German Pianist Colin Pütz Awarded the 2025 Prix Serdang Swiss Piano Prize

Established in 2022, previous winners include Martin James Bartlett and Ariel Lanyi

The 2025 Prix Serdang Swiss Piano Prize was awarded to 18-year-old German pianist Colin Pütz at the Villa Serdang in Feldbrunnen near Solothurn, Switzerland. Established in 2022, the Prix Serdang is a 50,000 CHF award that supports and invests in the career of a young artist. Previous award winners include Martin James Bartlett, Ariel Lanyi, and Alexandra Dovgan.

Austrian Pianist Rudolf Buchbinder was appointed as the head of the selection process alongside international organizers, festival directors, conductors, and soloists.

Winners of the competition are given performance and recording opportunities, with an upcoming event in August 2025 with pianist Alexandra Dovgan, the 2024 winner, who will perform with the Tonkünstler Orchestra in Austria.

Upon receiving the award, Colin shared, "When I first heard about the award, I could hardly believe it. There are so many outstanding young pianists – many of them are already much better known than I am. The fact that I am the recipient of the Prix Serdang is a great honor and an even greater incentive. It gives me confidence that I might actually be able to realize my dream of becoming a concert pianist."

The Villa Serdang in Switzerland was built in 1644 and converted into an Art Nouveau villa in 1892. Since 2012, it has operated as a cultural center and home for the Prix Serdang.

"Villa Serdang stands for cultural encounters, artistic exchange, and the promotion of young talent—a special place where promising careers can begin. In this inspiring environment, we are delighted to award Colin Pütz the Prix Serdang. His exceptional musical maturity and expressiveness make him one of the most exciting pianistic personalities of his generation. The fact that he has received this award—which simultaneously represents recognition, encouragement, and support—is thanks in no small part to the expertise of our curator, Rudolf Buchbinder, who has a sure instinct for recognizing outstanding talent. It is an honor for us to accompany Colin Pütz on his journey," shared Adrian Flury, the initiator of the award.

Born in 2007, Colin Pütz currently studies with Florence Millet at the Cologne University of Music and Dance and holds a scholarship from the International Academy of Music Liechtenstein. He made his debut at festivals such as the Beethovenfest Bonn and the Ruhr Piano Festival. In 2024, he gave solo recitals at the Beethoven-Haus in Bonn and at the Monte Carlo Opera. Recently, Colin signed with Dorn Music, where he will be represented worldwide by Tanja Dorn.