2023 Competition - Kronberg International Piano Competition for Young Pianists

THE 1st INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION "
" FOR YOUNG PIANISTS IN KRONBERG

March 31 – April 2, 2023

Casals Forum
, Kronberg/Ts., Germany

An international piano competition where young pianists perform at the highest level and receive valuable feedback from a top-tier jury, where excellent conditions and outstanding organization inspire them, where the beautiful atmosphere of the Casals Forum combines professionalism with warmth, where fun is never neglected, and where a supporting program invites participants to get to know one another and enjoy shared activities—
—that’s your International Piano Competition for Young Pianists Kronberg!

Press

“A Brilliant Start for Young Pianists”

"But the Kronberg International Piano Competition for Young Pianists was so professional in every respect that even visitors with extensive competition experience were amazed."

“All in all, this edition of the First Kronberg International Piano Competition for Young Pianists was a resounding success, because the performances on stage, the wonderful organization, and the overall atmosphere were so delightful that it was uplifting to see that a competition could achieve something like this.”

PIANONews

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"I'm fascinated. That's truly remarkable skill!"

"Even during the intermission, the audience is raving. 'Simply unbelievable!'"

“I’ve never heard anything like this before. It’s just incredible,” whispers a voice from the stands.“

Taunus Newspaper

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“The 6- to 19-year-olds performed with such personal expressiveness, such beautiful tone, such musical understanding, and such perfection that even the jury was overwhelmed.”

“Both the participants and their families, as well as the audience, found the organization of the ‘ auditions ’ and the warm and personal atmosphere of the competition to be outstanding.”

“The concert program was so diverse that it left nothing to be desired.”

Taunus News

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“An impressive showcase of promising youngtalent”

"With so many encouraging signs, one can look forward to a continuation of this promising competition."

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ)

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What Participants Are Saying

Soho Park

Rated 5 out of 5

10 years old, United Kingdom

It was a real pleasure for my child to take part in this wonderfully organized competition. We were deeply impressed by how professionally and thoughtfully the entire event was managed—every detail was carefully arranged to make the participants feel comfortable and supported.

What stood out most was that the competition felt more like a music festival than just a contest. It was a space where talented young pianists could truly share, connect, and grow together through their performances.

The atmosphere fostered not only excellence, but also joy, inspiration, and a deep love for music.

We are sincerely grateful for this enriching experience.

Jay Choi, Mother of Soho Park

The Kronberg Piano Competition stands out among the world’s piano competitions for young musicians. Everything is filled with music, which brings the young musicians together. From the very moment we stepped into the Kronberg Academy, we found ourselves immersed in an atmosphere of family, care, comfort, and exceptional attention to every little detail!

We congratulate you, the entire jury, your team, and the winners. But it was the music that emerged as the true winner of your competition!

Yulia Bauwens, Elise's mother

Elise Jasmine Bauewns

Rated 5 out of 5

8 years old, Switzerland

It is our honor to participate in such a top-notch competition. The Kronberg competition offers a welcoming and respectful environment for the young participants and us parents! Thanks to the meticulous organization, Alexander had a very smooth and enjoyable experience both in the competition and in the activities. He loves all the practice rooms and attended the body percussion workshop twice! He’s already made friends, too! The competition demonstrates a high level of artistic professionalism and sincere commitment to the musical education of young people.

I believe that the natural surroundings and the people in Kronberg, as well as the amazing concert hall, have already made Alexander love music even more!

Chloe Jin, Family of Alexander Zhou, USA

Alexander Zhou

Rated 5 out of 5

8 years old, United States

Words cannot possibly express our gratitude and the amazing experiences we had at this competition. This is Joshua’s first piano competition outside the U.S. and Canada, and I believe we will always remember this wonderful, unforgettable event.

We love everything about this competition, but to name just a few:

The practice rooms were excellent—they had very good soundproofing, and wow…they were all grand pianos.
The option to receive feedback directly from the judges was very helpful.
The venue is so beautiful, clean, and stocked with drinks and snacks for the participants.
Above all, your presence at the venue, helping the participants and their families, has been incredibly helpful. The dedication and hard work you put into this competition are truly impressive.

Thank you so much again for giving Joshua the opportunity to be there. Please also convey our appreciation to your team. It has been a great learning experience for him.

Family of Joshua Kwan, USA

Joshua Kwan

Rated 5 out of 5

14 years old, United States

We are deeply impressed by how the competition was organized and by its high standard.

Nataliia Beziazychna, Ukraine

Yulianna Beziazychna

Rated 5 out of 5

11 years old, Ukraine

We would like to express our deepest gratitude for the wonderful experience, organization, and care you provided over the past few days.

It has been incredibly enriching and amazing. Thank you!!

Paola, mother of Chiara Nava Mambretti, Switzerland

Chiara Nava Mambretti

Rated 5 out of 5

18 years old, Switzerland

Last but not least, we would like to express our deepest respect to you, the jury, and the Kronberg Competition team. The Kronberg Competition is the best-organized and most thoughtfully planned competition Raffaello has ever participated in. We were so impressed!

The young people working there helped us with big smiles and patience. The thoughtful snacks and water, the activities for children, the high-quality audience, and the whole atmosphere are simply wonderful!

Today, Raffaello attended a master class with Professor Jean-Claude Vanden Eynden (pianist and jury member of the Queen Elisabeth Piano Competition in Belgium). We shared our experiences with the Kronberg Competition. We told him that we found it different from other competitions. It is more educational and encouraging. It does not promote the competition itself; rather, it promotes classical music as the highest form of art. We explained to Professor Vanden Eynden how the Kronberg Competition evaluates young pianists.

There are many first prizes and other awards, and they are not limited to a single person or winner. You just need to focus on your own performance! There’s no need to compete with others! The scoring system is individual. Professor Vanden Eynden said: “It’s indeed very interesting!”

Camille Giannini, Belgium

Rafaello Gianini

Rated 5 out of 5

14 years old, Belgium

In your email titled “Latest Information on the Competition,” you asked us to provide feedback after the competition. We don’t want to wait that long, so we’d like to share our positive impressions with you right now.

The first thing we noticed was how well and smoothly the event was organized. Starting with the preliminary round, where we had to submit a video, all the way to the finals, which also feature a great supporting program. We imagine it’s no easy task to do justice to every pianist, especially when it comes to performance times. At this point, we’d like to give a big shout-out to the entire organizing team, who provided the participants with detailed information in a timely manner. This is certainly also due to the excellent leadership, which is why we’d like to thank you in particular.

It was impressive to see the dedication and passion with which you supported this competition. You always took the time to respond to emails—even the trivial ones—quickly and promptly. We have great respect for that!

Cuiwen Situ, Jan's mother Wimmer

Jan Wimmer

Rated 5 out of 5

13 years old, Germany

Ruri Koyama

Rated 5 out of 5

9 years old, Japan

I am truly grateful for the wonderful experience we had this time, and my daughter and I are filled with gratitude.

We were deeply moved by the beautiful sound of the magnificent piano and the hall’s exceptional acoustics, which harmonized perfectly with the instrument.

Furthermore, it was truly inspiring to see that each participant from around the world was already brimming with confidence and talent as a pianist, making the performances in the competition feel like a concert.

I am truly delighted that we had the opportunity to participate in such a wonderful competition.

Thank you very much for the invitation to perform at the concert on April 6. Ruri herself would love to return to Germany and perform if possible. However, on that very day, a musical starring one of her dearest friends is taking place. After much thought, she has decided to attend her friend’s musical. It seems she had promised to do so.

Although this is a wonderful opportunity, we regret to inform you that Ruri will not be able to participate this time.

I received the following message from Ruri:

“I will definitely participate in the next competition in Kronberg. Next time, I will make sure to improve my English so that I can communicate freely with the other participants, not just in my limited French. Mrs. Feldmann, thank you very much for allowing me to take part in such an amazing competition. It was a truly enjoyable and fulfilling experience.”

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who worked hard to make this competition possible.

Thank you for all your hard work.

I sincerely hope that this competition will continue to thrive and grow for many years to come.

If there is anything we can do to support you from Japan, please don't hesitate to let us know.

Mrs. Nozomi Koyama and Ruri, Japan

Yilin Bai

Rated 5 out of 5

11 years old, Germany

We’re really grateful for the competition. Yilin had a wonderful experience and learned a great deal from it. Your event was well organized and left a deep and positive impression on us.

Jiani Wang (Mother from Yilin Bai), China

Award Winners

Prize = 750€ – 2. Prize = 500€ – 3. Prize = 250€

AGE GROUP I
Ning	Darwin	1st Prize
Beyer	Amélie Mayumi	1st Prize
Zhang	Eileen Hanyu	2nd Prize
Wei	Elise	3rd Prize
AGE GROUP II
Hollmer	Frieda Magdalene	1st Prize
Daycare	Karen	1st Prize
Gu	Toni	2nd Prize
Vozňuk	Valentina	2nd Prize
Chmurova	Maria	3rd Prize
AGE GROUP III
Wagner	Sophie Elizabeth	1st Prize
Zhu	Maximilian Hongcheng	2nd Prize
Beyer	Chloé Ayumi	2nd Prize
Bastiaens	Akari	2nd Prize
Zhu	Martin	3rd Prize
Aoki	Sophia Yumi	3rd Prize
Barzinjy	Ballen (Shad)	3rd Prize
Zhang	Shukai	3rd Prize

AGE GROUP IV
Kokhanovskii	Deni	1st Prize
Yuan	Linda	2nd Prize
Neumann	Elena	2nd Prize
Himpel	Marie Elisa	2nd Prize
Tamura	Sona	3rd Prize
Wang	Eva	3rd Prize
AGE GROUP V
Shi	Henry	3rd Prize
Akopian	Adam	3rd Prize
AGE GROUP VI
Wang	Tantalum	1st Prize
Rauch	Sebastian	3rd Prize
Almond	Clara	3rd Prize
AGE GROUP VII
Haje	Simon	1st Prize
Crusher	Toby Olias	2nd Prize
Zakharova	Sofiia	3rd Prize

Special Prices

Exceptional prize money totaling over €14,000 for the winners of first, second, and third place. In addition, there are 10 valuable special prizes worth a total of €9,000.

1. IKAM Exceptional Talent Award

Winner: Toby Olias Brechler

For exceptionally talented students ages 16 and older, valued at €1,200. The special prize includes an 8- to 9-day participation in the master classes at the International Piano Academy Murrhardt, including lodging. Sponsored by balancement, Alexandra Messerschmidt.

2nd MK Talent Award

Winner: Linda Yuan

For exceptionally talented students up to age 16. A master class or consultation with Prof. Matthias Kirschnereit, including overnight accommodations, valued at €600. Sponsored by mainova.

3. CS Talent Award

Winner: Henri Shi

For exceptionally talented students up to age 16, valued at €600, including lodging. A master class with Prof. Claudia Schellenberger consisting of a total of 5 individual lessons in 2023. Sponsored by mainova.

4. Prize A: YARO TALENT AWARD

Winner: Sofia Zakharova

For exceptionally talented students aged 16 to 19. The special prize includes a consultation at Yaro, the International Center for Early Musical Education in Rostock, valued at €800. The nature and exact scope of the prize will be specified on site. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Kronberg.

5. Prize B: YARO TALENT AWARD

Winner: Tantan Wang

For another exceptionally talented student aged 16 to 19. The special prize includes a consultation at Yaro, the International Center for Early Musical Education in Rostock, valued at 800 €. The nature and exact scope of the prize will be specified on site. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Kronberg.

6. BEST INTERNATIONAL PIANIST

Winner: Deni Kokhanovski

Worth €1,500. Sponsored by the orthodontist Dr. Thomas Banach (Königstein Ts.).

7. BEST INTERPRETATION OF A ROMANTIC WORK

Winner: Chiara Lamani

Worth €500. Donated by the Rotary Club of Kronberg.

8. BEST PERFORMANCE BY A WOMAN

Winner: Christian-Peter Hiemstra

Worth €500. Donated by the Rotary Club of Kronberg.

9. PUBLIC AWARD

Winner: Tantan Wang

Worth €1,000. Sponsored by Chom Capital.

10. BÄRENREITER MUSIC VOUCHERS

Sheet music gift certificates from the renowned Bärenreiter publishing house, worth 40 € each, for those who did not win any prizes. Total value: 1,200 €.

Master Classes

Feedback from Our Special Award Winners

Tantan Wang

16 years old, Germany

In June, thanks to the Yaro Talent Award , I had the opportunity to travel to Rostock for the YARO event.

The fairly long drive was worth it—the conservatory is truly a beautiful place!

My stay was very well organized, and the classes with Ms. Grigoryan were not only fascinating but also a lot of fun. I’m glad I had this opportunity, and I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks t ganz !

Thank you once again from the bottom of my heart for the wonderful, unforgettable competition and also for the Yaro Talent Award Prize!

It was great in Rostock—awesome classes, awesome place!

Sofiia Zakharova

17 years old, Germany

I really enjoyed both the master class at YARO and the location (including the hotel)!

Ms. Grigoryan is very professional and knowledgeable, yet also extremely friendly. She actually gave me practical advice that I’m now happy to apply to the pieces we worked on together in the master class. I also liked that we immediately found common ground, which made the lessons interesting and exciting!

In closing, I’d like to say that I’d love to participate in the master class again! Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity to spend some great days in the beautiful lakeside city of Rostock and to take part in this wonderful master class in Rostock!

Henry Shi

13 years old, Switzerland

Dear Professor Schellenberger,

I would like to sincerely thank you for the wonderful master class that my son Henry attended on Friday at the Mainz University of Music. I am impressed by your professionalism, friendliness, and warmth, which made a big impression on Henry.

Her lessons were very effective, and Henry not only improved his piano technique but also gained a lot of musical insight.

What was particularly impressive was that he was able to play Beethoven's Op. 90 and the pieces from Prokofiev's *Fugitive Visions* a whole step higher.

Thank you once again for your outstanding work and for supporting Henry so wonderfully in his musical development. We are grateful for the time you have devoted to us.

Sincerely,

Min Shi

Linda Yuan

12 years old, Germany

Thank you very much to the MK-Prize, which made it possible for me to attend the master class in Füssen with Professor Kirschnereit.

The town of Füssen is very beautiful. The master class was well organized, and I really enjoyed it. Professor Kirschnereit explained everything clearly, gave me lots of helpful tips, and was always kind. The course helped me a lot.

auditions

Visit our YouTube channel to listen to and watch the live performances of our prize winners during the competition rounds in the Carl Bechstein Hall at the Casals Forum!

View the full playlist >>

Selected List

6 videos

Amélie Mayumi Beyer, 7, Germany – Auditions March 31–April 2, 2023, 1st Prize, Group I

7:43

Darwin Ning, 6, Germany – Auditions March 31–April 2, 2023, 1st Prize, Group I

5:20

Frieda Magdalene Hollmer, 8, Germany – Auditions March 31–April 2, 2023, 1st Prize AG II

11:26

Deni Kokhanovskii, 12, Russia, Auditions March 31–April 2, 2023, 1st Prize, AG IV

3:00 p.m.

Sofiia Zakharova, 17, Germany – Auditions March 31–April 2, 2023, 3rd Prize, AG VII

26:31

Tantan Wang, 15, Germany – Auditions March 31–April 2, 2023, 1st Prize AG VI

7:38 p.m.

AWARD WINNERS' CONCERT

View the full playlist >>

Playlist

13 videos

Amélie Mayumi Beyer, 7, Germany – Kronberg International Piano Competition for Young Pianists 2023