Meeting of the gifted
University invites to the "6th International FRANZ LISZT Competition | Young Pianists" in Weimar
For the sixth time, the University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar invites young pianists from all over the world to compete in Weimar. The keyboard virtuosos of the future will meet at the "6th International FRANZ LISZT Competition | Young Pianists" from October 25 to November 5, 2023 in the city on the Ilm.
They will compete in the age categories I (up to 13 years) and II (14 to 17 years) in a challenging competition for prizes. Applications will be available from March on the university's online portal at www.hfm-weimar.de/liszt-junior. Deadline to register for the competition is July 7.
An international jury of eight, chaired by Weimar piano professor Grigory Gruzman, will judge interpretations of Bach preludes, Beethoven sonatas, Liszt etudes and Bartók piano pieces, among others. In addition, the second round of judging will include chamber music performances of piano trios by Mozart and Mendelssohn. In the final round, piano concertos by Haydn and Grieg will be performed.
At the end, there are main prizes worth a total of more than 10,000 euros as well as prizes from a junior jury, which will again judge in parallel to the main jury. All main prizes are donated by the Sparkassen-Kulturstiftung Hessen-Thüringen. There are also special prizes.
At the final concert of the competition, the prize winners will present themselves with a large orchestra on November 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the Weimarhalle. The orchestra of the Music High School Schloss Belvedere will play together with musicians of the Staatskapelle Weimar under the direction of Joan Pagès Valls.
The competition is organized by the University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar together with the Musik High School Schloss Belvedere as its center for highly gifted students.
As literally the youngest competition of the University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar, the "International FRANZ LISZT Competition | Young Pianists" was launched in 2005. Similar to the Weimar "International LOUIS SPOHR Competition | Young Violinists", its goal is to provide an international platform for highly talented young instrumentalists: In Weimar, the musicians are to meet on an equal footing, compare their performance levels and learn from each other.
For decades, the competition's namesake, Franz Liszt, lived and taught in Weimar, first in the Altenburg (1848 to 1861), then later in the former court nursery, today's Liszt House (1869 to 1886). Every summer he gathered around him a select group of young pianists from all over the world, to whom he gave free master classes and unforgettable impulses. It was always the endeavor of the great composer, pianist, conductor and visionary to provide the best possible training conditions for the next generation. The "International FRANZ LISZT Competition | Young Pianists" is also committed to this legacy.
For more information and to register, please visit: www.hfm-weimar.de/liszt-junior
[10 February 2023]