George Enescu International Competition announces cello finalists

Joshua Kováč, Sanghyeok Park, and Samuel Niederhauser have been named the finalists for the Cello Section of the 2026 George Enescu International Competition. The three musicians, representing the United States, South Korea, and Switzerland respectively, will perform the final round at the Romanian Athenaeum on Monday, September 7.

The final stage features the finalists performing concertos with the Radio National Orchestra under the direction of Case Scaglione. Joshua Kováč and Sanghyeok Park are scheduled to perform Antonín Dvořák’s Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104, while Samuel Niederhauser will perform Dmitri Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, Op. 107.

The competition's semifinal included a new ‘Play & Conduct’ format, where semifinalists acted as both soloists and ensemble leaders alongside the Radio Chamber Orchestra and guest concertmaster Bogdan Zvorișteanu. The jury for the Cello Section was chaired by Arto Noras.