History of the Award
One of the world’s greatest cellists Pierre Fournier died in 1986 and, to honour his memory, Ralph Kirshbaum arranged a concert that took place in June of that year.
From the proceeds of that concert, the Pierre Fournier Award was founded and the first auditions took place in 1988. The Award’s aim is to assist exceptional talent by promoting a recital in London’s Wigmore Hall, complete with a professional film recording of this event as well as other significant orchestral and chamber music appearances, such as with Oxford May Music and Manchester Midday Concerts. The winner will also have the opportunity of recording a professionally-produced CD on the Champs Hill label.
In 2009 the Pierre Fournier Award, for the first time, became open to applicants worldwide. The Pierre Fournier Award has developed a strong international reputation but previously was open only to cellists living or studying in the UK.
The Pierre Fournier Award
The recipient of the Pierre Fournier Award will receive a recital in London’s Wigmore Hall, a professional film recording of this recital, a CD on the Champs Hill label as well as recitals with Oxford May Music, Manchester Midday Concerts and a UK concerto performance during the following season. The next Award will take place in 2026.
2023 Award
The recipient of the 2023 Pierre Fournier Award was Annie Jacobs-Perkins, accompanied by pianist Dina Ivanova.
A Special Commendation and monetary prize was awarded to Antonin Musset. Plus Commendations and monetary prizes were awarded to Senja Rummukainen, Bryan Cheng, and Samuel Niederhauser.
2018 Award
The recipient of the 2018 Pierre Fournier Award was Rainer Crosett, accompanied by Daniel King Smith.
A major incentive grant was awarded to Hayoung Choi, accompanied by Kumi Matsuo.
2018 finalists also included:
Ariana Kashefi (cello) and Nicola Eimer (piano)
Valentino Worlitzsch (cello) and Elisabeth Brauss (piano)
2015 Award
In 2015, the jury gave two major incentive grants of £1000 to Jonathan Dormand and Valentino Worlitzsch.
2015 finalists also included:
Christine Lee and Nicola Eimer, piano
Laura van der Heijden and Petr Limonov, piano
2013 Award
The recipient of the 2013 Pierre Fournier Award is Chiara Enderle.
2013 finalists also included:
Joris Van den Berg and Martijn Willers, piano
Benedict Kloeckner and Anna Lasko, piano
Jonathan Dormand and Marisa Gupta, piano
Pierre Fournier Award recipients
2011 Mikhail Nemtsov
2009 Gabriel Schwabe
2007 Gemma Rosefield
2004 Richard Harwood
1998 Alice Neary
1994 Rebecca Gilliver
1992 Hannah Roberts
1988 Gregor Horsch
Through the years major incentive grants have been given to:
2011 Philip Higham
2001 Marie Bitlloch and Alexander Chaushian
1998 Thomas Carroll
1996 Alice Neary and Jamie Walton
1990 Louise Hopkins and Ewa Miecznikowska
The winners up until 2007 gave two recitals: one in London’s Wigmore Hall and one at the RNCM Manchester International Cello Festival, as well as their CD recordings. Over the years, the RNCM Manchester International Cello Festival, which ran from 1988 to 2007, added in excess of £130,000 to the endowment of this award.
Panel members
Past panel members have included distinguished cellists and musicians such as Ian Brown, Colin Carr, Levon Chilingirian, Misha Donat, Amaryllis Fleming, Karine Georgian, Jonathan Groves, Louise Hopkins, Gregor Horsch, Steven Isserlis, Guy Johnston, Martin Lovett, Ralph Kirshbaum, Alice Neary, Gyorgy Pauk, Anthony Payne, Melissa Phelps, William Pleeth, David Strange, Raphael Wallfisch, Timothy Walden, Eleanor Warren and Moray Welsh.
Trustees
Ralph Kirshbaum, Jo Cole, Matthew Huber, Guy Johnston, Alice Neary, Justin Pearson, Hannah Roberts, Raphael Wallfisch (Chairman) and Tom Woods.
Donations
We are incredibly grateful to those who choose to donate to the Pierre Fournier Award. Donations can be made by using the button on our Contact and Donations page, or by contacting the administrator at pierrefournieraward@gmail.com