Entry Information

All entrants are to submit a video recording along with supporting documentation for the heats via the Sydney Eisteddfod Entrant Portal. The video submission must be uploaded to the Sydney Eisteddfod Entrant Portal by 11.59 PM on Sunday, 7 Sept. 2025.

Entrant’s video submission must be a YouTube or Vimeo link. Please clearly indicate the work’s title and composer, along with the name of the entrant’s first and last in the title and/or description box (eg. Emily Jones: Prelude and Allegro by Fritz Kreisler). Please ensure the privacy settings of your upload allow third party viewing so our panellists can view.

Email: [email protected] if you have any questions relating to this submission method.

The following documentation will be required when submitting your application:

* A 150-word biography

* A publicity picture in colour as a JPEG file - in high resolution (minimum 2M.B.)

Finalists are expected to perform the same repertoire as presented in their video submission. Changes to repertoire cannot be accommodated for this event.

Adjudicators

Kurt Hess

Area of Specialty:
Cello

Kurt Hess lives in Beromünster, Switzerland. He studied at the Lucerne Conservatory and at Indiana University in Bloomington with the legendary Hungarian cellist Janos Starker, graduating with a high distinction and obtaining the prestigious ‘Artist Diploma’. Kurt Hess was Senior Lecturer at the Elder Conservatorium at the University of Adelaide from 1978–1987. Since his return to Switzerland, he has led a busy concert and teaching schedule, with concert tours in Europe, to South America, the Middle and Far East. He has recorded the 6 Suites for Cello by J. S. Bach as well as virtuosic works for Cello and Piano. Recently, the music publishing house Schott published his handbook and guide to the technical methods and musical concepts of Janos Starker ‘Top Secrets for Cellists’ An Organized Method of String Playing. Kurt Hess is highly valued for his exceptional musical aesthetics and sophisticated technical mastery of his instrument.

Warrick Dobbie

Cello Australia Founder Warrick Dobbie is a cello graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and a Fellow of Trinity College London. He commenced his cello studies in Australia with Colleen McMeekin, before completing advanced studies with Russian cellist Alex Pogodin (former Principal cellist with the Adelaide Symphony) and Danish cellist Georg Pedersen. While still a student at the Sydney Conservatorium Warrick was invited to play in performances with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and was also a prize winner in the ABC Conducting Competition which saw him conduct the ABC Sinfonia in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House. On returning to Australia following scholarship studies at the Royal College of Music in London with Joan Dickson and in France with legendary cellists Maud Tortelier and Andre Navarra, Warrick established himself as one of Australia’s leading cello educators. His cello performance activities over the years have also taken him right around the world with exciting performances throughout Western Europe and Russia with the renowned University of Adelaide Cello Ensemble and in Japan with the International Opera Festival. Warrick is also well known in international cello circles as a result of the project he undertook during Covid to translate a famous collection of cello instructional videos made by Andre Navarra in the 1960’s to make them available to the English-speaking world for the first time. To bring this initiative to fruition he headed up a group of international cello friends and colleagues who all worked remotely to translate, subtitle and produce a professional quality English language version of the videos which subsequently has been made available to cellists worldwide free of charge on YouTube. In addition to his entrepreneurial work promoting Cello Australia, Warrick is also a Legal Practitioner of the Supreme Court of NSW.

Important Notes

Conditions

All entrants are to submit a video recording along with supporting documentation for the heats via the Sydney Eisteddfod Entrant Portal. The video submission must be uploaded to the Sydney Eisteddfod Entrant Portal by 11.59 PM on Sunday, 7 Sept. 2025.

Entrant’s video submission must be a YouTube or Vimeo link. Please clearly indicate the work’s title and composer, along with the name of the entrant’s first and last in the title and/or description box (eg. Emily Jones: Prelude and Allegro by Fritz Kreisler). Please ensure the privacy settings of your upload allow third party viewing so our panellists can view.

Email: [email protected] if you have any questions relating to this submission method.

The following documentation will be required when submitting your application:

* A 150-word biography

* A publicity picture in colour as a JPEG file - in high resolution (minimum 2M.B.)

Finalists are expected to perform the same repertoire as presented in their video submission. Changes to repertoire cannot be accommodated for this event.

1. Previous winners not eligible.

2. Event is open to any instrumentalist who is a citizen or permanent resident of Australia or New Zealand. ~ Residency and proof of age documents will be cited by Sydney Eisteddfod staff upon progression to the Final. This can include a Birth Certificate, an Australian or New Zealand passport, or a permanent resident stamp. A driver’s licence is not acceptable.

3. Adjudicator reports will be written for the heats only. No marks will be given on these reports.

4. Accompaniment: Performances are for solo instrument with acoustic piano accompaniment unless the work chosen was composed specifically for solo instrument without accompaniment. No Official Accompanists are provided.

5. Up to 8 Finalists and two Reserve Finalists will be selected.

6. The Winner and Finalists must be reasonably available for media interviews and performance engagements. Sydney Eisteddfod will endeavour to continue to provide performance opportunities to alumni as a way of staying connected and nurturing the creative practices of all.

7. Please refer to the Instrumental Category Rules & Conditions of Entry.

Prizes

Sydney Eisteddfod Cello Australia Warrick Dobbie Award (17 Years & Under) - $1200