Competition 2023

THE 1st INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION
FOR YOUNG PIANISTS KRONBERG

March 31 - April 2, 2023

Casals Forum
Kronberg/Ts., Germany

An international piano competition in which young pianists make music at the highest level, in which they receive valuable feedback from a top-class jury, in which excellent conditions and outstanding organization inspire them, in which the wonderful atmosphere of the Casals Forum combines professionalism and cordiality, in which fun is not neglected and a supporting program invites you to get to know each other and do things together - that is your International Piano Competition for Young Pianists Kronberg.
that is your International Piano Competition for Young Pianists Kronberg!

Press

"Brilliant start for young pianists".

"But the Kronberg International Piano Competition for Young Pianists showed such professionalism at all levels that even visitors with competition experience were amazed."

"All in all, this staging of the first International Piano Competition for Young Pianists Kronberg was a complete success, as there was something so pleasing about the performances on stage, the wonderful organization and the overall atmosphere that one was edified that a competition can do this as well."

PIANONews

To the article

"I'm fascinated. This is really great skill!"

"Already during the intermission, the audience raves. "Simply unbelievable!"

"I've never heard anything like it. Simply gigantic," it whispers through the ranks."

Taunus Newspaper

To the article

"The 6 to 19-year-olds played with such personal expressiveness, with so much beauty of sound, musical understanding and perfection that even the jury was overwhelmed."

"Both the participants and their families and the audience found the organization of auditions and the warm and personal atmosphere of the competition outstanding."

"The concert program left nothing to be desired in the breadth of its spectrum."

Taunus News

To the article

"An impressive display of hopeful young talent."

"With so many hopeful aspects, one may think of a continuation of the promising competition."

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ)

To the article

Participant comments

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Frieda Hollmer

 5/5

8 years old, Germany

We still want to thank you very much for your wonderful, loving and very personal contest!

Your organization was fantastic! The website, the newsletter, the social program, all the information at the right time, the premises, the location...- everything was perfect!

Many thanks to all involved! Great respect to you and Mr. Hücker for this achievement!

L. Hollmer, mother of Frieda

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We would like to thank you and the organization of the whole competition for unforgettable time and experience in Kronberg, for warm welcome and for the great opportunity to be there and to take part of this competition!

These are very important steps in the growing for young musicians!

We have enjoyed it very much!

We hope to meet you in the future!

Adam Akopian

 5/5

14 years old, Netherlands

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I would like to express my sincere thanks to the organizers of the Kronberg International Piano Competition. The competition was a wonderful opportunity for my son Henry to show his musical skills and compete with other talented young pianists. We are impressed by the professionalism, the high quality of the competition and the perfect organizer.

We have already visited the master class of Prof. Schellenberger on Thursday and Friday. We thank you very much for the excellent work and professionalism of Prof. Schellenberger!

Henry Shi

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13 years old, Switzerland

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I want to say that the competition was so great, I just enjoyed at the competition and concert.

The hall is great, wings are great, juries are great. Everything was great. I had a lot of fun there.

Tantan Wang

 5/5

15 years old, Germany

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We would like to thank you very much for being part of the great competition. What you put together was incredible!

Starting from the perfect organization, the pleasant atmosphere and of course the quality of the selected participants. To be able to enjoy a competition with family and toddler, you do not experience anywhere else!!! It was really thought out to the last.

I am sure you will have much, much more success with this project!!!

Miriam Heuberger, mother of Sophia Aoki

Sophia Aoki

 5/5

9 years old, Germany

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Dear Mrs. Danne-Feldmann & Team,

once again many thanks for the excellent organization of the competition. Thus, one could really concentrate on playing!

Simon Haje

 5/5

18 years old, Germany

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Dear Ms. Danne-Feldmann,

We would like to thank you and your whole team once again for the really nice and very well organized piano competition in Kronberg.

It takes a lot of preparation, work and commitment to organize such a successful competition. The atmosphere was very friendly, so we immediately felt at ease.

There were plenty of opportunities to practise on good instruments. Elena was able to prepare perfectly for her audition. We also enjoyed the hotel's proximity to the Casal Forum.

It was especially nice that there were recreational activities. Elena was really looking forward to it. The children could easily get in touch with other children and have fun together and exchange ideas.

We enjoyed the winners' concert very much and it was a wonderful conclusion of the days in Kronberg.

Thank you very much!

Best regards
Neumann family

Elena Neumann

 5/5

13 years old, Germany

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Many thanks also for the great offer for the supporting program!- we have never experienced so far in this form at the competition!

Wagner family

Sophie Wagner

 5/5

10 years old, Germany

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Clara Mandler

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16 years old, Germany

Thank you for the great organization, the competition was an unforgettable experience for me.

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Maximilian Zhu

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9 years old, Germany

We thank the Kronberg Organizing Committee for the wonderful program they put together for the families of the participants.

Zhu family

Award winner

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
Kita	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	Bale (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	Tantan	1st Prize
Rauch	Sebastian	3rd Prize
Mandler	Clara	3rd Prize
AGE GROUP VII
Haje	Simon	1st Prize
Brechler	Toby Olias	2nd Prize
Zakharova	Sofia	3rd Prize

Special prices

Extraordinary prize money for the winners of the first, second and third prizes of over €14,000. Plus 10 valuable special prizes worth a total of €9,000.

1. IKAM EXCEPTIONAL TALENT AWARD

Winner: Toby Olias Brechler

For special talents aged 16 and over worth € 1,200. The special prize includes an 8-9 day participation in the master classes of the International Piano Academy Murrhardt including overnight stay. Sponsored by balancement, Alexandra Messerschmidt.

2. MK TALENT AWARD

Winner: Linda Yuan

For outstanding talent up to the age of 16. A master class or consultation with Prof. Matthias Kirschnereit incl. overnight stay worth €600. Sponsored by mainova.

3. CS TALENT AWARD

Winner: Henri Shi

For an outstanding talent up to the age of 16, worth €600 including accommodation. A master class with Prof. Claudia Schellenberger with a total of 5 individual lessons in 2023, sponsored by mainova.

4. PRIZE A: YARO TALENT AWARD

Winner: Sofia Zakharova

For outstanding talent from 16 to 19 years of age. The special prize includes a consultation at Yaro, the International Center for Early Musical Education in Rostock, worth €800. The nature and exact scope of the prize will be specified on the spot. Sponsored by Rotary Club Kronberg.

5. PRIZE B: YARO TALENT AWARD

Winner: Tantan Wang

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

8. BEST INTERPRETATION OF WORK BY A FEMALE

Winner: Christian-Peter Hiemstra

Worth 500 €. Donated by Rotary Club Kronberg.

9. PUBLIC AWARD

Winner: Tantan Wang

Worth €1,000. Sponsored by Chom Capital.

10. BÄRENREITER MUSIC VOUCHERS

Music vouchers from the renowned Bärenreiter publishing house worth €40 each for those who did not win any prizes. Value: €1,200 in total.

Masterclasses

Feedback from our special award winners

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Tantan Wang

16 years old, Germany

In June, thanks to the Yaro Talent Award I had the opportunity to go to YARO in Rostock.

The rather long drive was worth it - the conservatory is really a beautiful place!

My stay was great organized and the lessons with Mrs. Grigoryan were not only exciting but really fun. I am glad to have had this opportunity and thank you very much!

Thank you very much again for the great unforgettable contest and also the Yaro Talent Award Prize!

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

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Sofia 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 competent and at the same time extremely friendly. I actually received practical advice from her, which I am now happy to implement in the work we worked through together in the master class. I also liked the fact that we immediately found a common language, which made the lessons interesting and exciting!

In conclusion, I would like to say that I would love to participate in the master class again! Thank you for this great opportunity to spend great days in the beautiful seaside city of Rostock and to participate in this wonderful masterclass in Rostock!

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Henry Shi

13 years old, Switzerland

Dear Professor Schellenberger,

I would like to thank you very much for the wonderful master class that my son Henry attended on Friday at the Mainz Conservatory. I am impressed by your professionalism, kindness and cordiality, which made a great impression on Henry.

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

It was particularly impressive that he could play the Op.90 piece by Beethoven and the pieces from Fugitive Visions by Prokofiev one step higher.

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

Sincerely yours,

Min Shi

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Linda Yuan

12 years old, Germany

Many thanks for the MK-Prize, which enabled me to attend the master class in Füssen with Professor Kirschnereit.

The city of Füssen is very beautiful. The master class was well organized and I liked it super. Professor Kirschnereit explained everything well, gave me many good tips and he was always nice. The course helped me a lot.

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auditions

Visit our YouTube channel to listen to and watch the live performances of our award winners at the adjudication games in the Carl Bechstein Hall of the Casals Forum!

See the complete playlist >>

Selected list

6 videos