New England Conservatory Cellist Tony Rymer Wins Second Prize in Enescu Cello Competition

Cellist Eun-Sun Hong (South Korea), has won the 15,000 Euro First Prize at the 2014 Enescu Cello Competition in Bucharest, Romania. New England Conservatory cellist Tony Rymer (USA) received the 10,000 Euro Second Prize and Sarah Rommel of USC (USA), the 5000 Euro Third Prize.

Eun-Sun Hong has performed with important international orchestras such as The Seoul Philharmonic, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Russia Philharmonic, and the South Korean Chamber Orchestra. At only 25, she won the Third Prize in the Tschaikovsky International Competition.

Eun-Sun Hong

Cellist Tony Rymer has already performed major concerti to critical acclaim with the Atlanta Symphony, Boston Pops, Cleveland Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, and Pittsburgh Symphony, among others.  A native of Boston, Tony attended the Walnut Hill Arts School and then NEC, where he studied many years with CelloBello founder Paul Katz, and with Laurence Lesser. He is featured on this CelloBello website in many CelloBello lessons with Paul Katz, as well as in Pieter Wispelwey’s master class of the Schubert  “Arpeggione” Sonata.

Reached for comment, Rymer said, “Performing with the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Ovidiu Bălan was a wonderful experience and an emotional way to end 11 days of practicing like a maniac. Though it was stressful to prepare the Dvorak Concerto with just two days notice and one rehearsal with orchestra, once it was time to perform I had fun!”

The Concerto Finals were held Sunday in a Gala Ceremony Concert in the Romanian Athenaeum’s Grand Hall, with  participation of the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Ovidiu Bălan, one of the most celebrated conductors of Eastern-Europe. First prize was awarded to Eun-Sun Hong (South Korea), who interpreted Dmitri Shostakovich’s Concerto no. 1 for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 107; the Second Prize went to Tony Rymer (USA)—Antonin Dvořák’s Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104; and the third to Sarah Rommel—Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85. The final concerto round can be viewed here,

The Jury, presided over by Lluís Claret, had renowned international musicians such as Marin Cazacu, Frans Helmerson and Vladimir Malinovski as members. “One of my dearest professors was cellist Radu Aldulescu. I feel so gratified to be in this wonderful Grand Hall, where Radu performed so many times,” Jury Chairman Lluís Claret said to a storm of applause. The Cello Final was broadcast live on a screen placed in front of the Romanian Athenaeum, on TVR 2 and TVR HD TV stations, as well as online on the Enescu Festival and Competition website.