Double bass winners announced at the 2024 International Bottesini Competition

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The final round of the ninth International Bottesini Competition (IBC) took place on 27 October at the San Domenico Theatre in Crema, Italy. The finalists performed Bottesini’s Double Bass Concerto no. 2 in B minor, accompanied by the Bottesini Orchestra conducted by artistic director Enrico Fagone.

The first prize was awarded to South Korean double bassist Siheon Ryu, receiving a double bass by Marco Nolli worth €30,000 and the €1,000 Under 25 Award. The second prize went to German double bassist Johann Warzecha, receiving a double bass by Richard Gonon worth €20,000, and the third prize of €3,000 to German double bassist Eva Brockhaus. Brockhaus also won the special prize bow by Marco Pasquino. All three finalists additionally received bow cases by Bogaro & Clemente.

Ryu was born in 2005 and began learning the double bass at the age of 13. He currently studies at the Seoul National University with KBS Symphony Orchestra principal bassist Chang Hyung Lee. Ryu has been a prizewinner at numerous competitions, including the International Mozart Competition Vienna, the Osaka International Competition, and the KBS Kepco Music Competition.

IBC was founded in 1989 by Italian double bassist Franco Petracchi. This year’s jury comprised Petracchi, Fagone, Gary Karr, Thierry Barbé, Luis Cabrera, Dominique Meyer, and Chi-chi Nwanoku, with Fabio Vacchi as president of the jury.

Previous winners of the competition include Juliàn Medina, Wies De Boevé, Maria Chirokoliyska, and Rinat Ibragimov.

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