Joseph Joachim Chamber Music Competition Announces Top Prizes

Among the 17 chamber music groups competing, no first prize was given at this year's International Joseph Joachim Chamber Music Competition.

Sharing the second prize, worth 5,000 Euros each, are Trio Bohémo and Trio Incendio — while the third prize, worth 2,500 Euros, was awarded to Trio Pantoum.

Three special prizes were given, each amounting to 1,000 Euros. The best interpretation of a work from the "Early Classic" category went to Trio Incendio, the best interpretation of a work from the "Composed After 1970" category went to Trio Bohémo, and the special award for "a particularly talented ensemble" went to Animato Quartet.

Held once every three years, the International Joseph Joachim Chamber Music Competition has been attracting the most talented young ensembles to the University of Music Franz Liszt Weimar for the past 25 years.

Taking place from April 3–10, all competition rounds took place at the Festsaal Fürstenhaus.  The jury comprised Anne-Kathrin Lindig (Head of the Jury), Miguel da Silva, Valentin Erben, Vera Martínez Mehner, Angelika Merkle, Hartmut Rohde, Bernhard Schmidt, and Florian Wiek.

The competition is named after one of the most important chamber musicians of the late 19th century, Joseph Joachim (1831-1907). He played in the Liszt-Joachim-Coßmann piano trio, which gained a legendary reputation during its short existence.