A 22-year-old cellist from Denmark has won the 2019 Windsor Festival International String Competition.

Jonathan Swensen was chosen as winner by an international panel of judges, including violinist Pierre Amoya, violist and conductor Wolfram Christ, cellist David Strange and James Williams, Managing Director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

It has been an amazing 12 months for Jonathan as he was also first prize winner of the 2018 Young Concert Artists International Auditions and the 2018 Khachaturian International Cello Competition.

His first prize at Windsor means that Jonathan has won the right to perform with the Philharmonia Orchestra in the Waterloo Chamber during Windsor Festival 2019, a fine contemporary bow for his cello to the value of £5,000, a recording opportunity, recital dates and £5,000.

Cellist Jamal Aliyev, 25, from Turkey was awarded second prize and the audience prize at Windsor and third prize went to British violinist Mathilde Milwidsky, 24.

Prince Edward the Earl of Wessex who is patron of the Windsor Festival presented the prizes in the Waterloo Chamber, Windsor Castle where the final was held.

The prestigious Windsor Festival International String Competition (WFISC) drew in nations from across the globe.

The semi-finalists were selected from 192 applicants from 45 countries worldwide. Semi-finals took place Tuesday and Wednesday with the final taking place on Friday, March 29 in the Waterloo Chamber.

All semi-finals and the final were live-streamed via www.windsorfestival.com - the final will be available to view on Wednesday.