CellEAST International Competition - 2nd Edition

CellEAST International Competition – 2nd Edition

CellEASTIinternational Competition 2nd edition 2026

CELLO & BAROQUE CELLO

May 27–30, 2026 | Bucharest, Romania

The CellEAST International Competition is Romania’s only international event exclusively devoted to the cello, providing a unique platform for exceptional young talents from around the world. The project is organized by the PlaCello Cultural Association and UCIMR, co-founded by the Administration of the National Cultural Fund and sponsored by Vestra Industry.

The BAROQUE CELLO CATEGORY will make its debut in the 2nd edition of the CellEAST International Competition, as a NATIONAL PREMIERE and a landmark cultural initiative.

The 1st edition in 2024 attracted 70 exceptional young cellists from around the world, and has welcomed participants from 20 countries, including Armenia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, China, Croatia, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Sweden, Ukraine, Hungary, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

Rules and regulations

I. ELIGIBILITY

1. The CellEAST International Competition 2nd edition is open for professional cellists of all nationalities.

2. Competition candidates must be between 6 and 32 years of age on the last day of the competition, May 30, 2026, according to the age limits of each category.

II. CALENDAR:

THE DEADLINE OF THE APPLICATIONS IS MARCH 16, 2026.
APPLICATIONS February 4 – March 16, 2026 (online on www.celleast.com);
PRELIMINARY ROUND RESULTS – March 30, 2026 (online on www.celleast.com);
COMPETITION. May 27 – 30, 2026 (live in Bucharest, Romania);
GALA CONCERT AND THE AWARD CEREMONY – May 30, 2026 (at the Romanian Athenaeum).

III. PRIZES and SPECIAL PRIZES

The total fund of cash prizes of the CellEAST International Competition is €14000 and many SPECIAL PRIZES.

PRIZES for YoungCellEAST category

A group

1st prize – 1500 RON (approx. 300 EURO)
2nd prize – 1000 RON (approx. 200 EURO)
3rd prize – 500 RON (approx. 100 EURO)

B group

1st prize – 5000 RON (approx. 1000 EURO)
2nd prize – 3000 RON (approx. 600 EURO)
3rd prize – 1500 RON (approx. 300 EURO)

C group

1st prize – 7500 RON (approx. 1500 EURO)
2nd prize – 5000 RON (approx. 1000 EURO)
3rd prize – 2500 RON (approx. 500 EURO)

PRIZES for PROCellEAST category

D group

1st prize – 15000 RON (approx. 3000 EURO)
2nd prize – 7500 RON (approx. 1500 EURO)
3rd prize – 5000 RON (approx. 1000 EURO)

PRIZES for Baroque Cello category

1st prize – 7500 RON (approx. 1500 EURO)
2nd prize – 5000 RON (approx. 1000 EURO)
3rd prize – 2500 RON (approx. 500 EURO)

SPECIAL PRIZES

Atheneum Violins Prize – A 4/4 CELLO crafted by luthier Silvian Rusu.
Majestic Bows Prize – Offers a cello bow crafted by the renowned bow maker Vladimir Radosavljevic.
Mihail Jora Philharmonic Prize – Invitation to perform as soloist one concert with the Mihail Jora Philharmonic from Bacau, in season 2027-2028.
Brașov Philharmonic Prize – Invitation to perform as soloist one concert with the Brașov State Philharmonic Orchestra, in season 2027-2028.
CellEAST Masterclass Prize – Free registration fee to participate within to one of the next Future CellEAST Masterclass editions, in 2027 or 2028.
IConArts Transilvania Prize (for B, C and D groups) – Free registration fee at masterclasses in 2026 or 2027.
ICon Arts MiniCellos Prize (for A group) – Free registration fee at ICon Arts – MiniCellos Masterclasses in 2026 or 2027
CellEAST MiniCellos Prize (for A group) – Free registration fee at CellEAST MiniCellos Masterclass in 2027 or 2028.
Jovial Cellos Prize – $500 prize for one participant of the 2nd edition of the CellEAST International Competition, 2026.
George Enescu Philharmonic Prize (for Group D) – Invitation to collaborate for one week with the cello section of the George Enescu Philharmonic during the 2027–2028 season. (Awarded to a competitor based in Bucharest.)
Thomastik-Infeld Prize – One free set of strings/group offered by Attila Pasztor (for A-D groups).
Asso. Sebastian Lee Prize – Offers sheet music of Sebastian Lee’s works and a discount for online purchases, available to all laureates in groups A–D.
Cellissimo Prize – Free registration fee at Cellissimo Masterclass in Sofia, Bulgaria, organized by Professor Atanas Krastev in 2026 or 2027.
Art of Music Prize – Free registration fee at the Cello Masterclass in Poland, organized by the Polish Cello Quartet, in 2026 or 2027.
Les Basses Réunies Prize – Free registration fee at masterclass in France organized by Professor Bruno Cocset (for the Baroque Cello category), in 2026-2028.
Les Basses Réunies Prize – Invitation to perform a concert with Les Basses Réunies, organized by Professor Bruno Cocset (for the Baroque Cello category), in 2026–2028.
ARTEXIM Prize – Artistic consulting by Cristina Uruc, Manager of ARTEXIM and Executive Director of the George Enescu Festival and International Competition.
Belgrade Cello Fest – Free registration fee at the cello masterclass in Belgrade, Serbia organized by Professor Dragan Djordjevic in 2026-2028.
We Are Classics Prize – A professional audio and video recording session awarded for the best performance of the Romanian composition by Sebastian Androne-Nakanishi (Group D).
Violoncellissimo Prize – Invitation to collaborate with the Violoncellissimo Ensemble for one concert in 2026 or 2027.

Please note:

The organizers and the jury of the competition reserve the right to change the list of the special prizes.

IV. CATEGORIES AND AGE GROUPS

1. The CellEAST International Competition is held in 3 categories/5 age groups: YoungCellEAST, ProCellEAST and Baroque Cello.

2. The YoungCellEAST category is divided into three age groups (A, B and C), the ProCellEAST category has one age group (D), and the Baroque Cello category also has one age group.

YoungCellEAST category

Group A – 6 to 10 years old;
Group B – 11 to 14 years old;
Group C – 15 to 18 years old;

ProCellEAST category

Group D – 19 to 32 years old.

Baroque Cello category

19 to 32 years old.

V. CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION

Candidates must register and fill out the application form in its entirety.
All contestants must strictly follow the requirements of the regulations, fill in the registration information completely and accurately, and ensure its authenticity. Contestants must be fully responsible for the authenticity and correctness of the age, repertoire and other information they have reported, such as anyone found to have reported false or erroneous information will be treated as a violation, and the organizing committee has the right to disqualify him or her from participating, and all consequences will be borne by the participants.
Only timely and accurately filled applications will be accepted for selection upon receipt of the non-refundable entrance fee.
The Competition reserves the right to reject an application which does not meet the regulations of the Competition. Additional information may be required from the participant, if necessary.
During the admission of applications, the Competition collects personal information regarding the participants for certain procedural needs of the Competition. Personal data is stored in a reliable database. Only the following details about the participants are subject to publishing: name, surname, date of birth, place of birth, nationality, biography, photos, personal website and social media profiles.
Winners of the CellEAST International Competition Special Prize în 2024 – consisting in free registration fee for the CellEAST International Competition 2nd edition in 2026 – do not have to pay the registration fee and must mention this detail in the online application form.
The competition will not cover the meal, accommodation and travel expenses of the participants.
The organizers of the CellEAST International Competition reserve the unrestricted right to film, record, photograph, and broadcast any part of the competitors’ participation in all rounds, as well as during the Gala Concert and the Award Ceremony. By registering for the competition, competitors agree that all such audio-visual materials may be used, reproduced, distributed, or made available to the public for promotional or commercial purposes related to the competition, during its preparation, throughout its duration, and after its conclusion, without any financial compensation or further consent required from the participants.
Entrants may not use or make available to third parties video recordings of their performances without the written permission of the Competition. The entire broadcast platform of the competition must be authorized by the organizing committee.
Candidates selected by the Jury, laureates, and diploma holders agree to cooperate with all reasonable requests from the organizers and to take part in concerts held within the time frame of the competition without any financial reward.
By submitting the application, the competitors agree to all terms and conditions of the competition.

VI. APPLICATION

1. For registration, CLICK HERE to fill and submit your application materials and info required on the online registration form.

2. The registration link will be active from February 4 – March 16, 2026, 6 p.m.

3. Applicants wishing to enter both Category D and the Baroque Cello section are required to complete two separate application forms.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR PARTICIPATION

Passport copy (JPEG or PDF format);
One high resolution art photograph (minimum size 2 Mb, JPEG format) to be used in the promotional materials of the competition;
Proof of payment must be sent together with other documents and video links. FEES ARE NON REFUNDABLE.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PRELIMINARY SELECTION AND RECORDING

Insert in the registration form a YOUTUBE link(s), public or unlisted, with a video recording of a program of free choice. Duration: minimum 5 minutes for groups A and B, and minimum 10 minutes for groups C and D, and the Baroque Cello category.
The complete title of the repertoire and the recording date must be indicated in the application form.
The video must be unedited and include recordings from 2025 or 2026. It may also feature repertoire that will be performed in the competition.
It is not allowed to use online the name of the CellEAST International Competition in any link title or video description for the Preliminary round.
The list of the admitted participants will be publish online, on www.celleast.com, on March 30, 2026.

VII. PARTICIPATION FEE

The participation fee can be paid in RON or in the equivalent amount in EURO, calculated at the BNR exchange rate on the day of payment https://www.cursbnr.ro/convertor-valutar.
Transfer for EURO – Beneficiary: UCIMR: RO17 BTRL EURC RT04 7708 8101, Banca Transilvania Sucursala Bucur Obor, SWIFT: BTRLRO22, CIC 4770881. Address: Șoseaua Mihai Bravu no. 10, sector 2, București. Details – CellEAST Competition.
Transfer for RON/LEI – Beneficiary: Asociația U.C.I.M.R. – Uniunea de Creație Interpretativă a Muzicienilor din România: RO40 BTRL RONC RT04 7708 8102 – Banca Transilvania, Sucursala Obor. Detalii de plată – CellEAST Competition.
Please send the proof of payment within the online application – button upload proof of payment.
The participation fee is non-refundable if the candidate withdraw from the competition.

YoungCellEAST category

A – 150 RON (approx. 30 EURO)
B – 200 RON (approx. 40 EURO)
C – 250 RON (approx. 50 EURO)

ProCellEAST category

D – 300 RON (approx. 60 EURO)

Baroque Cello category

300 RON (approx. 60 EURO)

VIII. COMPETITION PROCEDURE, RULES AND INFO FOR THE LIVE COMPETITION IN BUCHAREST

Contestants must participate on time, register and check in on-site within the designated time, and bring valid documents such as ID card or household registration booklet, passport, etc. for on-site confirmation. Participants who do not participate in the competition on time will be automatically forfeited, and the organizing committee has the right to disqualify the participants from the competition.
The CellEAST International Competition 2nd edition is inclusive and consists of one round in groups A and B, two rounds in groups C, D, and the Baroque Cello category.
All rounds are open to the public, except the Preliminary round based on recorded materials attached or linked to the application form.
A maximum of three competitors will be selected to reach the final stage of the competition in group D and the Baroque Cello category.
Winners of the 1st Prize of the 2024 CellEAST International Competition are not eligible to participate in the same age category in 2026.
Competitors’ performances will be judged by the international Jury, whose decision is final and not subject to appeal.
Competitors may request feedback from the Jury regarding their performance only after the competition, for each category.
Members of the Jury may not vote for a candidate who is, or has been, one of their students or a family member.
The Jury reserves the right to withhold any prize should the required standard not be attained.
After the final rounds in each age group of both YoungCellEAST, PROCellEAST and Baroque Cello categories three respective panels of judges will vote for three prize winners (or ex aequo prizes) in each age group to be announced, awarded prizes and signed diplomas during the official awarding ceremony.
The monetary prizes represent the gross amount. Personal income tax will be deducted according to the applicable laws of each participant’s country, handled by the competition, and the net amount will be transferred ONLY to the participant’s bank account by June 15, 2026.
Repertoire choices must be listed by the applicant on the submitted application form. The repertoire may not be repeated during any stage of the competition.
No changes to the repertoire will be accepted after April 20, 2026.
Repeats are left to the discretion of each competitor, but must be considered when calculating program duration (for groups A, B, C & D).
The repertoire must be performed by memory. Exceptions apply to the imposed work composed by Sebastian Androne-Nakanishi and to sonatas for cello and piano composed prior to Ludwig van Beethoven.
All participants are free to set the sequence of the pieces they perform in each round of the live competition.
Selected candidates must present hard copies of their sheet music. The Jury may request competitors to present the editions used to prepare their program.
The Jury reserves the right to interrupt performances that exceed the time limit indicated by the organizers for each age group.
The order of the competitors’ performances in each round will be determined by the organizers and is not subject to negotiation.
The organizers reserve the right to make minor adjustments to the scheduled performance times in case of exceptional circumstances. Any changes will be announced in due time.
The final schedule will be published on our website prior to the start of the competition.
The Competition will provide contestants with a room for warm-up 30 minutes before their performances during each round.

IX. ACCOMPANYING PIANISTS

For the LIVE competition in Bucharest, the organizers will provide 4 professional collaborative pianists and one harpsichordist (participants may also bring their own collaborative pianists).
The competitors from YoungCellEAST (groups A and B) and the Baroque Cello will have one rehearsal with accompaniament before performing in the competition.
All competitors from the YoungCellEAST (group C) and the ProCellEAST groups will have one rehearsal with pianist before each round.
The finalists of Group D will perform with Josu Okiñena, and the three finalists of the Baroque Cello category will perform with Bertrand Cuiller.

X. EXPENSES AND INCIDENTS

All competitors under the age of 18 should be accompanied by an adult who will carry full responsibility over the minor at any time.
During the competition, the organizers cannot be held responsible for the consequences of incidents or accidents involving the competitors.
It is advised to check the personal insurance of competitors and the accompanying adult(s) in order to guarantee coverage of accidents and incidents.

XI. SPECIAL INFORMATION FOR FOREIGN PARTICIPANTS

Participants who need a Romanian visa will receive the official invitation letter from the competition after the results of the preliminary round.
Please specify in the registration form if an official invitation letter is required.
After receiving the official invitation letter, foreign participants should apply for a short‑stay visa (type C), for example under the purpose “cultural / sporting / scientific visit.”
More information on how to obtain a visa for Romania is available here: https://igi.mai.gov.ro/en/how-to-obtain-a-short-stay-visa-for-cultural-scientific-humanitarian-short-term-medical-treatment-etc/
Border authorities may perform checks upon arrival. Participants are advised to carry all necessary documents, including the official invitation letter from the organizers.

XII. PROGRAM FOR THE LIVE COMPETITION IN BUCHAREST

The repertoire and performance duration at each stage of the competition vary depending on the age group.

Group A (one round)

The selected candidates will be required to prepare a program of 7–10 minutes, consisting of two or three contrasting works of their own choice, differing in style, form, and character. The repertoire may include an étude, a short piece, movements from a sonata, or movements from a concerto.

Group B (one round)

The selected candidates will be required to prepare a program of 12–15 minutes, consisting of two or three contrasting works of their own choice, differing in style, form, and character, one of which should be solo work: etude, caprice, suite movement/s, sonata or concerto movement/s.

Group C (two rounds)

Round I

The selected candidates will be required to prepare a program of two contrasting works, with a total duration not exceeding 12 minutes.

One solo étude or caprice of the candidate’s choice.
One work (not étude or caprice) or movement, either for solo cello or with piano, also chosen by the candidate.

Round II

The selected candidates will need to prepare a program not exceeding 15 minutes. Please do not repeat the program from the 1st round.

Two contrasting works by different composers of the competitor’s own choice. Can be: sonata movement/s, concerto movement/s, movement/s from J.S. BACH Solo Suites or any piece for cello solo or cello with piano accompaniment

Group D (two rounds)

Round I

The selected candidates will need to prepare a program of 3 contrasting works not exceeding 20 minutes.

One freely chosen Prelude from Johann Sebastian BACH’s Suites for Solo Cello, BWV 1009–1012 (Nos. III, IV, V, or VI).
One solo etude or solo caprice of free choice.
Imposed Piece – A Romanian solo composition by Sebastian ANDRONE-NAKANISHI, with an approximate duration of 5 minutes. The score will be available for download on our website from March 2, 2026. DOWNLOAD LINK

FINAL ROUND of ProCellEAST CATEGORY

Please prepare the repertory without repeats in the first movement.

Imposed sonata: George ENESCU – Sonata in F minor, Op. postum, in one movement. CELLO SCORE DOWNLOAD LINK / PIANO SCORE LINK
Free choice between the following works:

Johannes BRAHMS – Cello Sonata No. 2 in F Major, Op. 99,

Franz SCHUBERT – Sonata D 821 “Arpeggione”.

Baroque Cello CATEGORY (two rounds)

All Baroque Cello candidates are required to perform on a baroque cello and bow in every round, including the preliminary round.
The selected candidates will be required to prepare a program from the following three works, with a total duration not exceeding 20 minutes.

Round I

Johann Sebastian BACH: 3rd Suite BWV 1009 in C Major: Prelude – Sarabande – Gigue;
Joseph Marie Clément DALL’ABACO: 8th Caprice in G Major;
Jean-Louis DUPORT: the 13th Exercise in E minor (with repetition and without accompaniment).

FINAL ROUND

The selected candidates will be required to prepare a program of three works, chosen from the proposed repertoire, with a total duration not exceeding 30 minutes.

Repertory – Solo and with harpsichord accompaniment:

1. One sonata of your choice by Luigi BOCCHERINI, selected from:

Sonata in C Major – G17c;
Sonata in F Major – G1;
Sonata in A Major – G13;

For Boccherini, the facsimile edition must be provided to avoid issues with versions.

2. One sonata of your choice by Jean-Baptiste BARRIÈRE, selected from:

Sonata No. 1 from Book I in B minor;
Sonata No. 6 from Book II in C minor;
Sonata No. 4 from Book III in B-flat Major.

3. Johann Sebastian BACH: Suite IV BWV 1010 in E-flat Major: Prelude.

XIII. JURY MEMBERS OF THE COMPETITION

Jury members for ProCellEAST category (D group)

Marin Cazacu (Romania) – Chairman
Manuel Fischer-Dieskau (Germany)
Răzvan Suma (Romania)
Attila Pasztor (Austria)
Mindaugas Bačkus (Lithuania)

Special Jury guests for the final round of ProCellEAST category (D group)

Sebastian Gheorghiu (Romania)

Jury members for YoungCellEAST category (A, B, C groups)

Dragan Djordjevic (Serbia) – Chairman
Atanas Krastev (Bulgaria)
Sevak Avanesian (Armenia)
Ella Bokor (Romania)
Ștefan Cazacu (Romania)
Mircea Marian (Romania)
Octavian Lup (Romania)

Jury members for Baroque Cello category

Bruno Cocset (France) – Chairman
Krzysztof Karpeta (Poland)
Ciprian Câmpean (Romania)
Richard Myron (USA-France)
Bertrand Cuiller (France)
Julia Karpeta (Poland) – special Jury guest

XIV. FINAL OF D GROUP, GALA CONCERT AND AWARD CEREMONY- MAY 30, 2026

The Final of D Group will be on will be on Saturday, May 30, 2026, 1 PM, at the Romanian Athenaeum.
The Gala Concert and Award Ceremony will be on Saturday, May 30, 2026, 1 p.m. at the Romanian Athenaeum.
The Jury will select the cellists to be invited to perform at the Gala Concert. The repertoire will be determined by the organizers in consultation with the laureates
The winners and special prizes will be announced at the Award Ceremony of the Competition, Saturday, May 30, 2026, 1 PM
All participants will receive certificates of participation.

XV. COMPETITION VENUES in BUCHAREST

National University of Music Bucharest (UNMB) – 33 Știrbei Vodă Street, Sector 1 – for groups A, B and C.
“Romanian Youth” National Art Center (Centrul Național de Artă „Tinerimea Română” / CNATR) – 19 Johann Gutenberg Street, Sector 5 – for group D.
Romanian Athenaeum – 1-3 Benjamin Franklin Street, Sector 1 – for the Baroque Cello category.