2026 Prize Winners announced!

We have been thrilled with the amazingly high standard of musicianship at this year’s Tunbridge Wells International Music Competition. All the competitors gave their all and shared wonderful music making with the audience and the judges. At the Finals on Monday 4 May 2026, our judges panel, led by Alasdair Tait with Kathryn Stott, Jennifer Pike, Michael Thompson, Rachel Gough and Philippe Dinkel, awarded the following prizes:

 

Hans and Mary Romney Overall Winners Prize: Naoe Sasaki

Audience Prize: Naoe Sasaki

Piano:

• First prize – Naoe Sasaki
• Second prize – Anastasia Barabanova
• Third prize – Chin Hou Chio

Wind and brass:

• First prize – Samantha Rowe
• Second prize – Viviane Ghiglino
• Third prize – Cyrus Chun Hei Lam
• Highly commended – Oliver Lee

Strings:

• First prize – Woicheck Prazuch
• Second prize – Kosta Popovic
• Third prize – Mathew Lee
• Highly commended – George Wilkes

The winners will receive cash prizes and performance opportunities, while the first prize winners also receive support from the Tunbridge Wells Competition Grant Scheme.  Follow us on Instagram (@twmusiccomp) and Facebook (@twiyca) to find out more.

We are immensely grateful to Mayfield Festival and Mayfield School for all the support they give to the Competition.