Rich in tradition, the historical city of Bamberg and the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra offer the ideal requirements for this competition. Here the young conductors can immerse themselves in intensive rehearsals in the Bamberg concert hall with an orchestra of international renown.

The first competition which took place in 2004 was hugely successful and succeeded in its aim: to support the next generation of musicians to the highest level possible.

The young Venezuelan, Gustavo Dudamel, was the competition’s first winner; the Bulgarian Ivo Venkov, the Ukranian Oksana Lyniv and the Japanese Toshihiko Matsunuma were also prize winners. Lukasz Borowicz from Poland was awarded the special prize from the Alice Rosner Foundation for the best interpretation of a contemporary work.

Gustav Mahler – conductor, composer and modern forebearer – stands as a focal point of the competition. We are delighted that Gustav Mahler’s grand-daughter, Marina Mahler, has given her patronage for a second time to the competition.

We thank the “Freunde der Bamberger Symphoniker e.V.“ as well as the “Oberfrankenstiftung“ and the company Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG in Hallstadt for their enormous support towards the competition. We also thank the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation for its support in the commission of these three major new works. We wish all the participants much luck and success as well as uncompromising stimulation for their further music making.

Jonathan Nott                                            Paul Müller

Principle Conductor,                                       Director,
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra                       Bamberg Symphony Orchestra