Pablo Casals International Cello Competition

The Pablo Casals International Cello Competition is held in El Vendrell, Catalonia, Spain. El Vendrell was the birthplace of Pablo Casals (1876–1973), the Catalan cellist widely regarded as one of the greatest string players of the 20th century.

Pablo Casals (1876–1973) was a Catalan cellist, conductor, and composer considered one of the most influential string players of the 20th century. He went into self-imposed exile during the Franco dictatorship and spent his later years in Puerto Rico, refusing to perform in Spain while the regime held power.

El Vendrell in Catalonia is Pablo Casals's birthplace and the site of his family home, making it a fitting location for a competition bearing his name. Casals maintained deep ties to the region throughout his life, and his legacy remains central to Catalan cultural identity.

The competition is exclusively devoted to the cello, the instrument that Pablo Casals elevated to international prominence through his recordings and performances. It focuses on classical cello repertoire, including works by J. S. Bach, whose solo suites Casals famously revived and recorded.