COMPETITIONS

1 Bryan Cheng

1 Canadian cellist Bryan Cheng, 24, won first prize in the Unisa International Strings Competition’s classical category, held at the University of South Africa in Pretoria. He took home R230,000 (£11,000) and also received prizes for the best performance of a Baroque work and of a South African work, both worth £700. South Korean cellist YeongKwang Lee, 26, took the £6,000 second prize while French violinist Clara Saitkoulov, 22, received the £4,700 third prize.

2 Two violinists received prizes at the Gstaad Musical Summits in Switzerland. The Thierry Scherz prize for best interpretation, which comes with a recording opportunity, went to Danish violinist Anna Agafia, 25, a graduate of the Lausanne University of Music in Switzerland. The André Hoffmann prize for best interpretation of the summit’s commissioned work went to 25-year-old Irish violinist Mairéad Hickey, who received CHF5,000 (£4,000).

3 Cellist Hyein Kim, 23, took first prize at the New Zealand National String Competition. He received NZ$5,000 (£2,400), a recital at the Lewis Eady Steinway Showroom and an opportunity to perform with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. Second prize went to violinist KiHei Lee, 22, who received £1,500, while third prize and £500 went to cellist Christine Jeon, 14. All performers are from New Zealand.

4 German cellist Constantin Paul Siepermann, 21, was named the Gustav Mahler Cello Competition’s Absolute Winner, receiving CZK30,000 (£1,000). He studies with Jean-Guihen Queyras at the Freiburg School of Music in Germany. Czech cellist David Pěruška, 19, took home the prize for best Czech competitor and the Gustav Mahler Philharmonic Jihlava prize, which comes with concert opportunities. Various other prizes were awarded to cellists from around the world.

2 Anna Agafia

3 Mairéad Hickey

CHENG PHOTO NIKOLAJ LUND. AGAFIA PHOTO ANASTASIA KOBEKINA. HICKEY PHOTO SANTIAGO CAÑÓN-VALENCIA

FORTHCOMING COMPETITIONS & AWARDS

International Violin Competition of the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava, Slovakia, for violinists aged 30 or under. First prize €3,000 Deadline 15 May; competition 8–14 September Web bit.ly/3B9ZGp2

International Competition for Violin in Kloster Schöntal, Germany, for violinists ages 21 or under. First prize €3,000 Deadline 31 May; competition 26 August– 3 September Web bit.ly/3rexVHZ

Bad Tölz International String Quartet Competition, in Germany, for string quartet members aged 35 or under. First prize €10,000 Deadline 30 October; competition 16–20 April 2023 Web bit.ly/3gT68rX