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Markneukirchen, Germany

Tuba and Horn take center stage at the Markneukirchen music hall

Competitions

The Markneukirchen International Instrumental Competition is making history this year: with 150 participants from 5 continents, the 2026 competition has set new records.

This year’s competition focused on horn and tuba! Of the 206 applications accepted, 67 musicians in the horn category and 83 participants in the tuba category, aged between 14 and 32, have travelled to Markneukirchen.

During 2 weeks, the competition brought not just the stages, but the whole region to life with sound, filling Markneukirchen and the surrounding area with music. True to the town’s slogan, ‘Music meets nature’, the participants made the most of the peaceful, idyllic countryside to get in the mood for their recitals. Amidst the woods, fresh air and focused sounds, special moments were created – for the musicians as well as for everyone who encountered music in nature. 

The competition was held over three rounds and the final rounds, with focus in the first round for the horn on works by Olivier Messiaen, Jean Françaix and Paul Dukas, whilst in the tuba category, William Kraft’s Encounters II and Zoltán Gardonyi’s Sonata for Tuba and Piano were performed. The participant of the second round performed works by Hindemith, Saint-Saens, Salonen, or Holliger (Horn) to name a few, and Penderecki or Vaugh Williams (Tuba); third round was devoted to other pieces by contemporary composers and Mozart's Concerto in E flat major KV 417  for the Hornists; the Tubists had the choice between John Williams' Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra and Michael Daugherty's Reflections on the Mississippi for Tuba and Orchestra.  

 

Tuba finalists: Diego Stine (1st Prize), Byoungho Kang (3rd prize), Igor Martínez (2nd Prize)

First Prize Diego Stine

At the Tuba final, the three laureates were accompanied by the strings of the Clara Schumann Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Leo Siberski, in the piece by Jan Koetsier Concertino op. 77 for tuba and string orchestra. Tuba Jury chairman Prof. Jörg Wachsmuth sumed up a competition that was characterised by impressive performances, great musical quality and many special moments. Finally the Jury decided to award First prize to Diego Stine, Second prize to Igor Martínez and Third prize to Byoungho Kang.

The three Horn finalists delivered outstanding performances, demonstrating great musical expression and a powerful stage presence – making them all deserving winners of this year’s competition. They were also accompanied by the strings of the Clara Schumann Philharmonic Orchestra for Richard Strauss' Concerto No. 1 in E flat major op. 11. The Horn Jury awarded First prize to Antoine Jeannot, Second prize to Brendan Connellan and Third prize to Jan Vobořil.

Brendan Connellan (2nd Prize), Antoine Jeannot (1st prize) and Jan Vobořil (3rd Prize)

Horn

Awards 
First prize : Antoine Jeannot (24), Paris
Second prize : Brendan Connellan (23)
Third prize: Jan Vobořil (21), Prague

Jury
Johannes Hinterholzer (Chair), Alec Frank-Gemmill, Marie-Luise Neunecker, Frøydis Ree Wekre, Maria Rubio Navarro, Raimund Zell, Szabolcs Zempléni

Artists
Clara-Schumann-Philharmoniker Plauen-Zwickau/ Leo Siberski (Conductor)

 

Tuba

Awards 
First prize : Diego Stine, Washington D.C
Second prize : Igor Martínez (31), Montréal
Third prize: Byoungho Kang (23), Hannover

Jury
Jörg Wachsmuth (Chair), Øystein Baadsvik, Jens Bjørn-Larsen, Gérard Buquet, Ulli Haas, Eiichi Inagawa, Hans Nickel

Artists
Clara-Schumann-Philharmoniker Plauen-Zwickau/ Leo Siberski (Conductor)

 

©WFIMC 2026/SB