei Riabtchenko/homeschooled
2nd Prize
Emma Tian / Canada / video 1 repertoire: Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. 129 (I. Nicht zu schnell) teacher/school:
3rd Prize
Yerim Lee / South Korea / video 1 repertoire: R. Schumann Cello Concerto in A minor op.129, 1st mov. teacher/school: Jeongju Choi, Seoul Arts High School
Tadeáš Jadrný / Czechia / video 1 repertoire: Ottorino Respighi - Adagio con Variazioni teacher/school: MgA. Jan Zemen, Konzervatoř Pardubice
Sára Musálková / Czechia / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: Antonín Dvořák: Rondo op. 94, Camille Saint-Saëns: Cello Concerto No. 1: I. Allegro non troppo teacher/school: MgA. Tomáš Svozil/ Janáčkova konzervatoř v Ostravě
Category 9
1st Prize and Category Winner
Nolan Woo / USA / video 1 / video 2 / video 3 repertoire: Prokofiev Sinfonia Concertante, Andante, Bach Cello Suite No 5, Prelude, Penderecki Divertimento, Serenade teacher/school:
1st Prize
Jeongbin Ann / South Korea / video 1 / video 2 / video 3 / video 4 repertoire: 1. J. S. Bach Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009, Prelude, 2. Alfredo Piatti 12 Caprices for Cello Solo, Op.25, No. 12, 3. George Crumb Sonata for Solo Cello (1955), III. Toccata, 4. Eugène Ysaÿe Sonata for Solo Cello in C minor, Op.28, IV. Finale con brio teacher/school: Kangho Lee / Korea National University of Arts
Miriam K. Smith / USA / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: Cello Sonata in A Major, FWV 8 by César Frank, II. Allegro, Humoresque Op. 5 by Mstislav Rostropovich teacher/school: Alan Rafferty / University of Cincinnati
2nd Prize
Andrew Anderson / USA / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No.1, Allegretto, Bach: Cello Suite No.3, Prelude teacher/school: Hans Jensen, Northwestern University
3rd Prize
Alina Pohribna / Ukraina / video 1 / video 2 / video 3 repertoire: 1. Caprices 1 C. A. Piatti, 2. Melodi B. Lyatoshinskiy, 3. Ungarische Rapsodi D. Popper teacher/school: David Eggert, HKB Bern. Popper
Zhang Ruiqi / China / video 1 / video 2 / video 3 repertoire: 1.Edward Elgar Cello Concerto in E minor the second movement , Op.85 2.Johann Sebastian Bach: Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009 – Gigue 3.Johann Sebastian Bach: Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009 – Sarabande teacher/school: Qiu Shuhao, Wuhan Conservatory of Music
Category 10
1st Prize and Category Winner
Filip Krzeszowiec / Poland / video 1 repertoire: Eugene Ysaye- Sonate for Violoncello solo C minor Op. 28 teacher/school: Alexander Gebert- Karol Szymanowski Academy of `Music Katowice Poland, Jérôme Pernoo - Pernoo School of Musical Performance, Paris
2nd Prize
Nathaniel Abreu / USA / video 1 / video 2 / video 3 repertoire: 1. Ysaÿe - Sonata for Solo Cello, Op. 28 - I. Grave. Lento e sempre sostenuto, 2. Ysaÿe - Sonata for Solo Cello, Op. 28 - IV. Finale con brio. Allegro Tempo fermo, 3. Ricardo Lorenz - Fronteras Abiertas (Open Borders) teacher/school: Professor Dmitry Kouzov / Bachelor of Music from Oberlin Conservatory (Graduated in 2025)
3rd Prize
Agata Oliwia Wasniewska / Poland / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: Grażyna Bacewicz - Cello Concerto No 1, 1st movement, Johann Sebastian Bach - Cello Suite No 4 in E flat major, BWV 1010, Courante teacher/school: Marcin Zdunik, Maciej Kułakowski - Stanisław Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdańsk
Jin Xiaochi / China / video 1 repertoire: Haydn Cello Concerto No.2 in D Major, Op.101, I：Allegro moderato teacher/school: Guangyu Xie / Shanghai Conservatory of Music
Xinrui Yan / China / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: Elgar: Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85: I. Adagio -Moderato, Bach: Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008 : I. Prelude teacher/school: Amit Even-Tov/University of Cincinnati CCM
Category 11
1st Prize and Category Winner
Jorge Suárez / Spain / video 1 / video 2 / video 3 repertoire: R. Schumann - Adagio Allegro op. 70, C. A. Piatti - Caprice n. 12, Z. Kodály - Sonata Cello Solo - 1. Mov. teacher/school: László Fenyö - Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe
3rd Prize
Jacopo Muratori / Italy / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: P. Hindemith - Sonata for Cello Solo, Op. 25 no.3, A. Piatti - Capriccio sopra un tema della "Niobe" di Pacini, Op. 22 teacher/school: Graduated at Conservatorio "G.Rossini" di Pesaro with Claudio Casadei
Ramón Esteban Altamirano Farrugia / Chile / video 1 / video 2 repertoire: Johann Sebastian Bach – Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012 – Prelude, Joseph Haydn – Cello Concerto No. 2 in D Major, Hob. VIIb:2 – I. Allegro moderato teacher/school: Julio Barrios Wattson - University Of Chile, Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance, Amparo Lacruz - Musical Arts Madrid Spain, Postgraduate Degree in Cello, Ilmari Hopkins- OAcademy Music Conservatory- Artist Diploma
Mahler's first public concert
"On 13-10-1870 there was, by way of an exception, an Abonnement suspendu, the reason being that a nine year-old boy, the son of a local Jewish tradesman named Mahler, was to be heard for the first time playing the piano before a large audience. The great success the future virtuoso achieved with his audience did him honour; one could only wish that for his excellent playing he had had an equally good instrument at his service. If the young artist's former teacher, Herr Kapellmeister Viktorin, hears of yesterday's success, he can certainly be pleased with his protege."
Previous winners
Rules
- The competition will be via videos published only on www.youtube.com.
- The competition is open for competitors of all nationalities up to the age of 32, the competition is divided into 11 age categories.
- The competition is a one-round competition, and the condition of the competition is to play from memory without a music stand or reading sheet music from any materials.
- The repertoire is free and should consist of one or more pieces which has to fulfill the time limit. For videos exceeding the specified time limit, the jury will evaluate only the parts of the performance that fall within the time limit. Any parts of the video beyond the time limit will not be evaluated.
- Play solo, or with piano accompaniment, no other musical instruments are permitted.
Works written for cello and piano or for cello and orchestra must be performed with piano accompaniment; they may not be performed solo, i.e., without accompaniment.
- The video must be a real recording without editing, shot in one static shot, with the camera slightly away from the competitor. Must be visible on the competitor's hands and body at all times.
- The video recording not more than 6 months old must be placed on www.youtube.com, the competitor will include in the application the exact internet link to the video recording.
- Each piece/composition can have a separate link.
- The full names of the pieces, the composer and the competitor, must be included in the video title or description (in English)
- The video must be public and accessible for the duration of the competition and for the next 6 months after the end of the competition.. The competitor will not seek a financial reward for posting the video and gives consent to post the video on the organiser's web site to announce the results.
- The organiser reserves the right not to open a category for organisational reasons or not to accept an application or to shorten the competition deadline for the competition for capacity reasons.
- The competition deadline: 28.2.2026.
- Announcement of results: 6.4.2026.
- Failure to comply with the above conditions, as well as an apparent reading of the notes during the game, may result in the competitor being eliminated from the competition.
- Application only in English shall be submitted exclusively electronically by completing an online form at www.mahler.institute (at the end of this page) and paying a registration fee.
Works written for cello and piano or for cello and orchestra must be performed with piano accompaniment; they may not be performed solo, i.e., without accompaniment.
Age Categories / Time Limit
Category
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Year of Birth
2015 and younger
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2005 - 2007
2001 - 2004
1993 - 2000
Time Limit
2 - 5 min.
4 - 8 min.
4 - 8 min.
5 - 10 min.
5 - 10 min.
7 - 10 min.
7 - 10 min.
9 - 12 min.
9 - 12 min.
10 - 13 min.
13 - 20 min.
Awards
Prizes totalling €5000 will be awarded.
Gustav Mahler Prize - Grand Prix - Personalized Glass Trophy, Prize Money 30,000 CZK, Diploma - the Absolute Winner
Concerts in Jihlava
Prize of Gustav Mahler Philharmonic Jihlava
Prize of Chief Conductor of the Gustav Mahler Philharmonic Jihlava
Prize of Jury president
Prize of Director of Gustav Mahler Institute Prague
Prize for the best Czech competitor
Prizes for the interpretation of a compositions
Each competitor receives a diploma (by email) and the short evaluation of the performance.
Jury
Mgr.art. Jan Pospíšil - president of Jury
solo cellist, concertmaster of Slovak National Theatre Orchestra, teacher at the Church Conservatory in Bratislava
MgA. Petr Nouzovský - member of Jury
leading Czech cello soloist, teacher at the Prague Conservatory, a faculty member at the New York University Prague
Mgr. Jiří Jakeš - member of Jury
Chief conductor of Gustav Mahler Philharmonic Jihlava, Czech Republic
The jury will assess the competitive performance of the competitors, determine the order of the competitors in each category, determine the absolute winner of the competition, determine the award holder.
The jury's deliberations are not public, the jury does not publish evaluations.
The jury's decision is final, indisputable and there is no appeal.
Application Procedure
The application is submitted exclusively electronically by filling in the online form at www.mahler.institute (at the bottom of this page) and paying the registration fee. Proof of payment of the fee must accompany the application. Applications can be submitted until February 28, 2026 at the latest. You will receive a final confirmation of your participation in the selection procedure once you have submitted your application and the registration fee has been credited to our bank account (takes a few days!!!). Please wait for the confirmation email. If you do not receive a confirmation email within a few days, please send us a reminder.
Registration fee:
categories 1 - 5: € 45
categories 6 - 9: € 75
categories 10 - 11: € 95
To pay the registration fee, use our bank account:
IBAN: CZ4820100000002601525645
BIC/SWIFT: FIOBCZPPXXX
Owner: Institut Gustava Mahlera, z.s.
address: Fio banka, a.s., Millennium Plaza, V Celnici 10, 117 21 Prague, Czech Republic
Čeští účastníci mohou platit ekvivalent v korunách na účet: 2601525645/2010. Fakturu rádi vystavíme na vyžádání, sdělte nám Vaše fakturační údaje.
Fee can be paid via payPal, please use our email for Paypal: manager@f-gm.cz or QR:
Application form
Please, fill in in English only!