The ARD International Music Competition is the largest international classical music competition in Germany. It is organised by the Bayerischer Rundfunk and is held once a year in Munich, usually in September. Since its inception in 1952, it has become one of the most prestigious classical music competitions. In 1957, it became one of the founding members of the World Federation of International Music Competitions. A prize at this competition has acted as a springboard for a career. Notable past winners and prize winners include: Yuri Bashmet, Myung-whun Chung, Christoph Eschenbach, Sol Gabetta, Alban Gerhardt, Natalia Gutman, Heinz Holliger, Nobuko Imai, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Kim Kashkashian, François Leleux, Jessye Norman, Quatuor Ébène, Thomas Quasthoff, Jean-Guihen Queyras, Antoine Tamestit, Christian Tetzlaff, Alexandre Tharaud, Tokyo String Quartet, Mitsuko Uchida and Anne Sofie von Otter.

History

Between 1947 and 1950, the Radio Frankfurt held a "Young Soloists Competition". The earliest competition discovered two female vocalists who would soon take their place among the international talented: Christa Ludwig and Erika Köth. Instrumentalists included flautist Karlheinz Zöller and pianist Robert-Alexander Bohnke. The newly founded ARD continued the concept of bringing together talented young musicians from the entire globe. The competition categories change from year to year and include solo instrumentsm voice and chamber ensembles. An emphasis has been placed on modern music, and contemporary composers have regularly been commissioned to write new pieces for this Competition since 2001. 350 to 450 young musicians usually apply each year, out of whom 200 candidates, from 35 to 40 countries, make it past the preliminary round. A large percentage of competitors come from countries other than Germany (up to 86%). The 2020 edition was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.

Categories

Piano competition had been held almost uninterruptedly from 1952 to 1973, except the years 1955 and 1964. It was then held every other year till 1981. It was held consecutively from 1981 to 1983, and then every other year again till 1999. In 1953, three categories were added: violin, flute, violin-piano duo. Violin competition was held every 3 years from 1966 to 1984. Four categories were added in 1954: voice, oboe, bassoon, clarinet. The voice competition had been held every year from 1954 to 1972. It was then held every two years till 2000. Oboe competition had been held every five years from 1976 to 1996. Bassoon competition had been held six times in the 20th century. The competition kept expanding categories in the following years, adding piano duo (1955), horn (1956), cello (1957), organ (1957). New categories in 1958 were cello-piano duo, trumpet, and harpsichord, which would only have three additional editions. String quartet competition opened in 1959. The 1960s saw the first edition of piano trio (1961), viola (1962), trombone (1965), wind quintet (1966). Two categories briefly appeared: string trio (1961, 1969) and piano sight-reading (1963, 1965). Four categories premiered in the 1970s: guitar (1976), percussion (1977), double bass (1979), and recorder, which was only held twice so far (1978, 1988). The first harp competition was held in 1983, as its only edition in the 20th century.

Management

Source Organization Artistic Director: Meret Forster Managing Director: Elisabeth Kozik Project Management: Anja Krainz Public Relations: NN

Prize money

Prize money per category

Winners

Full lists of winners can be retrieved from the competition's website.

1994s

Voice (female) Violoncello Organ

2000s

Voice (female) Voice (male) Viola Flute Piano Duo String Quartet Violin Cello Saxophone Percussion Wind Quintet Bassoon Oboe Piano Piano Trio Voice (female) Voice (male) Double Bass Clarinet Trumpet Viola Flute String Quartet Harp Violin Cello Horn Piano Duo Voice/Opera Voice/Lied Piano Wind Quintet Oboe Trombone Percussion Piano Trio Viola Clarinet Bassoon String Quartet Violin Double Bass Voice

2010s

Flute Cello Horn Piano Duo Oboe Organ Trumpet Piano Voice (male) Voice (female) Clarinet String Quartet Violin Viola Bassoon Piano Trio Percussion Violoncello Wind Quintet Piano Voice Trombone Piano Duo Flute Harp Horn Double Bass String Quartet Violin Piano Guitar Oboe Voice Trumpet Piano Trio Viola Violoncello Bassoon Clarinet Percussion

Prior 2000

Piano

Piano Duo

Organ

Harpsichord

Voice

Violin

Violin Duo

Viola

Cello

Bass

Flute

Oboe

Bassoon

Clarinet

Trumpet

Horn

Trombone

String quartet

Piano trio

Wind quintet

Percussion

Harp

Guitar

Recorder

Piano playing from the sheet