IMPORTANT UPDATE: the live rounds at Wigmore Hall have been moved back to 15 & 16 October 2026. The deadline for applications is now 18 June 2026.

 

The Pierre Fournier Award Prize:

• a recital in London’s Wigmore Hall

• a professionally produced film of the recital for promotional (but not commercial) use by the artist

• a professionally produced CD on the Champs Hill label

• a UK concerto performance 

• other significant chamber music performances with affiliated organisations such as the Oxford May Music and the Manchester Mid-Day Concerts Society.  

Successful applicants will perform in front of a panel of distinguished judges. These have included Honorary President Ralph Kirshbaum, Rebecca Gilliver, Guy Johnston, György Pauk, Melissa Phelps, Alice Neary, Timothy Walden, Raphael Wallfisch and Moray Welsh.

• All applicants must first submit an application form with CV and a link to a single video recording that includes five different works (see guidelines below).
• There is a £35 application fee to help cover administrative costs (payment details in the application form)
• Live rounds for those chosen from the video audition will take place over two days at Wigmore Hall: a first round, followed by the Final on the second day, when the result will be announced. The 2026 dates are 15th and 16th October.
• For the first live round, the panel will choose excerpts (up to 25mins) from the applicant’s recital programme and chosen concerto.
• Those selected for the final round will perform a 45-minute programme, selected from their full suggested programme by the panel.
• All applicants who have not been chosen to perform in the final are invited to attend as an audience member.  

 

Application Guidelines (Deadline: 18 June 2026):

By way of application, please:

• Fill in the application form (click “Online Application Form” below)
• All applicants must submit a single link to a streaming platform such as Youtube to a video of live and unedited video recordings of the repertoire detailed below.  The video can include recordings from different performances as long as each recording is unedited and they are all put together into one single video/link. Some crossover in repertoire between the video and live programme is allowed. The video should be titled with the applicant’s name, the full titles of the works that are being played and contain timestamps for each piece:
  1. Prelude and One other movement from a Bach Suite.
  2. First Movement from a Beethoven Sonata.
  3. First movement from a Romantic Sonata.
  4. A work or movement of a composition written since 1960.
  5. A movement from a standard cello concerto.
• Suggest a full recital programme (approx. 75 – 90 minutes) and full concerto that the applicant will be prepared to play excerpts from at the audition.
• Cellists are asked to bring with them a collaborative pianist with whom they feel confident they could perform a successful recital programme in the Wigmore Hall, demonstrating a mature and developed partnership.
• Repertoire is at the discretion of the applicant and should reflect their passions and strong musical convictions.
• Successful applicants must make their own travel and accommodation arrangements, arriving on the day before the audition date. 
• Please note, applicants must not be older than 30 years old on 1 May 2026 and must be at least 18 at the time of auditioning.

If you need further information or need technical assistance, we are happy to help.  Please contact the administrator, email: pierrefournieraward@gmail.com

Online Application Form