Prima la musica

The competition for young Styrian musicians

The twins Peter and Paul Sommer are both competing in Prima la musica(Bild: Carina Sommer)

The Prima la musica youth music competition is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. And the prizes are more coveted than ever before. From March 6 to 17, 505 participants will be vying for the awards in Graz - including the European Prize, which was only introduced last year.

The tension at the individual auditions is enormous. The excitement causes sweaty palms and palpitations. After all, nothing less than victory is at stake. You can always compare yourself with the others at competitions and improve your own performance if necessary. This year, 505 young musicians are competing against each other, the youngest is just over five years old, the oldest is a proud 22 years old.  

Promoting young talent
For the organizers of the competition, Robert Ederer (Director of the Ilz Music School), Anke Schittenhelm from the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz and Conservatory Director Eduard Lanner, it is less about the competition itself and more about promoting young musicians. "We not only need well-trained soloists and orchestral musicians, but above all music teachers," says Ederer, referring to the upcoming waves of retirements in Styrian music schools.

Julius Legat has already won numerous prizes(Bild: J. Legat)

The province's own funding model supports the Prima la Musica winners with additional lessons. Education and European Affairs Minister Werner Amon even created a special European prize last year, which is awarded to the three best soloists in the Styrian office in Brussels. A concert there also ensures international visibility.

18 categories at the start
This year there are once again twelve categories to choose from in the fields of string, keyboard and plucked instruments as well as singing, plus six ensemble categories for woodwind and brass instruments as well as percussion and Ensemble Kreativ. The competition will take place at the Johann Joseph Fux Conservatory and the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz.

Prizewinners' concerts

• April 22, 5 p.m., Graz Opera House
• May 2, 7 p.m., Zehnerhaus Bad Radkersburg
• May 15, 7 p.m., Cursaal St. Radegund
• June 12, 7 p.m., Minoritensaal Graz (Styrian-Carinthian prizewinners' concert)
• May 6, 7 pm, Spiegelfoyer Oper Graz: Piano Forte - Youth at the Piano

Of course, there are different evaluation groups, depending on age and level of training. After each audition, there is also a feedback session for the promising young musicians - a Styrian peculiarity that has now set a precedent throughout Austria. The best can then be seen at various prizewinners' concerts. Or at the national competition, which this time takes place in South Tyrol from May 18th.