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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

schedule 2023


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.

The 1st edition of the competition in 2012 in the Brahms Concert Hall at the Elisabethenburg Palace. (© Foto: Michael Reichel)

Herin Sung, winner in 2012, with the Meiningen Court Orchestra and General Music Director Phillippe Bach. (© Foto: Michael Reichel)

Maxim Emelyanychev, winner in 2012, with the Meiningen Court Orchestra. (© Foto: Michael Reichel)

The venue for our Prize Winners’ Concerts: the Meiningen State Theater. (© Foto: Michael Reichel)

Jiyan Sun, prize winner in 2015, with the Meiningen Court Orchestra. (© Foto: Michael Reichel)

The competition pianos are kept in perfect tune. (© Foto: Michael Reichel)

Atsutaka Manabe, winner of the Amateur Category in 2015. (© Foto: Michael Reichel)

Philipp Marian Roth in the 3rd International Hans von Bülow Competition 2018. (© Foto: Michael Reichel)

Meiningen’s historical town center attracts visitors from near and far. (© Foto: Frank Burkhardt)

Competition entrants perform on concert grand pianos of the highest quality. (© Foto: Frank Burkhardt)

Where is Meiningen?

The 1st edition of the competition in 2012 in the Brahms Concert Hall at the Elisabethenburg Palace. (© Foto: Michael Reichel)

Herin Sung, winner in 2012, with the Meiningen Court Orchestra and General Music Director Phillippe Bach. (© Foto: Michael Reichel)

Maxim Emelyanychev, winner in 2012, with the Meiningen Court Orchestra. (© Foto: Michael Reichel)

The venue for our Prize Winners’ Concerts: the Meiningen State Theater. (© Foto: Michael Reichel)

Jiyan Sun, prize winner in 2015, with the Meiningen Court Orchestra. (© Foto: Michael Reichel)

The competition pianos are kept in perfect tune. (© Foto: Michael Reichel)

Atsutaka Manabe, winner of the Amateur Category in 2015. (© Foto: Michael Reichel)

Philipp Marian Roth in the 3rd International Hans von Bülow Competition 2018. (© Foto: Michael Reichel)

Meiningen’s historical town center attracts visitors from near and far. (© Foto: Frank Burkhardt)

Competition entrants perform on concert grand pianos of the highest quality. (© Foto: Frank Burkhardt)

Where is Meiningen?


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)

 


Teilnehmerstimmen des Jahres 2015

 

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?

Where is Meiningen?

What makes Meiningen a musical town?

Information about Meiningen

 


Bülow & Bechstein

The 4th International Hans von Bülow Competition will be held exclusively on C. Bechstein grand pianos for the first time in 2023. In addition to the exceptional sound quality of the concert grand piano, Hans von Bülow's friendship with Carl Bechstein is also an important argument for us. And with Bechstein digital and the online platform doozzoo, we have project partners who have their sights firmly set on the future.
 
 

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.

E-mail: kontakt@max-reger-conservatorium.de