The 25-year-old competed against international players of multiple orchestral instruments

Rustem

Russian cellist Rustem Khamidullin has been awarded first place at the 26th Gisborne International Music Competition in New Zealand. The 25-year-old student of Conradin Brotbek in Stuttgart receives the Ian Dunsmore Memorial Prize of $8,000 and a solo engagement with Orchestra Wellington in 2016.

This year’s second prize of $5,000 went to 22-year-old New Zealand flautist Hugh Roberts and third prize of $3,000 to 18-year-old Australian cellist Sam Lucas. The jury included violin soloist Tamsin Waley-Cohen and New Zealand Symphony principal flute Bridget Douglas.

Open to international players of all orchestral instruments aged between 16 and 25 years, the competition takes the form of a series of recitals. Past finalists have gone on to perform in professional orchestras in Australia and New Zealand, and throughout the world.

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