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Piano-Year continues with the Beethoven Competition in Vienna

Competitions

Derek Hartman wins the 17th International Beethoven Piano Competition

28-year-old pianist Derek Hartman won the 17th International Beethoven Piano Competition, which concluded on 24 May at the Vienna Musikverein. Hartman secured the top prize—a Bösendorfer grand piano and €30,000—with his performance of Piano Concerto No. 4, accompanied by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra under Petr Popelka. The second prize, worth €12,000, was shared equally (ex aequo) between Hartman's competitors Jonas Stark and Martin Nöbauer. Additionally, Nöbauer claimed the Klemens Kramert Special Prize, endowed with €2,000.
Despite his young age, Derek Hartman, a Yale graduate, has already won multiple competitions, including the Chicago International Music Competition and a third prize at the Washington International Piano Competition. Beyond performing, Hartman is also active as a lecturer, music educator, and concert pianist.

Derek Hartman (28), winner of the First Prize

Held every four years, the International Beethoven Piano Competition Vienna is Austria’s oldest international piano competition and ranks among the most renowned music competitions today. Founded more than 60 years ago, it is hosted by the mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. The mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna is among the world’s largest and most renowned universities specialised in the performing arts of music, theatre and film. 
More than 300 applications from 32 countries were received for the 17th edition of The Beethoven Vienna. After a pre-selection process and an online video round, 21 promising young talents were selected by our jury to perform in Vienna.

Martin Nöbauer

Jonas Stark

Prizes :
First Prize:  Derek Hartman (28) 
Second Prize ex-aequo: Martin Nöbauer (28) & Jonas Stark (27)

Jury:
Jan Jiracek von Arnim (Chair), HieYon Choi, Ingrid Fliter, Sofya Gulyak, Robert Levin, Hélène Mercier, Ronan O’Hora, Antti Siirala, Jasminka Stancul

Artists:
Orchestra with Wiener Symphoniker / Petr Popelka, Conductor 
 

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