The 59th national competition Jugend musiziert 2022, the largest European young musicians’ competition, took place in Oldenburg this year. From June 2nd to June 9th, around 2,300 young participants and 400 adult piano accompanists come to the city to perform their rehearsed programs in front of 140 jurors and audience. In addition to the competitions, Jugend musiziert offers workshops for young musicians and concerts for participants and the large public.
The 2300 participants in the 59th national competition Jugend musiziert qualified through the previous regional and state competitions in the 16 federal states and the three competition centers of the German schools abroad. The three prizewinner concerts on June 6, 7 and 8 were recorded by NDR Kultur and will be broadcasted on Thursday, June 23, 2022 in the four-hour program “Podium der Junge – Spezial”.
Photo credit: Alexandra Korczak
Before the competition, Prof. Ulrich Rademacher, chairman of the national jury of Jugend musiziert, said: “What a long, stony and uncertain way to Oldenburg! Luckily everyone followed the course, and didn’t give up, despite the conditions that didn’t guarantee a live final. We all hope that Oldenburg will send out the signal of a rediscovered vitality of musical life in all its facets, which will last for a long time!”
Project manager Ulrike Lehmann explains the concern of the national competition: “The past two years of the pandemic and not least the current political developments show us all clearly what is really important: working together instead of against each other, listening to each other instead of drowning out each other, on the search for something that connects instead of clinging to differences. This applies on a large scale to the people and on a small scale to the music and making music together.”
“Education of children and young people in the cultural field is important to us” Mayor Jürgen Krogmann confirms: “I am delighted that the national competition Jugend musiziert is coming to our city of music. Oldenburg is cosmopolitan and tolerant and has a diverse and committed cultural scene to offer. The education and participation of children and young people in the cultural field is particularly important to us – this event with top-class young musicians, a colorful program and great venues fits in well.”
“This final will be something special. For us it’s like the World Cup in our own country. Three open stages in the pedestrian zone will spread festival flair and there will hardly be a place where music will not be heard or where you will not meet someone with an instrument case at every turn,” says Holger Denckmann, head of the music school of the city of Oldenburg, happily. to a musical “summer fairy tale” in Oldenburg.
Photo credit: Alexandra Korczak
The majority of the funding for the federal competition Jugend musiziert is provided by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. The Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe, main sponsor of Jugend musiziert, strengthens the partnership by providing funds and a generous special prize for family ensembles. This basic security is supplemented by support from the host state of Lower Saxony, the city of Oldenburg and other sponsors from the Lower Saxony Foundation, the EWE Foundation, the Oldenburgische Landschaft and the Barthel Foundation. Culture partner is NDR Kultur. Around 30 institutions, organizations and private individuals gave additional special prizes.
The concert part of the national competition Jugend musiziert were on:
4 June – 6.00 p.m.
Welcome concert, Trio Noema
June 5 – 11:00 a.m.
Matinee „Ausgezeichnet!“
June 6 – 8:00 p.m.
Prizewinners’ Concert I
June 7 – 8:00 p.m.
Prizewinners’ Concert II
June 8 – 8:00 p.m.
Prizewinners’ Concert III
