Welcome
Would you like to get a first impression of what awaits? Take three minutes to watch our video (also available in full resolution on our YouTube channel here):
Schedule
The International Hans von Bülow Competition will take place in its fourth edition in 2023. The previous editions in 2012, 2015 and 2018 were organized by the International Hans von Bülow Society e.V. In 2021 the organization of the competition was passed to the Max Reger Conservatorium under the administration of the Schmalkalden-Meiningen regional authority. Meiningen Museums and the Meiningen State Theater are close partners.
Competing musicians perform in up to four rounds of the competition in the categories Juniors, Professionals, and Conducting from the Piano. Entrants compete for cash prizes worth €50.000 in total, sponsorships, CD recordings and prestigious concert engagements.
The renowned publicist, dramaturge and festival director Dr. Nike Wagner is the patron of the competition.
Reviews
This is what has been said about the competition so far:
Aris Alexander Blettenberg, 1st prize winner in 2015 and for a long time a kind of artist in residence in Meiningen, has described the idea of the Bülow Piano Competition, now in its third edition, better than anyone else: a young, talented artist, lesser-known jewels of the piano repertoire, the inspiring history of Meiningen, an international audience… It represents that at which Meiningen repeatedly excels: being the spark, the beginning, the idea. This is how it was for Bülow, for Reger, for Strauss, this is how it was for Petrenko, for Mielitz. This is what this competition stands for.
| Peter Lauterbach in the culture supplement of the Freie Wort on 25th August 2018 >>> full article here (German)
While in Meiningen, the competitors are provided with excellent practice facilities, they look forward to the extra special performance venues, accommodation prices are low and they feel surrounded by culture. Along with the attractive cash prizes on offer, possibly the most important aspect for the young pianists is the opportunity to make music with the Meiningen Court Orchestra, and not only once – previous 1st prize winners have meanwhile made regular guest appearances. The additional concert engagements on offer are also extremely valuable to the development of an international career.
| Prof. Henri Sigfridsson, Folkwang University of the Arts, Essen
The musical town of Meiningen
Meiningen lies in the south of the state of Thuringia and has been the home of the International Hans von Bülow Competition since its inception in 2012. Where is it on a map?
What makes Meiningen a musical town?
Bülow & Bechstein
Max Reger Conservatorium
The music school in Meiningen was founded in 1953 and was given the name “Max Reger” in 1966. In 2021 it was renamed the Max Reger Conservatorium and moved into a freshly renovated mansion in the town center.
The Conservatorium houses one of the performance venues for the International Hans von Bülow Competition, as well as providing practice facilities for competitors.
The Max Reger Conservatorium offers musical education for all ages: Early Childhood Music classes for preschoolers, instrument carousel courses to help children choose an instrument to learn, school class-based instrumental tuition, music theory classes, one-to-one instrumental and vocal teaching, ensemble classes, orchestras and choirs, right up to targeted preparation for studying music.
The Conservatorium recognizes the importance of musical education in supporting the personal and social development of young people, helping its pupils to build both specific and transferable skills. It also strives to bring people together through music and to enrich the arts scene in Meiningen and the surrounding area.
The Max Reger Conservatorium can be found at Bernhardstraße 4, 98617 Meiningen, Germany.