The Final Round of the 2022 Classic Strings Cello Competition. DAY 1

After two gruelling phases, eight participants have been hand-picked to perform in the final round of the competition, which is being organised by SAMIT Event Group, and supported by The Violin Channel.

Listed in alphabetical order by surname, these finalists are:

Michal Balas (Poland)
Johannes Gray (USA/Franca)
Liav Kerbel (Belgium/Israel)
Sydney Lee (USA)
Vaclav Petr (Czech Republic)
Lizi Ramishvili (Georgia)
Yung-Tzu Wang (Taiwan/Germany)
Alexey Zhilin (Russia)

Over the next two days, they will each step up to the stage of the Music Hall at the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray to perform alongside the internationally-acclaimed Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, in front of a jury board chaired by Dominique de Williencourt (France), and comprised of Boris Andrianov (USA), Suren Bagratuni (USA), Alexander Chaushian (Armenia/UK), Henri Demarquette (France), Julian Lloyd Webber (UK), Philippe Muller (France), Martti Rousi (Finland), Meehae Ryo (South Korea) and Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi (Japan).

Each day, four contestants will be allocated time to rehearse with the orchestra, with the performances themselves, which can last a maximum of 70 minutes, commencing at 16:30 and ending at 21:55.

Today’s schedule:

​​16:30-17:40 - Audition Participant No.1. Liav Kerbel (Belgium/Israel)
17:55-19:05 - Audition Participant No.2. Sydney Lee (USA)
19:20-20:30 - Audition Participant No.3. Vaclav Petr (Czech Republic)
20:45-21:55 - Audition Participant No.4. Lizi Ramishvili (Georgia)

The top prize winner of the Cello Competition shall be awarded a €50,000 cash prize along with a tour of ten concerts with an honorarium of €5,000 per concert. There will also be prizes for the first and second runner-ups, as well as a number of Special Prizes in recognition of different achievements throughout the competition.