12th International Johann Heinrich Schmelzer Competition

vocal and instrumental soloists as well as vocal and instrumental ensembles of any nationality.
Musicians born on or after 16th of May 1989 are eligible to participate (for ensembles this applies to all musicians within the ensemble!).

Assessment by jury

• EUR 6.000,– (sponsored by Schelhammer Capital Bank AG)
• concert appearance at the >Internationale Barocktage Stift Melk festival< in one of the following years
• concert appearance at the Innsbrucker Festwochen der Alten Musik in one of the following years

Assessment by jury and audience

• EUR 1.000,– sponsored by Prof. Gerhard Stabentheiner, the president of the Friends Association of the >Internationale Barocktage Stift Melk<

The International Johann Heinrich Schmelzer Competition is a competition for for Soloists and Ensembles of Baroque Music held every three years as part of the Internationale Barocktage Stift Melk festival. The festival aims to provide a platform for emerging young artists while also recognizing outstanding talent and exceptional performances. The competition offers participants the opportunity to perform before a distinguished jury of renowned experts and to showcase their artistic skills.

As part of the online application, applicants must upload a YouTube link for each of three works, along with the corresponding work details (title, composer, and duration) in the application form.

At least one of the works should be stylistically different (national style) from the other two. In addition, importance is placed on a varied program selection with regard to musical character (e.g. virtuosic, expressive, cantabile).

For the second round, the program must be extended by one additional work, resulting in a total performance duration of approximately 25 minutes.

During the audition, the jury will select the works to be performed from the submitted repertoire. This repertoire consists of the three works from the first round as well as the additional work submitted for the second round.

The second round will take place on Thursday, 13 May 2027, throughout the day in the Baroque Cellar of Melk Abbey.

The finalists will create a concert programme of approximately ten minutes, selecting works from the first two rounds, which they will present to both the jury and the audience during the public finalists’ concert.

The concert will take place on Saturday, 15 May 2027, at 3:30 p.m. in the Baroque Cellar of Melk Abbey.

Musicians born on or after May 16, 1992 are eligible to participate. This age limit applies to all ensemble members.

• Fully completed online application form
• Letter of motivation
• curriculum vitae / resume
• current printable photo (300 dpi)
• copy of passport or identity card
• application fee
• YouTube links of the 3 recordings (3 recordings of works, at least one of which must be from a different (national) style; it is also important that the 3 works differ in their style (virtuoso, expressive, cantabile, etc.).

The recordings will be uploaded by the applicant via YouTube and the 3 links in the online application form including the piece information will be sent.

The pieces of the program must be composed between 1550 and 1750 and must be performed on historical instruments or their replicas.

At least one of the works should be stylistically different (national style) from the other two. In addition, importance is placed on a varied program selection with regard to musical character (e.g. virtuosic, expressive, cantabile).

Solists: € 60,-
Ensembles: € 90

The registration fee must be transferred by bank transfer, free of charge for the recipient, to the following account by March 7, 2027:

HYPO NOE Landesbank AG
Account holder: Wachau Kultur Melk GmbH
IBAN: AT65 5300 0064 5222 4109, BIC: HYPNATWW
Purpose of payment: [full name] / Competition 2027

The registration fee cannot be refunded, even if there is no invitation to the 2nd round / audition round.

The complete application documents (incl. upload of sound recordings and confirmation of payment of the application fee) must be received by March 7, 2027. Only complete applications can be used for participation in the pre-selection.

Max Volbers | Chair (Wind Instruments) 
Marie-Claude Chappuis | Voice 
Rüdiger Lotter | String Instruments 
Wiebke Weidanz | Keyboard Instruments
Eva Maria Sens | Festival Director Innsbrucker Festwochen der Alten Musik 

March 7, 2027

After the pre-selection has been made, the approved applicants will receive an invitation to the competition on site in Melk by e-mail by April 7, 2027.

On May 12, 2027, the on-site registration for the competition will take place for the admitted participants of the 2nd round, and all musicians will have to identify themselves personally on site. 

On the same day, there will also be a short get-together as well as a welcome by the jury chairperson Eva-Maria Sens and an inspection of the rehearsal rooms and the audition room. 

Optionally, rehearsals will also be offered in the audition room during the day on Wednesday, so that it can be played in advance, since the hearings will be held all day on Thursday and rehearsals will no longer be possible there.

May 13, 2027 in the the Baroque Cellar of Melk Abbey.

May 15, 2027 at 3:30 p.m. in the Baroque Cellar of Melk Abbey

competition(at)wachaukulturmelk.at
Wachau Kultur Melk GmbH
Jakob Prandtauer-Straße 11
A-3390 Melk

1993 - 1. Prize: not awarded | 2. Prize: Blockflötenensemble Schwertberg (Austria) 
1996 - 1. Prize: Susanne Pumhösl, Cembalo (Austria)
1999 - 1. Prize: not awarded | 2. Prize: Benedikt Csalog, Traversflöte (Hungary) / Maria Mittermayr, traversflöte (Austria) / Maia Silberstein, Barockvioline (Belgium)
2002 - 1. Prize: Barbara Tisler, Sopran (Slowenia) | Johann Heinrich Schmelzer Prize: Barbara Tisler, Sopran (Slowenia)
2005 - 1. Prize: Ensemble Vivante (Austria)
2008 - 1. Prize: Duo Lasaulinier (France) | Ensembleprize: Michael Hell, Cembalist mit Ensemble Vezzoso (Germany)
2011 - 1. Prize: Jan van Hoecke, Blockflöte (Switzerland), Anne Freitag Traversflöte (Switzerland) | Audience Award: Jan van Hoecke, Blockflöte (Switzerland)
2014 - 1. Prize: Tabea Debus, Blockflöte (Germany)
2017 - Maximilian Volbers (Flute)
2020/2022 - Johann Heinrich Schmelzer Prize (shared): Sophia Aretz, Traversflöte (Germany) und Johanna Rosa Falkinger, Sopran (Austria)
2024 - Johann Heinrich Schmelzer Prize: Han Sol Lee Eo, Baroque Violin (South Korea) | Motivational bursary: Felix Gutschi, Recorder (Austria)