The Cleveland Cello Society Annual Scholarship Competition

Since 1999, the CCS has sponsored a scholarship competition for elementary- through college-level cellists in Northeast Ohio.   Awarding $1,800 in scholarships at its first competition, the prizes have grown and currently represent a total of $4,400.  The CCS is proud to report that numerous winners have gone on to illustrious careers in the solo, chamber, and orchestral performance realms!

The prize money for the scholarships is generated at the annual CCS fundraiser concert, i Cellisti! (Italian, pronounced “ee chell-ees-tee”; English translation “the Cellists”), which has become a very popular event in itself.  Serving as a “sampler” of the Cleveland cello scene, i Cellisti! draws both students and professionals from universities (e.g. Oberlin, the Cleveland Institute of Music, Case Western Reserve University, Bowling Green State University, Baldwin Wallace University) and  area performing ensembles, and features cello ensemble music from the popular and jazz traditions, as well as the classical music repertoire. For example, in 2003,  i Cellisti presented the world premiere of the cello octet, Cello, Celli  by jazz icon Dave Brubeck (who was present for the event!); in 2007, the premiere of Suite, a transcription for cello quintet of songs by Canadian alternative-pop violinist, Owen Pallett; and in 2019,  fifty cellists joined by the fifty-member Oberlin College Choir formed a huge ring around the entire audience performing Randall Thompson’s Alleluia.   The intangible aspect of music was truly tangible that evening!

Competition dates and winners are listed below, in reverse chronological order.  (When two names follow a Division or Prize heading, they are co-winners of that competition.)