Audition Stage Complete: Classic Cello 2026 Announces 40 Selected Cellists from Over 20 Different Countries
Ultimately, only a limited number of participants could be selected for the live rounds, but we would like to extend our sincere appreciation to all applicants for the work you put forward, and the commitment you have shown us all. These are the 40 candidates who have successfully advanced to the live order, listed alphabetically by surname:
- 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)
- YiJoon 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, organisers have also announced a waiting list of 10 participants (listed alphabetically by surname), who will be ready to step in should any of the selected contestants be unable to attend. These candidates are listed below:
- 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)
We thank you once again for your interest in Classic Cello and wish you every success in your future musical endeavours, while sincerely hoping to welcome you to one of our events in the future.
