Deutsche Telekom : Telekom Beethoven Competition – prelude to the Ludwig van Beethoven Anniversary Celebration 2020

• The renowned piano competition, taking place from December 6 to 14, 2019, will signal the beginning of many events honoring Ludwig van Beethoven on the occasion of his 250th birthday
• Pianists from around the world are invited to apply and participate in the competition

The anniversary celebration marking the 250th birthday of Ludwig van Beethoven will begin with a remarkable event: The 8th International Telekom Beethoven Competition, to be held from December 6 to 14, 2019, which will signal the start of the Beethoven Anniversary Celebration 2020 honoring one of the music world's greatest composers in his birthplace of Bonn, Germany. The renowned piano competition is highly regarded by musicians worldwide and is closely associated with the rich heritage that the city of Bonn continues to cultivate in honor of its favorite son. The competition performances will once again be available to a wide audience through internet live streaming.

Applications from young musicians wishing to participate in the competition can be submitted starting November 15, 2018. The final application deadline is May 10, 2019. The competition is open to outstanding pianists who will be from 16 to 32 years of age at the time of the competition. More information is available on the internet at www.telekom-beethoven-competition.de, including details about the repertoire and the terms governing event participation.

A selection panel will review all applications and then select the 28 young pianists who will participate in the competition. The panel is comprised of Pavel Gililov, Professor at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, who is also the artistic director and jury president of the competition, plus Andreas Frölich, Professor at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz at the Cologne University for Music and Dance, and Jinsang Lee, Professor at the Korea National University of Arts and pianist in the Beethoven Trio Bonn.

The jury of the International Telekom Beethoven Competition Bonn 2019 includes Pavel Gililov (Germany/Austria), Dmitri Alexeev (United Kingdom/Russia), Akiko Michel Béroff (France), Peter Hyoung Joon Chang (South Korea), Hisako Kawamura (Japan), Paul Schenly (USA), Ilona Schmiel (Germany), Henri Sigfridsson (Finland) and Natalia Trull (Russia).

Competition laureates receive awards having a total value of more than 70,000 euros as follows: 1st Prize 30,000 euros; 2nd Prize 20,000 euros; 3rd Prize 10,000 euros. A number of special prizes with a total value of more than 10,000 euros will also be awarded. In addition to these awards, laureates will also be offered a number of opportunities to perform in solo recitals and as soloists with orchestras around the world.

During the Chamber Music Finals, three participants, together with members of the Beethoven Trio Bonn, will perform one of Beethoven's piano trios during a special evening concert program. The Beethoven Orchestra will accompany all competition finalists during their recitals of selected Beethoven piano concertos.

In addition to promoting outstanding musical talents, the competition also serves as a platform for nurturing personal development and aspires to cultivate an atmosphere of cultural fellowship among talented musicians as part of their experience in Ludwig van Beethoven's hometown. Participants in the International Telekom Beethoven Competition are offered accommodations with guest families in Bonn.

Information about the International Telekom Beethoven Competition Bonn is available at www.telekom-beethoven-competition.de.