VC Artist Brannon Cho Awarded 2020 János Starker Cello Prize

Presented in memory of legendary Hungarian-American cellist and pedagogue János Starker, Brannon will receive US $35,000

The János Starker Foundation announced 25-year-old cellist, VC Artist Brannon Cho as the recipient of the 2020 Starker Foundation Award.

Brannon is a graduate of Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music and the New England Conservatory, where he studied with Hans Jørgen Jensen and Laurence Lesser, and is currently a Professional Studies Program student of Frans Helmerson at the Kronberg Academy.

He is a first prize winner of the Paulo Cello Competition and a major prize winner at the Queen Elisabeth, Naumburg, and Cassado International Cello Competitions.

"It’s an incredible honor to receive the award in memory of Janos Starker, who was one of the first cellists to lead my heart and soul to the cello, and whose recordings continue to inspire my imagination as a cellist," Cho said. "I will always strive to uphold the standard of excellence that he pioneered."

Presented biannually since 2016, previous recipients include VC Young Artist Santiago Cañón-Valencia.