Lied Duo (2), Piano Trio (1) & Piano Duo (3) 1ST ROUND
from 10:00 a.m. & from 3:00 p.m.
Monday, 10/02/2025
Lied Duo (2) & Piano Duo (3) 1ST ROUND
from 10:00 a.m. & from 3:00 p.m.
Piano Trio (1)
SEMI-FINAL
from 9:30 a.m. & from 3:00 p.m.
* * *
Tuesday, 11/02/2025
Lied Duo (2) & Piano Duo (3) SEMI-FINALS
from 9:00 a.m. & from 3:00 p.m. *
Wednesday, 12/02/2025
Piano Trio (2) FINAL from 3:00 p.m.
Thursday, 13/02/2025
Piano Duo (2) FINAL from 9:00 a.m.
Lied Duo (2) FINAL from 3:00 p.m.
Prizewinners announcement (2) approx. 8:00 p.m.
at the KUG Campus (1) Palais Meran, Florentinersaal (2) MUMUTH, György-Ligeti-Saal (3) Theater im Palais (T.i.P.) Leonhardstraße, Graz * * *
Friday, 14/02/2025
#career for participants and KUG students (Information at the competition office) * * *
Saturday, 15/02/2025
Meet & Greet with the award winners 5:00 p.m.
Award ceremony 6:00 p.m.
Graz Congress, Kammermusiksaal
Gala Concert 7:30 p.m.
Graz Congress, Stefaniensaal
INFORMATION
Competition office
MUMUTH, Lichtenfelsgasse 14, A-8010 Graz
T. +43 316 389-1900 | E. competitions@kug.ac.at
Opening hours
7 – 14/02/2025
8 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 8 p.m.
15/02/2025
8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
COURSE OF THE COMPETITION
• Application deadline: September 24, 2024
• Number of registrations: 325 musicians from 44 nations - 66 Lied Duos, 39 Piano Trios, 23 Piano Duos
• Pre-selections October 2024, then announcement of the invited ensembles: 20 Lied Duos, Piano Trios and Piano Duos each
• Live rounds in Graz: February 8-15, 2025
∞ February 8-13: 3 public rounds in 3 categories at the KUG Campus
∞ February 14: #career
Feedback and career day for participants and KUG students
∞ February 15: Meet & Greet with the prizewinners, presentation of certificates and Gala concert at the Graz Congress
HIGHLIGHTS
Since 2005, an International Composition Competition has been held in the run-up to the current FS&MM Interpretation Competition. Fortunately, for the first time, the Composition Competition was held within the framework of the World Federation of International Music Competitions (WFIMC). This year the competition sought a composition for Trio for Piano, Violin and Violincello with a maximum duration of 15 minutes. A total of 206 composers from 54 nations took up this challenge, and we are delighted to present the winning works by Sergi Puig (Spain) and Xiaowen Lei (China), selected by an internationally renowned jury of experts, for the first time on February 10, 2025 . Both composers will be present. More information on page 97.
Under the motto #einLiedin36Stunden (a song in 36 hours), the finalists in the category ‘Lied Duo’ will face a special challenge. They will be given a Lied composed especially for our competition by German composer Annette Schlünz , which they will have to rehearse without outside help within 36 hours and premiere at the final of the competition on February 13, 2025 . To underline the importance of this commissioned work , a special prize will be awarded to the best interpretation of the piece.
Before that, participants in this category will be able to demonstrate their creativity in the LiedLAB semi-final on February 11, 2025 . In this round, the participating duos will be asked to perform at least one piece in the sense of an experimental field: performative as well as visual, musical and other elements can be incorporated in order to appeal more directly to the audience. We are looking forward to exciting and surprising performances!
In the Piano Duo category, ensembles will also have the opportunity to win a special prize for the interpretation of a work by a female composer . This can be performed in all three rounds, so it’s worth checking out live.
FOREWORDS
Ladies and gentlemen, dear audience, welcome to the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz (KUG).
The 12th International Chamber Music Competition “Franz Schubert and Modern Music”, which was first launched at KUG in 1989, fits perfectly to the university’s mission by focusing on the interpretation of Franz Schubert’s music as well as modern music simultaneously at the highest level. We at the KUG are deeply convinced that engaging with cultural heritage and contemporary art at the same time increases the quality of artistic creation overall.
Our competition also aims to expand the repertoire. In addition to commissioned works and composition competitions, there is also the possibility of choosing a song by Anselm Hüttenbrenner (1794-1868), friend of Franz Schubert and one of the most respected composers of his time, instead of a Schubert song in the “Lied” category. His estate was bequeathed to the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz by his descendants living in Graz because preserving the region’s cultural heritage is another significant priority of ours.
Future-oriented and profession-related, this competition seeks creative, imaginative, and curious musicians who can reach and touch their listeners in a variety of ways through the interaction of chamber music. In return, we offer the prizewinners not only prize money totaling around € 80,000, but also career counseling and support, as well as workshops in the areas of career planning, self-management and music education for all participants. The competition thus corresponds with KUG’s strategic goal that its teachers use art, culture and science as a prime resource for positive social change by promoting an attitude of artistic citizenship among students, empowering them to open up new spaces for art in society and use them professionally, thus shaping their own working lives.
Artistic excellence is in the DNA of a university of music and performing arts such as the KUG. Our students are prepared for a career in a highly competitive profession – where cooperation is just as important as artistic competition. This is why KUG places particular emphasis on fostering excellent skills in collaborative interaction, as these form the foundation for excellence in music. The ability to perceive and listen to another person with empathy, and express oneself in an authentic way are not only prerequisites for artistic creation, but also for critical dialogue with others.
I hope you enjoy the competition!
Georg SCHULZ Rector
University of Music and Performing Arts Graz (KUG)
Dear audience, dear participants, dear jury, it is a great honor and pleasure to welcome you to the 12th edition of the Chamber Music Competition “Franz Schubert und die Musik der Moderne”.
A festival of chamber music, which has brought together 325 musicians from 44 countries around the world in its preliminary round so far. After a pre-selection in the course of 2024, 140 musicians from 35 countries will now come together physically in Graz from February 8 to 15, 2025. Together they will form the community of this competition on site in Graz.
For each other, with each other, next to each other: to come together is the essence of chamber music. Coming together in music – above all else that should also be the aim of this competition. For all the importance of excellence in the world of music - the aim of this gathering of young artists is not to win prizes ahead of others and to compete for these prizes against others. Let us consider the word “competition”: it is derived from the Latin verb “petere” - and this means first and foremost: “to strive for a goal”. Combined with the prefix “com-” it means: “to strive for a goal TOGETHER, WITH EACH OTHER”.
So “TOGETHER” should be the motto of this competition. Also, as the name of the competition expresses, the coexistence of tradition and modernity as an appearance of “together”. It is the deepest conviction of the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz: cooperation in the present and the interaction between the past and the present is the basis of a productive future that serves the well-be of the community on this planet.
There is truly no further need for opposition against each other in this world.
I wish us all lots of joy, lots of luck and lots of success for this week in: all striving together - for the best!
Werner STRENGER Vice-Rector for Art, Development and Exploration of
Artistic committee of the competition
University of Music and Performing Arts Graz (KUG)
We would like to thank Federal President Alexander van der Bellen very much for his patronage.
GREETINGS
Dear participants and audience!
Art and culture are an essential part of our Styrian identity. The International Chamber Music Competition “Franz Schubert and Modern Music”, which is organised every three years by the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, is a great event because it combines tradition and modernity, cultural awareness and creativity.
In today’s world, the profession of musician is becoming increasingly competitive. I believe that the efforts of the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz to give these exceptionally talented young people the opportunity to make an international name for themselves are very valuable.
It is always a pleasure to see young people aspiring to a career in the arts. I can only applaud all the musicians and admire their diverse abilities.
The University of Music and Performing Arts Graz also made it possible for the participants in the competition to choose a Lied by the Graz composer Anselm Hüttenbrenner in one category. As Governor of our beautiful Styria, I am pleased to see that our universities are fulfilling their regional mission and are not losing sight of the preservation of our cultural heritage, taking into account the modern aspect of art.
I am particularly pleased that we are also able to support this event financially and thus make a significant contribution to the competition prizes.
I am confident that this competition, with its exciting blend of tradition and modernity, will be a great pleasure for all viewers. I wish all participants every success and hope that today’s creative engagement will inspire them in their personal and professional careers.
Dear artists, dear music enthusiasts, dear guests, the 12th edition of the international chamber music competition ‘Franz Schubert and Modern Music’ once again makes Graz a hotspot of musical excellence. This competition is much more than a musical contest –it is a unique platform where tradition and innovation merge in an inspiring dialogue. Here, the timeless depth of Schubert’s works meets the sonic diversity of contemporary music, making Graz the centre of an exciting musical journey.
Styria is proud of its cultural diversity, which is characterised by historical depth and visionary openness. The competition, which combines the music of Franz Schubert with contemporary sounds, impressively demonstrates how music builds bridges – between eras, cultures and people.
The competition offers young musicians an extraordinary platform to showcase their talent and establish international networks. The contribution made by contemporary composers in giving a voice to the music of our time is equally valuable.
I would like to thank the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz and everyone involved for their commitment and for the excellent organisation of this competition. They are setting a strong example for the promotion of art and culture – here in Styria and far beyond.
I wish all participants inspiring encounters and great success, and the audience unforgettable musical moments.
There are many examples of composers whose significance is only recognised after their death. Franz Schubert left an enormous body of work when he died in 1828 at the age of just 31. The fact that his work receives such great admiration today is anything but self-evident. With the great idea of holding a competition to give young talents the opportunity to combine Schubert’s work with new works, the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz has been creating an excellent setting since 1989 for bringing together old and new, and in doing so, bringing together young people from all over the world, in whose hands the cultivation and preservation of a great musical heritage lies, in Graz.
A high-calibre jury and the range of opportunities offered by the competition ensure that musicians can gain valuable experience and find their way.
I would like to thank the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz for organising the chamber music competition, which underlines the importance of our city in the world of music. I hope that the participants will inspire the audience and jury and take home fond memories of our city.
Elke KAHR Mayor of Graz
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
Lied and chamber music are among the most demanding forms of so-called ‘serious music’ for good reason. This music places high demands on the audience and especially on the musicians.
I am therefore delighted that the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz is hosting the ‘Franz Schubert and Modern Music’ competition for the twelfth time in 2025. Events like these are more than just a comparison of artistic skills. They also offer musicians the opportunity to exchange experiences and meet each other – and the audience. Above all, however, they are a promise for the future of our concert life.
The large number of registrations from all over the world not only demonstrates the international significance of this competition, but also the recognition of the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz.
As the City Councillor for Culture and Science, I would like to thank everyone who has made this competition possible. I wish the audience exciting and enriching performances and the artists every success in the competition and in their further musical careers.
The number of jurors of the 12th International Competition “Franz Schubert and Modern Music“ will be increased for the finals. An Extended Jury, which consists of renowned personalities from the cultural sector, will support the jurors of all three competition categories by attending all finals and being involved in the final discussion for the awarding of prizes.
The Extended Jury will also award a special prize: one finalist ensemble selected from any of the three categories, will receive the opportunity to produce a CD from the competition recordings, including professional promotion.
Cultural Manager of the City of Staufen, Germany
Birgit HINTERHOLZER
Secretary General Jeunesse –Musikalische Jugend Österreichs
Director of the Herman Braun Foundation Latvia
Michael NEMETH
Director of the Musikverein für Steiermark
Ulf WERNER
Programme & Orchestra Director at the Konzerthaus Berlin
Franz Schubert | Steffen Schleiermacher | Moritz Eggert | Charles Ives
Semi-final
Franz Schubert | Steffen Schleiermacher | Anselm Hüttenbrenner | Anno Schreier | Wolfgang Rihm
Final
Wolfgang Rihm | Franz Schubert | Moritz Eggert | Francis Poulenc | Steffen Schleiermacher | Annette Schlünz
Marija & Amelie
Marija Ticl, soprano
Amelie Warner, piano
Works by
1st Round
Benjamin Britten | Franz Schubert | Victor Ullmann | Moritz Eggert
Semi-final
Franz Schubert | Ruth Schonthal | Moritz Eggert | Wolfgang Rihm | Olivier Messiaen
Final
Manuela Kerer | Victor Ullmann | Franz Schubert | Pavel Haas | Violeta Dinescu | Samuel Barber | Olivier Messiaen | Aribert Reimann | Annette Schlünz
Works by
1st Round
Duo Rike
Risa Matsushima, soprano Kewen Wang, piano
Kai Wessel | Franz Schubert | Karol Szymanowski | Olivier Messiaen
Semi-final
Franz Schubert | Isabel Mundry | Improvisation
Final
Franz Schubert | Thomas Kessler | Annette Schlünz
Sara Schabas & Alexey Shafirov
Sara Schabas, soprano
Alexey Shafirov, piano
Works by
1st Round
Matthias Pintscher | Franz Schubert | Igor Strawinsky | George Enescu
Semi-final
Matthias Pintscher | Harry Somers | Karol Szymanowski | Franz Schubert
Final
Olivier Messiaen | Franz Schubert | György Kurtág | Lili Boulanger | Annette Schlünz
Wolff & Yokoi
Natsumi Wolff, mezzo-soprano Maina Yokoi, piano
Works by
1st Round
Dominick Argento | Friedrich Cerha | Franz Schubert | Anton von Webern | Sven-Ingo Koch
Semi-final
Friedrich Cerha | George Crumb | Heinz Holliger | Maurizio Kagel | Franz Schubert
Final
Leonard Bernstein | Anselm Hüttenbrenner | Witold Lutosławski | Frank Martin | Wolfgang Rihm | Franz Schubert | Egon Wellesz | Robert Krampe | Annette Schlünz
PARTICIPANTS PIANO TRIO
1st Round
accio piano trio
Christina Scheicher, piano Clemens Böck, violin
Anne Sophie Keckeis, violoncello
Schubert, Franz Klaviertrio B-Dur D 28 (Sonatensatz) Murphy, Kelly-Marie Give Me Phoenix Wings To Fly
Semi-final
Pärt, Arvo Mozart-Adagio für Klaviertrio (1992)
Schostakowitsch, Dmitri Klaviertrio Nr. 2 e-Moll op. 67 Lei, Xiaowen Fields, Cities, Skies, and Ruins
€ 9,000 donated by the City of Graz plus career package*
2ND PRIZE
€ 6,500 donated by the City of Graz
3RD PRIZE
€ 4,500 donated by the City of Graz
SPECIAL PRIZES
€ 1,000
Prize for the best interpretation of the commissioned work by Annette Schlünz , donated by the City of Graz
€ 1,000
Stacey Bartsch Memorial Prize for the best interpretation of a Lied by Franz Schubert or Anselm Hüttenbrenner (awarded in the final), donated by the relatives of Stacey Bartsch
* In addition to the prize money, the first prizewinners will receive individual career counselling and support for the duration of one year. They will be supported by the coaches Marc van der Heijde, Aimée Paret and Andreas Vierziger in various subject areas in the form of a rotation system.
TRIO FOR PIANO, VIOLIN AND VIOLONCELLO
1ST PRIZE
€ 13,500 donated by the Province of Styria plus career package*
2ND PRIZE
€ 9,750 donated by the Province of Styria
3RD PRIZE
€ 6,750 donated by the Province of Styria
SPECIAL PRIZE
€ 1,500
Prize for the best interpretation of the prizewinning work of the International Composition Competition Piano Trio 2024 donated by BIG Bundesimmobiliengesellschaft m.b.H.
* In addition to the prize money, the first prizewinners will receive individual career counselling and support for the duration of one year. They will be supported by the coaches Marc van der Heijde, Aimée Paret and Andreas Vierziger in various subject areas in the form of a rotation system.
PIANO DUO
1ST PRIZE
€ 9,000 donated by the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz (KUG) plus career package*
2ND PRIZE
€ 6,500 donated by the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz (KUG)
3RD PRIZE
€ 4,500 donated by the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz (KUG)
SPECIAL PRIZE
€ 1,000
Prize for the best interpretation of a composition by a female composer donated by the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz (KUG)
* In addition to the prize money, the first prizewinners will receive individual career counselling and support for the duration of one year. They will be supported by the coaches Marc van der Heijde, Aimée Paret and Andreas Vierziger in various subject areas in the form of a rotation system.
SPECIAL PRIZE
MULTIDISCIPLINARY
CD PRODUCTION & PROMOTION
The Extended Jury will select one ensemble from the finalists across all three categories.
The chosen ensemble will be awarded a professional CD production featuring recordings from all three competition rounds.
The CD will be released physically and digitally by the Solo Musica label and promoted by the PR agency NO.TE. The total costs of the production is approximately € 11,000.
the
Handover of
commissioned work as part of of the FS&MM 2022, Duo Baleiro/Costa & composer Judith Weir
In connection with the 12th International Chamber Music Competition “Franz Schubert and Modern Music” 2025 contemporary compositions for Trio for Piano, Violin and Violoncello were sought. We received 206 submissions from 54 nations. This part of the competition was organised for the first time as a member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions (WFIMC).
Under the chairmanship of KUG chamber music professor and pianist Chia Chou, together with KUG composition professors Clemens Gadenstätter and Clemens Nachtmann , a selection of 22 works was made during the first stage. During the second stage violinist Annette Bik (Austria), cellist Lucas Fels (Germany) and the composers Hilda Paredes (Mexico) and Miroslav Srnka (Czech Republic) decided to honour two prizewinning works of equal value:
All participants in the chamber music competitions Piano Trio category have selected one of the two prizewinning compositions as their compulsory piece for the semi-final.
We would like to thank Grazer Wechselseitige Versicherung AG for covering the prize money totalling € 5,000.
On February 12 & 14, 2025, a variety of events will take place for participants of the FS&MM competition and KUG students under the motto #career
What is on offer?
• Detailed feedback from all jurors and other artists involved
• Individual career counselling by the career coaches Marc van der Heijde, Krystian Nowakowski, Aimée Paret und Andreas Vierziger
12/02/2025
• The former 1st prizewinner Elitsa Desseva invites to a keynote speech and workshops (active and passive participation) on the topic of Programming Lied in the concert context.
14/02/2025
• Keynote speech by Marc van der Heijde (Green Room Creatives) on the topic: Branding for Musicians: Introduction to the Topic of Public Profile Development
• Keynote speech by Krystian Nowakowski on the topic: Ecosystem of an Artist‘s Career – Players, Gatekeepers & Supporters
• Stage presence training for musicians: 5 rhythms with Stefania Kregel
• Lina Maria Åkerlund invites to an active or passive participation on the topic: Non-verbal song art – consciously embodying the song in performance.
The keynotes are open to all interested parties. Registration at competitions@kug.ac.at
As the organiser of the International Chamber Music Competition “Franz Schubert and Modern Music”, the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz is committed to discovering young talents and making them visible and audible – in particular by enabeling performances and concerts. In addition to numerous offers for career development, from which all participants can benefit directly on site in Graz (e.g. feedback offer, #career day, individual career counselling, etc.), the FS&MM competition cooperates with numerous national and international organisations in order to bring finalists and prizewinners into contact with them.
We are delighted that the FS&MM competition is endorsed by many renowned festivals, concert organisers and educational institutions – onsite or via live stream. Some of our longstanding partnerships are based on the exceptional calibre of our prizewinners and the captivating artistic performances that can be experienced at the competition. We would like to thank our longstanding partners for repeatedly inviting prizewinners to their festivals and concerts.
SPONSORS SUPPORTERS
PARTNERS
The aim is to organise the competition according to the criteria of the Austrian Ecolabel for Green Events.
LIVE STREAMING
From the semi-final rounds onwards, the competition will be broadcast live on schubert.kug.ac.at and The Violin Channel:
10/02 Semi-final Piano Trio from 9:30 a.m. and from 3:00 p.m.
11/02 Semi-finals Lied Duo and Piano Duo from 9:00 a.m. and from 3:00 p.m.
12/02 Final Piano Trio from 3:00 p.m.
13/02 Final Piano Duo from 9:00 a.m. and Final Lied Duo from 3:00 p.m.
The following ensembles have cancelled their participation after the pre-selection:
Piano Trio: Trio Ramé
Piano Duo: Arran Duo, Piano Duo Petkunaite
Imprint
Publisher: University of Music and Performing Arts Graz (2025)
Responsible for the content: Werner Strenger, KUG-Vice Rector
Competition Office
Editors: Stefanie Nöst, Britta Reininghaus
Typesetting & Layout: Sabine Laller
Print: Winkler Kuvert GmbH
Subject to changes and errors
Status: January 8, 2025
Current information & daily programmes
University of Music and Performing Arts Graz Competition Office Leonhardstraße 15, A-8010 Graz competitions@kug.ac.at | T +43 316 389 1900 schubert.kug.ac.at
