Paul Herbst, born in 2009 in South Tyrol, began his piano studies with Gertrud Schneider at the Eppan Music School. From an early age, his exceptional talent became apparent, which he has continually demonstrated both as a soloist and as a member of the “Trio Blumenberg”. Paul is a multiple prize-winner at national and international competitions, including the J.S. Bach Competition in Sestri Levante (first absolute prize 2025), the Austrian youth competition “Prima la musica” (special prize and regional winner 2024, first prize at the national competition 2023 and 2024), the Lászl Spezzaferri International Music Prize (first absolute prize 2025), the International Piano Competition “San Donà di Piave” (first prize 2025), the international piano competition MozARTE in Aachen (first prize 2025), as well as the international piano competition in Minerbio (second prize and special prize for the best performance of a Romantic piece in the entire competition 2025). In 2025, Paul Herbst has been a signed member of EMCY (the European Union of Music Competitions for Youth), an international network that connects and supports outstanding young musicians from across Europe.
As a soloist, Paul Herbst has been performing regularly in Italy, Austria, Spain, and Switzerland since 2023. A remarkable achievement came in 2024 in Vienna, where he won the Young Classical Artist Award in the keyboard instruments category at the Austrian music sponsorship prize “Goldene Note”. This success enabled him to perform with renowned artists such as the opera singer Camilla Nylund and the cellist Matthias Bartolomey. He also appeared as a soloist with orchestra in the grand auditorium of the Palais la Música in Santiago de Compostela, a concert broadcasted as part of the 3sat Festival Summer 2025 on German television. Since October 2024, Paul Herbst has been studying at the Monteverdi Conservatory in Bolzano with Bruna Pulini. He continues to enhance his artistic development by regularly participating in international masterclasses in Italy, Austria, and Spain, including with Vladimir Kharin, Antonio Chen Guang, Andrea Bonatta, Andreas Frölich, and Alexander Kobrin, among others.
If you are interested in working with Paul Herbst, please get in touch with the EMCY Office.
Solo
M. Moszkowski: Etude de Virtuosité, op. 72
A. C. Debussy: Clair de Lune
F. Gulda: Play Piano Play, Toccata Nr. 6
E. Pozzoli: Etude (Allegro moderato)
J. S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue in D Minor, BVW 875
J. S. Bach: Italian Concerto In F Major, BWV 971: I. Allegro
G. F. Händel: Fantasia in C Major, HWV 490
D. Scarlatti: Sonata in C Major K. 159
F. Mendelssohn: Rondo Capriccioso Op. 14
F. Mendelssohn: Prelude in B Minor Op. 104-a Nr. 2)
F. Liszt: Années de pèlerinage, I. Suisse – 9. Les Cloches de Genève
F. Chopin: Walzer op.69, Nr.1, Lento
F. Chopin: Etude Op. 10 Nr. 4
F. Chopin: Nocturne Op. 9 Nr. 2
F. Chopin: Scherzo No. 3, Op. 39
F. Chopin: Fantaisie-Impromptu in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 66
F. Chopin: Etude Op.
J. Haydn: Sonata in E Flat Hob. XVI:52, 1. Allegro
L. v. Beethoven: Sonata op. 10/1, 1. Allegro molto e con brio
L. v. Beethoven: “Waldstein” Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53
A. Khatchaturian: Toccata, Allegro marcatissimo
Chamber music
F. Bridge: Miniatures, Gavotte, Moderato
F. J. Haydn, Piano Trio in G Major, Hob:XV:25
J. Kropfitsch: Trio für die Jugend, op.1, Intermezzo I, Steady
C. Bohm: Six Trios faciles, op.352, Nr.3, Allegro commodo
W. A. Mozart: Violin Sonata in G Major, K 301 Sonata, Allegro
F. Schubert: Ständchen (Serenade), Piano & Cello
F. Lehár: Vilja-Lied from «Die lustige Witwe»
With orchestra
E. Grieg, Piano Concerto in A minor, op. 16
