International David Geringas Cello Competition 2021
May 3‒7, 2021
Klaipėda

The International Klaipėda Cello Festival and Competition, launched in 2017 by the Klaipėda Concert Hall to become the only event dedicated to cello music in the Baltic countries, will welcome the renowned cello masters, teachers and contestants from around the world for the third time in 2021! From its third edition onwards the competition will be given the name of the internationally acclaimed Lithuanian-born German cellist, David Geringas. From now on the biennial competition will be titled as the International David Geringas Cello Competition

The International David Geringas Cello Competition will be held in Klaipėda on May 3‒7, 2021: rounds of the junior groups will take place at the Klaipėda Stasys Šimkus Conservatory (S. Šimkaus g. 15); quarterfinal and semi-final rounds of the professional group at the Klaipėda Faculty of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (K. Donelaičio g. 4) and the final round at the Klaipėda Concert Hall (Šaulių g. 36). The closing concert of the laureates of the International David Geringas Cello Competition will take place on May 7, 2021, at the Klaipėda Concert Hall, with the participation of the Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra (Artistic Director Mindaugas Bačkus) under the baton of Martynas Staškus (Lithuania).                       

All rounds of the competition are open to the public, but in view of the extreme situation arising out of COVID-19 pandemic, elimination rounds of the competition (except the final rounds) may be conducted online instead of in person. We will provide the most updated information concerning the way competition rounds will be conducted no later than April 1, 2021.

Entry Conditions

The International David Geringas Cello Competition is open for professional musicians and cello students of all nationalities. Please note: first prize winners of the previous International Klaipėda Cello Competitions cannot be part of the same age group in the current competition.

Eligible candidates willing to take part in the competition must be no more than 30 years of age on May 6, 2019. To start the application process you must fill out the online application form at artistdb.eu, by creating your account and clicking on the logo of the International David Geringas Cello Competition (online registration will be active as of  February 1, 2021).

The International David Geringas Cello Competition is held in two categories: junior (three age groups) and professional (one age group).

Professional group:

Group D – up to 30 years of age (born after 3 May 1991).

Jury

Prizes

After the final rounds in each age group of both junior and professional categories two respective panels of judges will vote for three prize winners in each age group to be announced and awarded cash prizes (amounts according to the awarded place are given in the table below) and signed diplomas during the official awarding ceremony. The jury can also award the contestants with an indefinite number of special awards.

The total fund of cash prizes of the International David Geringas Cello Competition is €20,000.

Special prizes:

• David Geringas prizes: 1) an invitation to take part in his cello master classes at the Blackmore International Music Academy in Berlin (an in-kind award, waiving of tuition fees for 4 private lessons worth €250 each, exclusive of travel and accommodation expenses in Berlin); 2) solo performance with David Geringas conducting during the 2021‒22 season of the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall;

• Pau Casals Foundation prize: an invitation to visit Barcelona and a free three-day stay for cellist and pianist, during which the prize-winner and the pianist will be provided with an opportunity to visit the Pau Casals Museum in El Vendrell, record a short promotional video at Pau Casals’ Music Room, and take part in a free promotional event in Barcelona, which will include a 15-minute pre-concert talk and a solo appearance of the prize-winner with the pianist at one of the venues in central Barcelona (an in-kind award includes travel expenses to / from Barcelona, all transfers in Spain, accommodation in Barcelona for two persons, organization of a promotional event in Barcelona and production of the video in El Vendrell);

• Liepāja Symphony Orchestra prize: solo performance with the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra during its 2021–22 season;

• Klaipėda Concert Hall prizes: 1) an invitation for the laureates of the junior category to take part in the educational events of the 2021–22 season with the Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra; 2) a cello-case backpack;

• Diploma for the best interpretation of Tadas Petrulis’ Tier for cello and piano (from the compulsory repertoire of Group C);

• Diploma for the best interpretation of Anatolijus Šenderovas‘ Sonata for cello and piano (from the compulsory repertoire of Group D).

Performance Repertoire

Group A

Group B

Two contrasting pieces of the contestant’s choice, one of which has to be from the Baroque or Classical period. The total duration of the performance must not exceed 10‒15 minutes.

Group C

Final Round

Any of the following pieces:

• Antonín Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104 B. 191: I. Allegro;
• Édouard Lalo: Cello Concerto in D minor: I. Prelude, lento – Allegro maestoso;
• Camille Saint-Saëns: Concerto in A minor, Op. 33;
• Piotr Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33.

Group D

First Round

• Henri Dutilleux: Trois strophes sur le nom de Sacher for solo cello;
• György Ligeti: Sonata for solo cello;
• George Crumb: Sonata for solo cello.

2. Johann Sebastian Bach: any prelude and one or two other movements of the contestant’s choice from the Six cello suites, BWV 1007‒1012.

Second Round

1. Claude Debussy: Sonata for cello and piano in D minor.

2. Anatolijus Šenderovas: Sonata for cello and piano (1977, Edition Verlag Neue Musik).

3. Any of the following pieces:

• Johannes Brahms: Sonata for cello and piano No. 2, Op. 99: I. Allegro vivace;
• Felix Mendelssohn: Sonata for cello and piano No. 2 in D major, Op. 58: I. Allegro assai vivace;
• Edvard Grieg: Sonata for cello and piano in A major, Op. 36: I. Allegro agitato;
• Richard Strauss: Sonata for cello and piano in F major, Op. 6, TrV 115: I. Allegro con brio.

Final Round