The German cellist receives €5,000
The Academy of Sciences and Literature Mainz has awarded the 2026 Hans Gál Soloist Prize to German cellist Arne Zeller. He wins a cash prize of €5,000. The prize, which is made possible by the Hans Gál Foundation, promotes outstanding young musicians at the beginning of their careers.
Arne Zeller (b.2006) became a student at the Hochschule für Musik in Leipzig from the age of 14. He has been studying at Kronberg Academy since October 2024.
He won first prize at both the 2024 International Pablo Casals Award for Young Cellists and the 2025 Budapest International Cello Competition, where he was also awarded the Audience Prize. He is also a multiple first prize winner of the Jugend Musiziert competition. He holds scholarships from the German National Academic Foundation, German Foundation for Musical Life and Liechtenstein Music Academy.
He has performed as a soloist with orchestras such as the Baden-Baden Philharmonic, Frankfurt Radio Orchestra, Kremerata Baltica, Liszt Chamber Orchestra and Budapest National Philharmonic, among others.
The Hans Gál Soloist Prize has been awarded since 2025 and honours the composer and musicologist Hans Gál (1890–1987), who was director of the Mainz Conservatory from 1929 to 1933.
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