New International Cello Competition in Denmark
The Danish International Cello Competition will be held for the first time from June 26 to July 3, 2027. The venue is the Alsion Concert Hall in Sønderborg. The competition is scheduled to take place every three years going forward.
The Danish International Cello Competition (DICC) was founded by the Danish Philharmonic Orchestra in collaboration with Nordic Artists Management.
Cellists of all nationalities born on or after June 27, 1996, are eligible to apply. The application period runs from August 15 to October 24, 2026. Twenty-four participants will be selected from the applications. They will compete against each other in three preliminary rounds and a final round.
The competition week begins with an opening concert by the Danish Philharmonic Orchestra. It concludes with the final round and awards ceremony on July 3, 2027. All rounds are open to the public and will also be streamed internationally.
Artistic Director Adam Stadnicki cites Denmark’s cello tradition and the Sønderborg-based string manufacturer Larsen Strings as reasons for choosing the location. The city’s excellent connections to Europe were the deciding factor.
Cello Bridge Mentoring Program
Accompanying the competition is the Cello Bridge mentoring program, led by Trudy Wright, former tour and project manager at Harrison Parrott. It is open to all 24 participants, even after they may have been eliminated. The program includes one-on-one meetings, panel discussions, and workshops on career issues in the music industry.
Jury and Prizes
The jury is chaired by cellist Daniel Müller-Schott. Other members include Andreas Brantelid, Amelia Jakobsson, Tatjana Vassiljeva-Monnier, Alex Taylor, Kathryn Stott, and Niklas Walentin.
The first prize, the Larsen Strings Prize, has an estimated total value of approximately 80,000 euros. It includes 14,000 euros in prize money, ten concerts with European orchestras, an album recording with the Danish Philharmonic Orchestra for Pentatone, mentoring, and a three-year collaboration with Nordic Artists Management. The second prize is worth 8,000 euros, and the third prize is worth 5,000 euros. Special prizes will also be awarded.
