The prizewinners 2023 in the category cello

(cs) On Friday, 12 May 2023, this year's International Instrumental Competition Markneukirchen reached its climax in the violoncello category. No less than four candidates emerged as best-placed from the three preliminary rounds and presented themselves to the jury and the audience in the evening in the Musikhalle Markneukirchen. The four finalists, Grace Sohn (Canada), Vilem Vlcek (Czech Republic), Gustaw Bafeltowski (Poland) and Tzu-Shao Chao (Taiwan) once again demonstrated their extraordinary skills with the Concerto No. 2 in D major Hob. VIIb:2 by Joseph Haydn. The participants were accompanied by the Clara-Schumann-Philharmoniker Plauen-Zwickau under the direction of GMD Leo Siberski.

After a jury deliberation, the result was announced at the end of the evening by the president Prof. Julius Berger:

1st prize winner ................................................ Vilem Vlcek (Czech Republic)
2nd prize winner ................................................ Gustaw Bafeltowski (Poland)
3rd prize winner ................................................ Tzu-Shao Chao (Taiwan)
4th place ........................................................... Grace Sohn (Canada)

The three first prize winners will perform a selection of the works from the rounds of the competition at the prize winners' concert on Saturday 13 May 2023. The first prize-winner, Vilem Vlcek, will perform the work of the final round, Haydn's Concerto No. 2 in D major. The runner-up, Gustaw Bafeltowski, will perform Olivier Messiaen's "Louange à l'Éternité de Jésus" from Quatuor pour la fin du temps from the second round of the competition. Tzu-Shao Chao will be the third prizewinner to present Beethoven's Sonata in C major op. 102/1, from the third selection round. Tickets for the prizewinner concert are available at the box office for 16,- or 13,- Euro.