FIRST ROUND: PRELIMINARY ROUNDS

The jury will select the 12 candidates for the second round based on the submitted entries. The requirements of the preliminary round may also be played from sheets. Contestants are expected to send their recordings via a shared YouTube link. 

Deadline: extended until 15 April 2025

• J.S. Bach: Cello Suites - video recordings of three optional movements.
• A video recording of one of the optional pieces from Second Round, List II. or a freely chosen movement or movements of a solo cello piece written after 1940, of a total length of 5-10 minutes

SECOND ROUND: SEMI-FINAL
Liszt Academy, Solti Hall - 8-9 September 2025.
12 contestants

Requirements for the round:

One work of your choice from List I. below:

• Beethoven: Cello Sonata, No. 3 Op. 69
• Beethoven: Cello Sonata, No. 4 Op. 102
• Beethoven: Cello Sonata, No. 5 Op. 102
• Brahms: Cello Sonata in E minor, No. 1
• Brahms: Cello Sonata in F major, No. 2

A freely selected composition from List II. below:

• Kodály: Sonata for Solo Cello, Op. 8 (one freely chosen movement)
• Ligeti: Sonata for Solo Cello
• Dutilleux: Trois Strophes sur le nom de Sacher
• S. Veress: Sonata for Cello Solo 

The semi-finals will feature internationally renowned pianists.
Piano rehearsals: 07.09.2025 Sunday, in the allocated practice rooms of the Liszt Academy.
The requirements of the semi-finals may also be played from sheets.
(The length of the second round must not exceed 55 minutes per person)

THIRD ROUND: SEMI-FINAL
Liszt Academy, Solti Hall - 11 September 2025
6 contestants

Requirements for the round:
One work of your choice from List I. below:

• C.P.E. Bach: Cello Concerto in A major
• J. Haydn: C major Cello Concerto
• J. Haydn: Cello concerto in D major

A work of your choice from list II. below:

• Schumann: Cello concerto (string orchestra version)
• Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme
• M. Weinberg: Concertino Op. 43 bis (1948)

The semi-final will feature the Liszt Ferenc Chamber Orchestra.
The compositions must be played by heart in the semi-final, without sheet music.
(The length of the third round programme must not exceed 55 minutes per person)

FOURTH ROUND - FINAL
Liszt Academy, Great Hall - 13 September 2025.
3 contestants

The contestant should nominate one (1) from the specified competition pieces.

• Shostakovich: Cello Concerto, No. 1
• Prokofiev: Sinfonia Concertante, Op. 125
• Dvorak: Cello Concerto, Op. 104

The final will feature the National Philharmonic Orchestra
conducted by György Vashegyi

• The Concerto must be followed by an optional movement from Bach's cello suites.

In the final, the pieces must be played by heart, without sheet music.In the final, the pieces must be played by heart, without sheet music.

THE INTERNATIONAL JURY

The international jury of seven members includes Anne Gastinel, András Keller, Jens Peter Maintz, Frans Helmerson, Gwen Starker, Santiago Cañón Valencia és István Várdai.

APPLICATION

Age limit: applications are welcome from those born after 1 September 1995.  
To apply, first complete the application form on the link below and then send all the requested attachments in full to competition@filharmonia.hu.
Online application questionnaire

Documents to be sent by email after completing the online questionnaire: a photocopy of the receipt for the entry fee; a photocopy of the identity card (EU citizens only) or passport (EU and non-EU citizens); an artist's and professional curriculum vitae; and a recent photograph of the applicant of at least 2-3 MB in size.

Also to be attached three unedited video files as a shared link:

• 1. An introduction of the applicant in a maximum duration of 60 seconds.
• 2. A video recording of J.S. Bach: Cello Suites - three optional movements, all 3 movements played uncut in one recording
• 3. A video recording of one of the optional works selected from Second Round  List II. or a freely chosen movement or movements of a solo cello piece written after 1940, of a total length of 5-10 minutes

Contestants are expected to send their recordings via a shared YouTube link as follows:

• Video recording not older than 6 months from submitting the registration
• Hands and whole body need to be clearly visible all the time
• Individual parts of the repertoire must be recorded in one video not separately, thus we expect three (3) videos.
• Upload it as non-public (unlisted) video on YouTube

The application will be complete and final when the contestant has filled in the online application form and sent all the requested attachments in full, together with the 3 video links, by e-mail to competition@filharmonia.hu.

ENTRY FEE

Entry fee: 80 EUR

Application deadline: 15 April 2025 

Deadline for sending the application: 15 April 2025 23:59
The entry fee is non-refundable in case of unsuccessful qualification.
Notification deadline: 30 April 2025 

Please transfer the entry fee to the bank account of the organiser as follows:

IBAN: HU69 10004885-10002010-00223335
BIC (SWIFT) code: HUSTHUHB
Hungarian State Treasury,  HU1139 Budapest, Vaci ut 71.

In the communication, please indicate the name of the competitor and the name of the competition as follows:
Surname Firstname - BICC

COMPETITION RULES

The competition is open to the public, so any competitors' performances in connection with the competition may be filmed, recorded, and broadcast live on television by Philharmonia Hungary Ltd. By entering, the competitor grants the Promoter, free of charge, all rights to film and audio record the competitor’s performance and to use any and all images and audio recordings of the competitor made during the competition for any and all current and future media without restriction. The Organiser will provide accommodation for the contestants for the duration of the semi-finals and the final. The contestants must cover travel expenses. Except for the third round (semifinal) and the fourth round (final) the competitors can also play from sheet music. Participation in the Competition constitutes acceptance of these Competition Rules.

For further information: competition@filharmonia.hu