Johann Sebastian Bach Competition Leipzig Announces 2025 Winners

Pianist Jan Čmejla won first prize and € 20,000 at this year's competition for piano in Germany

The International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition, hosted by Bach-Archiv Leipzig, is held every second year. Robert Levin served as its president since 2002 but retired in 2024.

Recently coming to a close, this year's discipline was piano. 21-year-old Jan Čmejla from the Czech Republic was awarded first prize and € 20,000. He will perform a solo recital in the Great Hall of the Gewandhaus on June 12, 2025, as part of Bachfest Leipzig 2025.

Second prize and € 10,000 was given to Marek Kozák from the Czech Republic, while Mariamna Sherling from Israel was given Third prize and € 5,000.

All three finalists will perform Johann Sebastian Bach's Concerto for Three Pianos and Orchestra in D minor, BWV 1063, in a "Grand Concert" by the Gewandhausorchester on June 19, 2025, as part of Bachfest Leipzig 2025, plus a concert with the Mendelssohn Kammerorchester on June 14, 2026, as part of Bachfest Leipzig 2026. The Julius Blüthner Pianoforte will provide concert opportunities in several countries for all of the prize winners.

This year's jury comprised Vanessa Latarche (Chair),  Konstantin Lifschitz, Sofya Gulyak, Danwen Wei, Gerald Fauth, Tobias Niederschlag, and Jan Brachmann.