First prize with $10,000 was awarded to Cosima Regina Federle, 24, along with a performance engagement. She played Khachaturian's Concerto-Rhapsody for Cello and Orchestra in the final round, and also won the special prize for the best interpretation of a sonata in the second round. Federle is currently based in Berlin, where she studies at the Berlin University of the Arts under Jens-Peter Maintz. She previously studied with Peter Bruns at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy in Leipzig, as well as with Wolfgang Nüsslein and Hanno Simons. Besides, she has received important musical guidance from renowned artists including Frans Helmerson, David Geringas, Wolfgang Boettcher, Mischa Maisky, and Alfred Brendel, and has performed at festivals such as the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, the Dresdner Musikfestspiele, and Musique en Été in Geneva.
YEREVAN, ARMENIA
Great Cellists Shine in Yerevan
Cosima Regina Federle Wins First Prize at the 2026 Khachaturian International Competition
Held every year in Yerevan, Armenia, the Khachaturian International Music Competition starts on the day of the famous composer's birthday, the 6th of June. This year's edition focused on cello and gathered in Armenia 24 young and talented cellists from around the world.
The four finalists who made it through to the last round performed with the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra under the competition's Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, Sergey Smbatyan. Each finalist paired two concertos in their final performances, including one of Khachaturian's own works. The venue of the final was the Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall, just a short walk from Khachaturian's house-museum.
Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall, Bogdan Efremov performing with the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra and Sergey Smbatyan (Conductor)
Cosima Regina Federle, 1st prize winner
Second prize went to Bogdan Efremov, 21, along with special prizes for the best interpretation of a Popper étude and the best interpretation of Khachaturian's Sonata-Fantasy for solo cello. Based in Moscow, he also won the third prize at the Schoenfeld International String Competition in 2025. Since 2019, he has been studying at the Gnessin Moscow Secondary Special (Vocational) School of Music with Igor Zimin, an Honored Artist of the Russian Federation. Third prize with $3,000 was awarded to Artyom Ioanisyan, 23, along with a concert engagement with the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra. Originally from Yerevan, he is now based in Berlin. He graduated from the Tchaikovsky Specialized School of Music and since 2022 has been studying at the University of the Arts Bern (Denis Severin).
Bogdan Efremov, 2nd prize winner
Artyom Ioanisyan, 3rd prize winner
The Khachaturian International Competition was established on June 6, 2003, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian, a giant pillar of 20th-century classical music for Armenia and the world. Launching every year on his birth date of June 6, the competition is designed to reveal young musical talents in four disciplines: piano, violin, cello, and conducting. The next edition will feature the piano category.
Finalists 2026: Artyom Ioanisyan, Bogdan Efremov, Miriam Smit, and Cosima Regina Federle
Award :
First Prize : Cosima Regina Federle (24), Berlin
Second Prize: Bogdan Efremov (21), Moscow
Third Prize: Artyom Ioanisyan (23), Berlin
Jury :
Levon Mouradian, Victor Julien-Laferrière, Gregorio Nieto, Josephine Knight, Meehae Ryo, Martti Rousi, Denis Severin
Artists :
Armenian State Symphony Orchestra/ Sergey Smbatyan (Conductor)
© WFIMC 2026
