For the nineteenth time, the town of Ettlingen organises the Ettlingen International Piano Competition, from August 4-11, 2024. The competition is open to young pianists from all nationalities, including stateless people.
There are no restrictions regarding the musical education of the competitor (e. g. university, college, academy, conservatoire, music school or private instruction).
All stages of the competition are open to the public.
By participating in the competition, all participants surrender to the competition the right to record, to reproduce and to distribute their performances during the competition. Fees cannot be claimed by any competitor.
In the event of disagreements or differences of opinion arising from translation, the German text in the printed brochure is definitive.
Ettlingen International Competition for Young Pianists
The competition is divided into two categories:
Category A: Competitors born after August 3, 2008
Category B: Competitors born after August 3, 2001
Competitors can perform in one category only.
Competitors who have already won a First Prize in a former Ettlingen International Piano Competition cannot compete again in the same category.
Every two years
TBA 2026
TBA 2026
Application • Deadline
Applications are possible online on www.portal.pianocompetition.org
from January 1, 2024 until April 21, 2024.
After the deadline, no further applications will be accepted.
The application must contain the following items:
a) the fully completed online-application form
b) a recent portrait picture in high quality
c) mp3-files with audio-recordings by the applicant
Admitted applicants have to pay a participation fee which amounts to 140 Euro and should be paid by July 1, 2024.
For the auditions in the castle there will be a Steinway Grand Piano, Model C.
For the Prizewinners’ Concert in the Stadthalle there will be a Steinway Grand Piano, Model D.
Around 30 upright pianos will be available for practicing purposes at the Musikschule. Schedules for practicing will be organised from 8:00-20:00h during the competition.
Preliminary Jury
Wolfgang Manz, Germany (President)
Kristin Merscher, Germany
Barbara Szczepanska, Germany
Main Jury
Wolfgang Manz, Germany (President)
Robert Benz, Germany
Dang Thai Son, Vietnam
Christopher Elton, Great Britain
Anna Malikowa, Russia
Kristin Merscher, Germany
Eliane Reyes, Belgium
Barbara Szczepanska, Germany
Zhe Tang, China (People’s Republic)
Repertoire Category A
Competitors born after August 3, 2008
The competition for Category A will take place in one round.
The total playing time must amount to at least 20 minutes,
but must not exceed 25 minutes.
1. One of the following etudes:
Czerny, from ”Art of Finger Dexterity” op. 740
Chopin, from op. 10, nos. 2, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12
Chopin, from op. 25, nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12
Liszt, concert etudes ”Waldesrauschen”, ”Gnomenreigen”, ”La leggierezza”, ”Un sospiro”.
2. One movement from a sonata by Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven.
3. One or more works or single movements from the Baroque period up to the present.
Competitors can perform their programme with or without repeats,
as long as the total length of the programme remains within the prescribed playing time.
The jury reserves the right to stop the competitor if the performance exceeds the time limit.
All pieces must be played from memory.
The audio-recordings for the prejudging should contain the following works (no time limit):
a) The etude (Repertoire section 1)
b) One work or movement from section 2 or 3
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Repertoire Category B
Competitors born after August 3, 2001
The competition for Category B will take place in two rounds.
For the second round, approximately eight competitors will be chosen from those who took part in the first round.
First Round: The total playing time must amount to at least 15 minutes, but must not exceed 20 minutes.
1. Haydn: The first movement of a sonata of the competitor‘s choice, without repeats.
2. J. S. Bach: One Prelude and Fugue from the ”Well-Tempered Clavier” Book I or ll.
3. An etude by Chopin, Liszt, Saint-Saëns, Debussy, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin or Ligeti.
4. One or more pieces or movements chosen by the competitor, which may also be chosen from the repertoire of the second round.
Second Round: The total playing time including repeats must amount to at least 30 minutes, but must not exceed 40 minutes.
5. A sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven or Schubert.
6. One or more romantic works.
7. One or more works from Impressionism up to the present.
Pieces required in section 1, 2 and 3 (first round) may not be played in the second round.
Competitors can perform their second round with or without repeats, as long as the total length of the programme remains within the prescribed playing time.
The jury reserves the right to stop the competitor if the performance exceeds the time limit.
All works must be played from memory.
The audio-recordings for the prejudging should contain the following works (no time limit):
a) The first movement of the Haydn-Sonata (Repertoire section 1)
b) The etude (Repertoire section 3)
c) One work or movement from section 6 or 7
Category A
1. Prize 3,000 EUR
2. Prize 1,500 EUR
3. Prize 1,000 EUR
4. Prize 750 EUR
5. Prize 600 EUR
Category B
1. Prize 6,000 EUR
2. Prize 3,000 EUR
3. Prize 1,500 EUR
4. Prize 1,250 EUR
5. Prize 1,000 EUR
Encouragement Awards (Categories A and B)
Special commendation for young talents (Category A)
Haydn-Prize (Category B)
EMCY Special Prize (Category A or B)
The First Prize of both categories cannot be shared.
The First Prizewinner in Category B will be invited to give a piano recital in Ettlingen. In addition there will be an invitation to perform a piano recital in Trier (Germany).
The prizewinners are obliged, according to the wishes of the jury, to participate in the Awards Ceremony and the Prizewinners‘ Concert, otherwise they will lose their right to the prize awarded.
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