The online phase of the George Enescu International Competition started on May 9 with the cello section, the organizers announced.

A total of 23 cello players from 14 countries are competing at this stage of this event. Twelve of them can qualify for the semifinals scheduled for September 2022. The youngest contestant is 12 years old, and the average age of the participants is 23.

The jury for the cello competition is made up of David Geringas (jury president), Natasha Brofsky, Marin Cazacu, Enrico Dindo, Leonid Gorokhov, Alexandra Guțu, Reinhard Latzko, Meehae Ryo and Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi. 

The results of the online phase will be announced by May 31.

Recordings of the performances will be available on the dedicated page of the George Enescu Festival and Competition website.

More than 100 young musicians from 32 countries registered to participate in one of the four sections of the competition: cello, violin, piano, and composition. The largest number of competitors come from Romania (16), China (15), and South Korea (14). 

As a first this year, the contestants registered for violin, cello, and piano who pass the online phase will enter the semifinal directly.

(Photo: Andrei Gindac, courtesy of George Enescu Competition)

simona@romania-insider.com