Competitions › International Johann Heinrich Schmelzer Competition
International Johann Heinrich Schmelzer Competition
Next edition
- Edition
- 2027
- Dates
- 13–15 May 2027
- Location
- Melk Abbey, Melk
- Registration deadline
- 7 March 2027
- Fee
- EUR 60 soloists / EUR 90 ensembles
Source: wachaukulturmelk.at
Overview
Competition for young baroque soloists and ensembles of any nationality, held within the Internationale Barocktage Stift Melk festival; founded in 1993 and held roughly every three years. Repertoire from 1550–1750 must be performed on historical instruments or replicas.
- Organiser
- Wachau Kultur Melk GmbH (Internationale Barocktage Stift Melk)
- Instruments
- Voice, Historical instruments (soloists and ensembles)
- Category
- Opera & general voice, Other ensembles
- Age limits
- born on or after 16 May 1992 (2027 edition; applies to every ensemble member)
Rules & repertoire
Registration & fee
Online application form with motivation letter, CV, photo, ID copy, three recording links and proof of fee payment.
Rounds & time limits
- Preliminary round: online application with YouTube links of three works
- Audition in Melk (13 May 2027, Baroque Cellar, Melk Abbey): about 25 minutes
- Public finalists' concert (15 May 2027): about 10 minutes
Repertoire
Works composed 1550–1750 on historical instruments. Round 1: three contrasting works, at least one in a different national style; Round 2: one additional work (about 25 minutes in total, jury chooses from the four works); final: about 10-minute programme drawn from rounds 1 and 2.
Jury & prizes
Jury
- 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)
Prizes
- Johann Heinrich Schmelzer Prize: EUR 6,000 plus concert appearances at Barocktage Stift Melk and Innsbrucker Festwochen der Alten Musik
- Motivational bursary (jury and audience): EUR 1,000
Past editions
- 2024 — Melk source
Schmelzer Prize: Han Sol Lee Eo, baroque violin (South Korea); Motivational bursary: Felix Gutschi, recorder (Austria)
Summarised from official sources, last checked 11 Nov 2026. Main source