The Danish International Cello Competition includes the CelloBridge mentorship programme with accommodation provided for all participants in Sønderborg throughout the week. The competition offers the opportunity to compete for prizes, international concerts, mentorship and artist management.
The Danish International Cello Competition offers a prize structure designed to support participants' artistic development and professional visibility beyond the competition itself.
Beyond the financial awards, the competition provides opportunities that contribute directly to long-term career development, including visibility within the international music industry and connections with leading institutions and professionals from the highest tiers of classical music.
Special prizes may be awarded for outstanding artistry, interpretation, or potential.
Prizes are awarded at the discretion of the jury and in accordance with the competition's artistic standards.
The competition consists of three rounds and a final:
After the third round, participants who do not advance to the final are ranked based on the jury's evaluation. Each cellist who does not advance will receive individual feedback from members of the jury after the deliberation. All participants — whether still competing or not — are encouraged to stay for the full competition week and participate in the CelloBridge mentorship programme. The programme runs alongside the competition, offering individual mentoring as well as targeted initiatives focused on personal artistic and professional development. Free accommodation is provided for all 24 participants throughout the week, regardless of results.
The repertoire for the competition is designed to reflect both artistic depth and versatility, guiding candidates from the application stage through to the final rounds. The programme balances core cello works with contemporary Danish pieces.
For the pre-selection round, applicants are required to submit a video recorded programme consisting of two contrasting works (maximum 35 minutes total):
This initial stage allows the pre-jury to assess both musical individuality and technical command across core repertoire.
The competition repertoire is structured across four rounds, each with a distinct artistic focus:
Candidates perform two contrasting solo programmes (each approx. 15 minutes), presented across two days:
This round combines mandatory and free repertoire:
Second round emphasises artistic programming and interpretative maturity.
Candidates perform a classical concerto by Joseph Haydn, choosing between the C major or D major concertos.
Finalists select one of the major romantic concertos:
This final stage highlights the candidates’ ability to lead and collaborate within an orchestral setting.
You'll find information about the competition schedule below.
While all competition rounds at Concert Hall Alsion, Sønderborg are open to the public, some featured events and concerts require a ticket for admission.
Programme TBA
Performing: Joseph Haydn, C & D Major Concerto
At the semi-finals of the Danish International Cello Competition candidates will perform a classical concerto by Joseph Haydn, choosing between the C major or D major concerto.
This concert will be performed without conductor.
Performing: Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasileiras for 7 cellos.
Experience world-renowned cellists Andreas Brantelid and Tatjana Vassiljeva-Monnier performing their chosen solo works together with internationally acclaimed pianist Katherine Stott.
In the second half of the concert, Competition President Daniel Müller-Schott, jury members Andreas Brantelid, Tatjana Vassiljeva-Monnier and Amelia Jakobsson, acclaimed cellists Henrik Bramsdrup and Niels Ullner, and Artistic Director of the Danish Philharmonic Orchestra, Adam Stadnicki, will come together on stage to perform Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasileiras for 7 cellos.
During the final round of DICC 2027, each finalist will perform a Romantic concerto from one of the followig composers - Antonin Dvořák, Edward Elgar or Robert Schumann.
Following jury deliberations, the winner is announced, and audiences are invited to stay, cheer and experience the awards ceremony.
The Danish International Cello Competition (DICC) is hosted by the Danish Philharmonic Orchestra in the city of Sønderborg located in Sønderjylland, Denmark.
Concert Hall Alsion is the central venue of the DICC.
Read more about the orchestra here.
Accommodation with breakfast is provided free of charge for all participants throughout the competition week in Sønderborg, regardless of the competition results. Participants will stay in a hotel reserved exclusively for the competition, within walking distance of Concert Hall Alsion.
This reflects the philosophy of the Danish International Cello Competition and its CelloBridge mentorship programme, which prioritises artistic exchange, professional development, and long-term connection over only ranking performance. Participants are encouraged to stay for the full week and take part in mentorship activities, concerts, networking, and the wider artistic programme.
Chaired by competition president Daniel Müller-Schott, the jury reflects a broad spectrum of musical perspectives, from solo performance to chamber music and teaching at the highest level. Their collective expertise ensures a thoughtful and thorough evaluation process, focused on both technical excellence and artistic individuality.
Throughout the competition, the jury plays an active role not only in assessment, but also in shaping the artistic dialogue that defines the experience of the competition.
The Danish International Cello Competition are honored to welcome Daniel Müller-Schott as Competition President and as a member of the jury panel.
German cellist Daniel Müller-Schott is internationally recognized as one of the leading cellists of his generation. He performs regularly with major orchestras worldwide and has collaborated with numerous distinguished conductors and musicians.
Müller-Schott has appeared with leading orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Orchestre de Paris, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
He has an extensive discography and records for the Orfeo label where Daniel’s repertoire spans from the classical and romantic canon to contemporary works.
Daniel Müller-Schott plays a Matteo Goffriller cello from 1727.
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Andreas Brantelid is one of Scandinavia’s leading cellists, internationally recognised for his expressive artistry as a soloist and chamber musician. Born in Copenhagen, he made his concerto debut at the age of 14 with the Royal Danish Orchestra and has since performed with major orchestras including the London Philharmonic, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, and Mahler Chamber Orchestra.
He has collaborated with distinguished conductors such as Andris Nelsons and Esa-Pekka Salonen, and with artists including Gidon Kremer and Joshua Bell. As a dedicated chamber musician, he is also the co-artistic director of the Stavanger International Chamber Music Festival.
Andreas Brantelid is also a Professor of Cello at the Royal Danish Academy of Music and performs on the 1707 ‘Boni-Hegar’ Stradivarius.
Tatjana Vassiljeva is an internationally acclaimed cellist, recognized for her versatility as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral leader. She has performed with leading orchestras and conductors worldwide and is a regular guest at major international festivals.
Alongside her solo career, she has held principal cello positions with prominent European orchestras, bringing extensive experience from both orchestral and chamber music settings. A committed collaborator, she has worked with a wide range of distinguished artists across the international classical music scene.
Tatjana Vassiljeva is also active in teaching, giving masterclasses worldwide, and serves as Professor of Cello at the Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe, Germany.
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Kathryn Stott is an internationally renowned pianist whose career has spanned over four decades, with performances as both soloist and collaborative artist in major concert venues worldwide. Her extensive discography reflects a wide-ranging repertoire, including the complete solo works of Gabriel Fauré, for which she was awarded the Chevalier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government.
Alongside her performing career, she has worked extensively as an Artistic Director, curating festivals and projects internationally. She maintained a long-standing musical partnership with Yo-Yo Ma over 40 years, culminating in their final album Merci (2024).
Having now stepped back from performing, Kathryn Stott focuses on teaching and mentoring young musicians, including at the Royal Northern College of Music, and is regularly invited to serve on international competition juries.
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Niklas Walentin has received more than 25 international music awards, released 11 albums and has managed a row of festivals in Europe as an Artistic Director.
Sought-after for his performances as a soloist and chamber musician, Niklas especially performs works from the virtuosic and salon genres. Recently, he has made his debut with jazz, performing his own virtuosic arrangements for solo violin and jazz ensemble, playing regularly with The Snorre Kirk Trio.
Walentin performs in prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall in New York, The Phillips Collection in Washington, Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg and Wigmore Hall in London with celebrated conductors and musicians such as Mario Venzago, Marc Soustro, Henrik Schäfer, Nabil Shehata, Hartmut Rohde, Nikolaj Znaider m.m.
As triple prize winner of The 9th Carl Nielsen International Violin Competition, working with Carl Nielsen’s music is a major part of his artistic identity. His award winning album "4 Grand Works for violin by Carl Nielsen” was released at Carnegie Hall, and he has been awarded the Carl Nielsen and Anne Marie Brodersen Award, as well as The Carl Nielsen Society’s “Award of Honour” for his work with Carl Nielsen’s music.
After assisting his mentor, late Prof. Hatto Beyerle, Niklas is also seen giving masterclasses internationally.
Niklas plays a J. F. Pressenda, bought and loaned especially to him by The Augustinus Foundation. Strings are by Larsen Strings.
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Alex Taylor serves as Artistic Director of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, where he leads the orchestra’s artistic planning and long-term programming.
Taylor studied musicology at the University of Edinburgh and piano performance at the Royal College of Music in London. As a pianist, he has been awarded prizes at several international competitions and has performed as a soloist with BBC orchestras, as well as appearing as a recitalist and chamber musician across the UK, Europe, and Japan.
Following an active international performing career, Alex Taylor expanded his professional focus to artistic leadership while continuing to perform regularly. In 2007, he moved to Norway to become Director of Programming at the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra, before joining the Oslo Philharmonic in 2012.
His combined experience as both performer and artistic leader brings a broad international perspective to his work with orchestras and musicians at the highest level.
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Born into a family of musicians, Amelia began her cello studies at The Royal Danish Academy of Music at the young age of 14, subsequently studying at Malmö Academy of Music and McGill University in Montréal. She graduated from the Soloist Class at The Royal Danish Academy of Music in 2010. While pursuing her professional career as an orchestral and chamber musician, she also studied voice at Malmö Academy of Music and at The University College of Opera (formerly known as Royal Swedish Opera Academy).
Amelia signed with Nordic Artists Management as a soprano in 2019 and has since performed in Scandinavia and across Europe, specialising in concert repertoire, chamber music and contemporary opera roles.
While leading a busy life as a performer, she has also explored the fields of administration and marketing. In this capacity, she is the Artistic Director of Sweden´s oldest music festival, Musik i Kullabygden, and the Program Manager of many Chamber Music Series across Sweden. Her extensive and varied life as an international performer combined with a newly found passion for promoting and supporting other artists has now led her to excitedly accept the role of Artist Manager for the instrumentalists and ensembles at Nordic Artists Management.
The competition is governed by a set of rules designed to ensure fairness, consistency, and high artistic standards. All aspects of the competition are structured to support an objective, professional evaluation process, and equal opportunity for all candidates.
Are you ready to take the next step in your artistic journey?
Your application marks the first step into a competition that values not only your achievement, but also artistic growth and exchange.
Follow the Danish International Cello Competition and experience it in real time - online and in person! Each round is streamed with two hosts guiding you through the competition, offering insights, context, and reactions as the tension builds.
The Danish International Cello Competition fosters collaboration, artistic exchange, and long-term professional relationships across borders, offering you access to a wider artistic network. The competition is designed as a place to be heard, seen and to support participants future development as an elite artist.
Most international competitions focus exclusively on performance. While the competitive element is central, DICC is designed around long-term career development.
Through the integrated CelloBridge mentorship programme all 24 participants have the opportunity to receive coaching, professional development workshops, and industry access, even after elimination and with accommodation provided for the whole week. All eliminated participants receive individual jury feedback.
The first prize not only includes €14,000 but also an album release, continued mentorship over multiple years, and positioning as a Larsen Strings Performing Artist.
The competition includes four rounds of performances at Concert Hall Alsion, individual jury feedback for every eliminated contestant, and full access to the CelloBridge mentorship programme throughout the week. CelloBridge includes coaching sessions, workshops on performance, career planning and mental health, panel talks with jury members, networking opportunities, and informal concerts.
CelloBridge is integrated into the competition and is open to all selected participants. You do not need to remain in the competition to take part — all participants are encouraged to continue engaging with the programme especially after elimination. CelloBridge is not open to individuals who have not been selected as competition participants.
The Danish International Cello Competition is held at Concert Hall Alsion in Sønderborg, Denmark — the home venue of the Danish Philharmonic Orchestra. Sønderborg is situated in the Sønderjylland region of southern Jutland, set along the Als Sund strait with easy access to nature, historic streets, and waterfront promenades.
Yes. All competition rounds are streamed internationally, so you can follow every round live from anywhere in the world or attend the rounds live in Sønderborg. This offers a unique opportunity to experience the intensity and artistry of the participants up close, as the competition unfolds into an exciting finale.
Information about the tickets will be available closer to the competition date on our website.
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