Three talented young musicians will be competing tonight at Windsor Castle's Waterloo Chamber in a bid to be the winner of the 2019 Windsor Festival International String Competition.
They are two cellists 22-year-old Jonathan Swenson from Denmark and 25-year-old Jamal Aliyev from Turkey, plus 24-year-old violinist Mathilde Milwidsky from Britain.
They will be accompanied by the competition's official pianists Nigel Hutchison and Simon Lane.
This year’s international jury is made up of three distinguished musicians violinist Pierre Amoyal, violist and conductor Wolfram Christ and cellist David Strange, along with Helen Sprott who is managing director of the competition's associate orchestra the Philharmonia, Alexander Van Ingen who is executive producer of the competition's recording partner Champs Hill Records and Martin Denny the festival director.
The Earl of Wessex, patron of Windsor Festival, will present the prizes. The winner will receive prizes to the value of £20,000. These include a minimum of one concerto performance with the Philharmonia Orchestra in the Waterloo Chamber during Windsor Festival 2019; a fine contemporary bow to the value of £5,000 from Bishop Instruments and Bows, a solo recording opportunity with Champs Hill Records, recitals and a cash prize of £5,000. There is also an audience prize and further cash prizes for second and third place.
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