Nine cellists from German and Swiss music academies won two-year loans of fine cellos and bows to help facilitate their career development
The Sinfonima Foundation has announced the results of its competition, which awards fine cellos and bows to cellists in the final phase of their education at German and Swiss music academies.
31 cellists auditioned to a jury, performing a piece for solo cello of their choice, plus the competition’s compulsory piece, Schubert’s ‘Arpeggione’ Sonata.
From the auditions, nine cellists were awarded two-year loans of a fine cello and bow. They are:
Benedikt Dan – Ekkard Seidl, Markneukirchen, 2001 (Guarneri model), with Reinhard Ulrich bow
Carla Keller – Onorato Gragnani, Livorno, 1783
Amalia Rümmele – René Champion, Paris, 1753, with Sebastian Dirr bow
Marei Schibilsky – Nicolas Vuillaume, Mirecourt, ca. 1860 with Alfred Knoll bow
Clara Stümke – Hans-Jörg Homolka, Stuttgart, 2012
Godwin Ude – Ivano Conti, Cremonese, 1990, with Josef P. Gabriel bow
Andrej van Brakel – Franz Johann Glass, Leipzig, 1898
Michael Wehrmeyer – Giovanni & Francesco Grancino, Milan, 1660-1670, with Klaus Grünke bow
Antoni Wrona – Nicola Amati, Cremona, 1636, with German bow, ca. 1930
The jury was directed by Werner Schmitt and comprised Karin Wolf, Bernhard Wallerius, Julius Berger and Thomas Demenga.
’We are always impressed by the quality of the performances that the young musical talents present to us here,’ said Dr Lothar Stöckbauer, who serves alongside Jürgen Wörner on the foundation’s board of directors.
‘However, gaining such an intensive insight into their skills and the level of their artistic education does not make the jury’s decision on the awarding of the master cellos any easier.’
The Sinfonima Foundation was established in 1991 by the Mannheimer Versicherung insurers to support promising young musicians with a high-quality stringed instrument. The foundation awards violins and cellos on alternating basis for a period of two years.
Photos courtesy Mannheimer Versicherung AG.
Read: Winners announced for the Johansen International Competition for Young String Players
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