Jonathan Swensen Named Joint First Prize Winner at Naumburg International Cello Competition
October 22, 2024
On October 20, CMS Bowers Artist Jonathan Swensen was awarded the highest honor at the prestigious 2024 Naumburg International Cello Competition. The 27-year-old, Danish-born cellist was named joint-first prize winner alongside Leland Ko. Both performers were awarded $20,000, a recital in New York City, and a commissioned work.
Swensen, who joined the Bowers program this fall, has received numerous distinctions in recent years, including an Avery Fisher Career Grant in 2022 and an Artist Diploma from New England Conservatory in 2023. Previously he placed first in the 2019 Windsor International String Competition, the 2018 Khachaturian International Cello Competition, and the 2018 Young Concert Artists International Auditions.
Swensen’s upcoming appearances with CMS include Hummel & Prokofiev (Oct. 31), the Brandenburg Concertos (December 13, 15, and 17), performances at Drew University and Vero Beach (February 20 and 22, 2025), Mozart, Grieg, Fauré, and Prokofiev (April 6, 2025), and Boccherini, Koechlin, and Suk (April 10, 2025).
