Queen Elisabeth Competition

Lionel Martin

CELLO 2026 : Laureate

Lionel Martin began cello studies at age five at the Tübingen Music School under Joseph Hasten, who taught him for twelve years. Having trained at the Zurich University of the Arts from 2020 to 2024, he has since entered Frans Helmerson’s class at the Kronberg Academy. Third Prize at the Budapest International Cello Competition in 2025, he won First Prize at both the Suggia Competition in Porto (2024) and the Ton & Erklärung Competition in Hannover (2022). Since 2017, he has held a scholarship from the Anne-Sophie Mutter Foundation and regularly performs with the violinist in major concert halls. As a soloist, he has appeared with NDR Radiophilharmonie, ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra and SWR Symphonieorchester. Recitals have taken him to the Tonhalle Zürich, Lucerne Festival and Beethovenfest Bonn. He regularly performs with his brother, pianist Demian Martin.

Instrument: Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume (1846)
(loaned by the Beare's international violin society)

Germany
Year of birth: 2003

Teachers

2024 - : Frans Helmerson
2020 - 2024 : Thomas Grossenbacher
2008 - 2020 : Joseph Hasten

Degrees

2024 - 2025 : Master, Kronberg Academy
2021 - 2024 : Bachelor, Zurich University of the Arts

Concerts

2025 : Wiener Musikverein, Great Hall, Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen, Ariane Matiakh
2025 : Tonhalle Zürich, Tonhalle-Gesellschaft Zürich, Recital with Demian Martin
2025 : Kölner Philharmonie, Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne, Andrés Orozco-Estrada
2025 : Casa da Musica Porto, Porto Symphony Orchestra, Pedro Neves
2024 : Tonhalle Zürich, Camerata Schweiz, Howard Griffiths
2024 : KKL Lucerne, Camerata Schweiz, Howard Griffiths
2023 : Liederhalle Stuttgart, SWR Symphony Orchestra, Giedrė Šlekytė
2023 : Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, with Anne-Sophie Mutter and Mutter's Virtuosi
2023 : Carnegie Hall, New York, with Anne-Sophie Mutter and Mutter's Virtuosi
2023 : Berliner Philharmonie, with Anne-Sophie Mutter and Mutter's Virtuosi