As in previous years, our jury consists of musicians and music teachers who have considerable experience in the education of young musicians and/or who have particular expertise in the field of chamber music.
In addition to three piano teachers, two string players are represented on the jury:
The multi-award-winning pianist Prof. Michael Schäfer is one of the most versatile artists in his field as a soloist, chamber musician and song accompanist. He holds a professorship for piano at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich and is part of our jury for the 2nd time in the position of jury chairman.
Wei Chen completed his Master of Soloist degree in piano at the Berlin University of the Arts. He is a prize winner of various competitions and performs chamber music and solo concerts. Since 2018, he has been the head of the keyboard instruments section at the Paul Hindemith Music School.
Prof. Dr. Friedemann Eichhorn teaches as professor for violin at the Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar and directs the study programs of the Kronberg Academy. He has released over 30 CDs and performs internationally.
Michèle Gurdal played as a soloist with the Belgian Chamber Orchestra at the age of nine. She studied at the Conservatoire Royal of Bruxelles and with Professor Karl-Heinz Kämmerling and with Anatol Ugorski and was a scholarship holder of the renowned “International Piano Academy Lake Como”. She is also part of our jury for the second time.
Prof. Björn Lehmann performs equally as a soloist and as a chamber musician, and he is also particularly committed to contemporary music. Since 2011 he has held a professorship at the Berlin University of the Arts and regularly gives master classes. He is also at our competition for the second time.
Prof. Gabriel Schwabe has been able to establish himself in recent years among the leading cellists of his generation. He is a prize winner of numerous national and international competitions, performs with major orchestras and is a sought-after chamber music partner. Since 2019, Gabriel Schwabe has been teaching at the Conservatorium Maastricht. He also supports our competition for the second time.