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Competitions › Pau Casals International Award for Young Cellists

Pau Casals International Award for Young Cellists

El Vendrell, Spain

Official website Rules & repertoire

Next edition

Edition
2026
Dates
Repertoire deadline 21 October 2026; final audition 21 November 2026; results from 1 July 2026
Location
El Vendrell (final audition at the Municipal School of Music Pau Casals)
Registration deadline
7 May 2026, 23:59 CET (closed as of 2026-11-10)

Source: paucasals.org

Overview

Biennial international cello competition for young cellists, run by the Pau Casals Foundation in El Vendrell. Phase 1 is a video selection; Phase 2 is an in-person final audition before a second jury.

Organiser
Pau Casals Foundation (Fundacio Pau Casals)
Instruments
Cello
Category
Solo cello
Age limits
Cello students of any nationality born after 31 December 2004 (2026 edition)

Rules & repertoire

Registration & fee

Registration deadline 7 May 2026 (2026 edition, now closed). Payment by credit card or bank transfer; amount not stated.

Rounds & time limits

  • Phase 1: two video recordings
  • Phase 2: in-person final audition

Repertoire

Phase 1: two video recordings of solo cello works, one a Bach Suite and one a modern work from the conditions list.

Jury & prizes

Jury

  • Video selection jury: Gustav Rivinius, Erica Wise, Pau Codina, Santi Barguno (secretary) Final audition jury: Mikayel Hakhnazaryan, Julia Hagen, Nadege Rochat, Arnau Tomas, Santi Barguno (secretary)

Prizes

  • First Prize: EUR 18,000
  • AENA Special Prize: EUR 12,000
  • Third Prize: EUR 6,000

Past editions

To protect minors, we do not show the names of winners in categories open to under-18s. Category, age range and prize are always shown.

  • 2024 source
    Young cellists · ages 21 and under
    • 1st prize ex aequo (2 winners) — name not shown (category open to under-18s)
    • AENA Special Prize ex aequo (2 winners) — name not shown (category open to under-18s)
    • 3rd prize — name not shown (category open to under-18s)
  • 2022 source
    Young cellists · ages 21 and under
    • 1st prize — name not shown (category open to under-18s)
    • AENA Special Prize ex aequo (2 winners) — name not shown (category open to under-18s)
  • 2020 source
    Young cellists · ages 21 and under
    • 1st prize — name not shown (category open to under-18s)
    • AENA Special Prize — name not shown (category open to under-18s)
    • 3rd prize — name not shown (category open to under-18s)
  • 2018 source
    Young cellists · ages 21 and under
    • Winners ex aequo (2 winners) — name not shown (category open to under-18s)
  • 2016 source
    Young cellists · ages 21 and under
    • Scholarship (no 1st prize listed) — name not shown (category open to under-18s)
    • Secondary prize — name not shown (category open to under-18s)

Summarised from official sources, last checked 10 Nov 2026. Main source