Brannon Cho '19 AD Awarded First Prize at the 2018 International Paulo Cello Competition
Brannon Cho, Artist Diploma student of Laurence Lesser, wins first prize at the 2018 Paulo International Cello Competition
Cellist Brannon Cho '19 AD has been awarded 1st prize at the 2018 Paulo International Cello Competition. Current Artist Diploma student of Laurence Lesser, Cho is also a former major prize winner at the Naumburg, Cassadó and Johansen International Cello Competitions - and in June of last year, was awarded a prize at the inaugural Queen Elisabeth International Cello Competition.
The Paulo International Cello Competition has a two-part final. The six finalists each performed a classical concerto (Haydn or Boccherini), directing the Tapiola Sinfonietta from the soloist’s chair, as well as a 20th-century concerto with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra.
Cho performed the Haydn C Major Concerto in the first part in Espoo and the Prokofiev Sinfonia Concertante in Helsinki, followed by an encore performance of the Allemande from Bach’s Cello Suite no.6.
NEC Prep alumnus Zlatomir Fung was awarded the joint 2nd prize, and current NEC student Tim Petrin '19 MM was awarded the joint 4th prize at the competition.