Logo The Mahler Competition

Welcome to the internationally renowned
conducting competition of the
Bamberg Symphony!

Join us in looking forward to the grand finale: a public concert, broadcast live, in which the three finalists of the MAHLER COMPETITION will compete against one another!

Sieva Borzak (Italy)



Jakub Przybycień (Poland)



Simon Clausse (France)



Your vote counts! You can vote for which of the three finalists you think deserves the Audience Award!

The QR code and link will be posted online towards the end of the concert.

You can only vote once, but you can change your vote until the end of the voting period.

  • Scan the QR code
  • Enter an email address,
  • accept the terms and click ‘Continue’
  • You will receive a confirmation code by email (please also check spam/junk folders!)
  • Enter the code and click ‘Continue’
  • Choose one of the three finalists
  • Submit your vote

THANK YOU!

The next and final live stream - the final concert of THE MAHLER COMPETITION 2026 starts on Friday, 3 July at 7 p.m. (CEST)

Live only: Please note that the livestream of the final concert will remain online for 7 days after it has been broadcast – here and on the Bamberg Symphony’s YouTube channel.

What's
to win?

1st prize:
30,000 EUROS

2nd prize:
20,000 EUROS

3rd prize:
10,000 EUROS

special award:
a studio production for
BR-KLASSIK, with Bamberg Symphony

The
Latest

Throwback
to 2023

A 13-minute English-German documentary about the 2023 competition. Enjoy and be inspired!   

HOW
to take part?

REGISTER

WHAT
to conduct?

REPERTOIRE

WHO
is part of the jury?

JURY

Winners
2004 – 2023

  • 2023

    Giuseppe Mengoli
    (Italy)
     

  • 2020

    Finnegan Downie Dear

    Finnegan Downie Dear
    (United Kingdom)
     

  • 2016

    Kahchun Wong

    Kahchun Wong
    (Singapore)

  • 2013

    Lahav Shani

    Lahav Shani
    (Israel)
     

  • 2010

    Ainārs Rubiķis

    Ainārs Rubiķis
    (Latvia)
     

  • 2007

    Shi-Yeon Sung

    Shi-Yeon Sung, 
    2nd prize
    (1st prize not awarded) 
    (South Korea)

  • 2004

    Gustavo Dudamel

    Gustavo Dudamel
    (Venezuela)
     

News of
the Winners

Taichi Fukumura joins Cleveland Orchestra as Assistant Conductor

Taichi Fukumura caps his first season as the Illinois Symphony's music director this weekend, in a year he says has exceeded expectations. As the maestro gets settled into his position, he’ll soon regularly be on the podium of one of the world’s greatest orchestras, too.

Furioses Feuervogel-Finale: Giuseppe Mengoli mit den Bambergern in Fürth

Seine Begeisterung wirkt ansteckend, überträgt sich gleichermaßen auf Publikum wie Orchester. Die erfahrenen Bamberger Symphoniker hat der aus dem südlichen Apulien stammende Giuseppe Mengoli bei der Mahler Competition 2023 durch seinen ebenso lockeren wie agilen Dirigierstil so beeindrucken können, dass ihm die Wettbewerbsjury einmütig den Ersten Preis zuerkannte. In einem…

Conductor Kevin Fitzgerald talks queer excellence in classical music, Bernstein & why he’s never seen ‘Tár’

When you hear the word “conductor,” what—or who—do you picture? “It’s probably an older white man who looks very serious,” jokes Kevin Fitzgerald, the 32-year-old who is currently the Associate Conductor of the acclaimed Jacksonville Symphony in Florida. It’s no secret that the performing arts are very, very gay—from singers and dancers to mimes and magicians, LGBTQ+ folks simply love to put on a…

Dayner Tafur-Díaz wins German Conducting Award

The jury of the German Conducting Award has awarded First prize to the young Peruvian Dayner Tafur-Díaz, 2nd Prize to Nathanaël Iselin and 3rd Prize to Claudio Novati. Dayner Tafur-Díaz is also the winner of the Kurt Masur Audience Award and of the Special Award for the best interpretation of a contemporary work. Born in 1998 in Chimbote (Peru), Dayner Tafur-Díaz won 1st Prize of the International…

Kahchun Wong announced as new Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Hallé

The Hallé is delighted to announce that Kahchun Wong will become Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of Manchester’s own symphony orchestra from September 2024. His initial contract will be for five years. Sir Mark Elder, becomes Conductor Emeritus after twenty-four transformative years leaving the Hallé enriched and internationally admired as the orchestra looks ahead with confidence to…

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