Winners Announced at New York’s Barbash Bach String Competition

Cellist Maxime Quennesson has been awarded 1st prize at the 2020 Lillian and Maurice Barbash J.S. Bach Competition

A student of Gary Hoffman at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, he is a former top prize winner of the Louis Rosoor, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre and FNAPEC competitions. Maxime will receive $5000, plus a performance invitation to the Island Symphony Bach Festival.

"I truly appreciate the incredible opportunity that in these troubled times, people like the Barbash family are mobilising to bring music to life and give a place to young artists to exist," said Quennesson. "This is made very special by the difficulties we all unfortunately experience. Bach's music is everlasting, sincere, and deeply comforting. I feel extremely grateful, and very positively surprised to win this 2nd edition of the competition."

2nd prize was awarded to violinist Claire Bourg.

The jury comprised: Stephanie Chase, Stanley Ritchie, Tanya Tomkins, Philip Setzer and Colin Carr.

Previous 1st prize winners include, baroque violinist Rachell Ellen Wong.

PHOTO CREDIT: AMANDINE LAURIOL ACADÉMIE JAROUSSKY