The closing date for applications for this year's auditions has now passed. We will pubilsh information about next year's audition at the beginning of 2014
The Raphael Sommer Music Scholarship Trust
The scholarship was established in 2002 in memory of Raphael Sommer by his mother Alice Herz-Sommer and his widow Geneviève Sommer.
Auditions are held every year and the Raphael Sommer Foundation awards scholarships of £1000 to highly talented young cellists.
The focus is in the field of chamber music performance which can be of such critical importance to developing musicians and where opportunities for advanced performance coaching and experience are generally rather limited after students leave the teaching institutions.
Here are our past recipients:
Andrei Gocan (Rumanian violinist) 2003/2004
Leonie Adam (British) 2004/2005 & 2005/2006
Neta Shani (Israeli) 2006/2007
Jacob Shaw (British) 2007/2008
Zara Hudson (Anglo-Polish) 2008/2009
George Paca (Rumanian) 2009/2010
Florence Petit (French) 2010/2011
Josh Salter (British) 2011/2012
Juliette Giovacchini (French) 2012/2013
Aoife Burke (British) 2012/2013
Shun-ichiro Katsura (Japanese) 2012/2013 - Junior Award
The closing date for applications for this year's auditions has now passed. We will pubilsh information about next year's audition at the beginning of 2014
If you would like to apply, please read the Eligibility and Rules first.
Eligibility
- These auditions are open to cellists only.
- Candidates should be born between 1994 and 1998.
- Candidates should have already achieved a significant level of playing (i.e. Grade 8 minimum level), have won scholarships or awards and should either be preparing to enter one of the major music colleges in the UK or abroad or already be a student of such an institution.
Rules
- The audition process is in 2 stages:
- Round 1 - (by filling in the application form and sending a letter of recommendation from current teacher)
- Round 2 - (live audition)
- Candidates selected at Round 1 will be invited to prepare 2 contrasting pieces i.e. one movement of a concerto and one movement from a Bach suite OR another contrasting piece
- Total playing time should not exceed 15 mins
- There is a submission fee of £30 to be paid (via Paypal) if you are selected to Round 2
- If you are selected to Round 2 and find you are unable to attend, we regret to say that we cannot refund your submission fee
- The Raphael Sommer Music Scholarship will provide a pianist, but candidates may bring their own accompanist if they wish
- A rehearsal with the pianist before the audition is possible but must be organised directly with the pianist and paid for by the candidate
- The jury’s decisions are final
Trustees
Geneviève Teulières Sommer (Chair)
Arto Noras
Yan-Pascal Tortelier
David Sommer
Ariel Sommer
Registered Charity: 1102269
