The Schoenfeld International String Competition is open to all cellists born after 15 July 1988, regardless of gender or nationality. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Due to the global impact of Covid-19, deadline of applying the competition is extended. The application fee is waived with amendments of pre-screening requirement for the applicants who may have difficulties of preparing materials.
Extended Application Deadline
May 15th, 2020
Candidates must register directly on our website. For all questions or issues regarding registration, please contact us at the following address: info@schoenfeldcompetition.com.
1. Etude - one of the followings:
•D. Popper: High School of Cello Playing, Op. 73: No. 13, 17, or 28
•A. Piatti: Caprices for Cello Solo, Op. 25: No. 3, 7, 9, or 12
2. Prelude and one other movement from J. S. Bach’s Cello Suite - one of the followings:
•No. 3, BWV 1009
•No. 4, BWV 1010
•No. 5, BWV 1011
•No. 6, BWV 1012
•Recent (less than 3 years) and high-quality file, containing the required programme for the preliminary audition only (no advertisement within the video).
•Pieces must be recorded in their entirety and must be UNEDITED (no cuts). Microphones should be positioned at a distance allowing to obtain a good sound quality. The video must be filmed from the front, using a fixed and wide camera angle; interpreter must always remain visible.
•For the piece with piano, both players must be visible.
•Movements must be indexed (compulsory).
•Public recordings are accepted if they meet the recording conditions stated above.
•It is allowed to provide separate recordings for each piece, recorded in various place and time.
•It is highly recommended to take into consideration the quality of the sound, to allow the Jury to have the best possible judgement.
Maximum 35 candidates, maximum 25-minute performance for each candidate.
1. One of the followings virtuosic etudes (could be same as the candidate’s pre-screening choice):
•D. Popper High School of Cello Playing, Op. 73: No. 13, 17, or 28
•A. Piatti: Caprices for Cello Solo, Op. 25: No. 3, 7, 9, or 12
2. Prelude and one other movement from J. S. Bach’s Cello Suite - one of the followings:
•No. 3, BWV 1009
•No. 4, BWV 1010
•No. 5, BWV 1011
•No. 6, BWV 1012
3. One virtuosic concert piece for cello solo or with piano accompaniment by the following composers:
•N. Paganini: Variations on a Theme from "Moses" by Rossini
•B. Martinů: Variations on a Theme by Rossini (1942)
•D. Popper: Hungarian Rhapsody, Op. 68
•P. I. Tchaikovsky: Pezzo Capriccioso, Op. 62
•Z. Kodály: Sonata for Cello Solo, Op. 8 (select only one movement of the entire sonata)
Maximum 14 candidates, maximum 35-minute performance for each candidate.
1. Any two movement s of contestant’s choice from the selected sonatas of the followings:
•L. v. Beethoven: Sonata in A Major, Op. 69
•L. v. Beethoven: Sonata in C Major, Op. 102/ No. 1
•L. v. Beethoven: Sonata in D Major, Op. 102/ No. 2
•F. Schubert: Sonata in A Minor, D. 821 "Arpeggione"
•J. Brahms: Sonata in E Minor, Op. 38
•J. Brahms: Sonata in F Major, Op. 99
•F. Chopin: Sonata in G Minor, Op. 65
•C. Debussy: Sonata (1915)
•R. Strauss: Sonata in F Major, Op. 6
•D. Shostakovich: Sonata in D Minor, Op. 40
•S. Prokofiev: Sonata in C Major, Op. 119
2. Free of choice (with or without piano accompaniment)
A complete works must be published by formal press company, the works chosen for the Pre-screening Round submission may be performed again during the live competition.
3. New Chinese Composition (The duration is about 5 mins, will be announced one month before the First Round)
Maximum 7 candidates, performing concerto with piano accompaniment
Complete J. Haydn’s Cello Concerto - one of the followings:
•C Major, Hob. VIIb/1
•D Major, Hob. VIIb/2
Maximum 3 candidates, performing concerto with Harbin Symphony Orchestra
Complete Concerto - one of the followings (without repeat):
•R. Schumann: Cello Concerto in A Minor, Op. 129
•A. Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B Minor, Op. 104
•E. Elgar: Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85
•P. I. Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme Op. 33
