Young talents in competition: Max Rostal Prize at the UdK Berlin!

Young talents in competition: Max Rostal Prize at the UdK Berlin!

The Berlin University of the Arts (UdK) will host the International Max Rostal Competition for violin and viola from October 19 to 25, 2024. The event, which has been taking place in various formats since 1991, is aimed at talented young musicians under the age of 30 and attracts an international audience with 180 applicants from various countries. This year, 21 violinists and 23 viola players have confirmed their participation.

The competition structure includes three rounds in which participants will present both solo works and piano accompaniments of sonatas and violin concertos by Schumann and Prokofiev as well as by Bartók and Walton. A special highlight is the commissioned work for viola “DENTRO” by Przemyslaw Pujanek, which will be played in the second round. The competitions are judged by a seven-member jury headed by Prof. David Geringas, who judge the performances in the violin and viola categories separately.

Competition process and prizes

The competition rounds are structured as follows:

• 19. Oktober 2024: Erste Runde Viola
• 20. Oktober 2024: Erste Runde Violine
• 21. Oktober 2024: Zweite Runde Viola
• 22. Oktober 2024: Zweite Runde Violine
• 24. Oktober 2024: Finalkonzert Viola
• 25. Oktober 2024: Finalkonzert Violine

The first three prize winners in the violin and viola categories can look forward to cash prizes totaling 27,000 euros. The first prize is worth 7,000 euros, the second prize is worth 3,000 euros and the third prize is worth 1,500 euros. Additional awards such as an audience prize of 1,000 euros and a special prize for the best interpretation of the compulsory piece will also be awarded.

As part of the competition, all evaluation rounds and the final concerts will also be broadcast via a live stream on the UdK website, which enables access to a wider audience. Tickets for the events can be reserved free of charge.

International flair

The Max Rostal competitions attract participants from all over the world, which is also reflected in the high number of international applications. In particular, for the current edition, the organizers received 77 applications for violin from 27 countries and 85 for viola from 26 countries. Strong participating countries include China, Germany, Japan and South Korea. This diversity underlines the global reach of the competition and its relevance in the international music world.

In addition, reference is made to previous competitions, such as the competition in Markneukirchen, which will take place from May 8th to 17th, 2025 and also attracts numerous young artists. In this context, young musicians between the ages of 15 and 29 will have the opportunity to present themselves in front of a jury made up of renowned professors from the music scene.

The International Max Rostal Competition is viewed not only as a platform for showcasing musical talent, but also as a significant opportunity to network and promote young artists on their path to the professional music world. The history of the competition, which has grown steadily since its founding, offers promising young artists a valuable stage.