Piano Competition 2025
The organizer of the competition is the Gustav Mahler Institute Prague in cooperation with the Gustav Mahler Philharmonic Jihlava. The mission and goal of the competition is to deepen the interest and motivation of young talented pianists to interpret mutual understanding, interpretative confrontation, inspiration and love for music. The personality of the genius conductor and musical composer Gustav Mahler, who lived in Jihlava for the first 15 years of his life and inspired and enriched so much, reminds him of his noble ideas about the mission of music and is a permanent inspiration source and model for young musicians from all over the world.
Closing date: May 31, 2025
Announcement of results: June 30, 2025
Results
Grand Prize - Gustav Mahler Prize 2025
Absolute winner, Personalized Glass Trophy, Prize Money 30,000 CZK, Diploma
Ryugo Yoshino / Japan
Prize of Gustav Mahler Philharmonic Jihlava / Awarded by the Gustav Mahler Philharmonic Jihlava and presents the possibility of a concert performance in Jihlava (orchestral or chamber concert) in future years/: not awarded
Prize of Chief Conductor of the Gustav Mahler Philharmonic Jihlava / Honorary Prize: Patrik Szokolay / Germany
Prize of Jury President / Honorary Prize: Ryugo Yoshino / Japan
Prize of Director of the Gustav Mahler Institute Prague / Honorary Prize: Irene Gao / USA
Prize for the best Czech competitor / Honorary Prize: Sophia Drapáková
Honorable Mention for the interpretation of a composition by Frédéric Chopin: Irene Gao / USA
Honorable Mention for the interpretation of a composition by Maurice Ravel: Ryugo Yoshino / Japan
Honorable Mention for the interpretation of a composition by Nikolai Medtner: Lu Yuefing / China
(competitors are ranked in order of best by points scored)
Category 1
1st Prize and Category Winner
Program: William Gillock, Valse Etude, Frédéric Chopin, Waltz in C-sharp minor, Op.64, No. 2 Teacher/school: Dr. Qian Yin
1st Prize
Program: 1. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Pimpinella F major (KV 33B); 2. Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonatine G major (WoO Anh. 5, I), 2. mov., Romance; 3. Frédéric Chopin: Waltz A minor (op. posth.): 4. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Baba-Yaga from "Album pour enfants" (Op. 39, No. 20) Teacher/school: Dr. Natalia Gubkina
2nd Prize
Program: Nocturne Op. 54 No. 4 E. Grieg Teacher/school: Mrs.Ruzanna Faramazyan
Kristian Todorov / Bulgaria Program: Polonaise (g-moll) by Johann Sebastian Bach; Six Easy Variations on an Austrian Folk Song by Friedrich Kuhlau; Henry Lemoine Op. 37 Etude 11. Teacher/school: Mr. Dimitar Kanchev, National School of Music "L. Pipkov", Sofia, Bulgaria
Sophia Drapáková / Czechia Program: 1. L. van Beethoven - Bagatelle No. 1, Op. 119 (11 New Bagatelles), 2. A. Sarauer - Waltz in G Major, 3. K. Slavický - Etude No. 3 (12 Small Etudes) Teacher/school: Miroslava Hořáková, ZUŠ Mladá Boleslav
Paphawit Pongthitikasem / Thailand Program: Grieg: Moods, op. 73 - Etude "Hommage à Chopin" Liadov Prelude op. 11 no 1 in B minor Teacher/school: Mr. Filipp Opanasenko
3rd Prize
Mila Janović / Montenegro Program: H. Wolfahrt: Etude, C major, W. Gillock: Indian war chant, D minor, W. Gillock: Little flower girl of Paris, C major, Author unknown: Persian market, E minor Teacher/school: Prof. Marija Gajić, ŠOSMO "Vida Matjan", Kotor
Category 2
2nd Prize
Tereza Drapáková / Czechia Program: 1. L. van Beethoven - Sonate No. 20 in G Major, Op. 49, No. 2 (1st sentence), 2. B. Smetana - Polka in G Minor, 3. K. Slavický - Etude No. 12 ( 12 Small Etudes) Teacher/school: Miroslava Hořáková, ZUŠ Mladá Boleslav
3rd Prize
Anja Davidovac / Montenegro Program: J. P. Rameau: Menuet, C major, A. Goedicke: Etude op. 6 nr. 6, A minor, M. Clementi: Sonatine op. 36, nr. 1, C major, H. Arlin: Over the rainbow, arr. by Tom Roed, C major Teacher/school: Prof. Marija Gajić, ŠOSMO "Vida Matjan", Kotor
Category 3
2nd Prize
Matvei Korotkov / Russia Program: F.Chopin Waltz in A-minor, B.150 , Posth, J.S. Bach Prelude and Fugue in F minor, BWV 881, Book II (The Well-Tempered Clavier), Czerny Op. 299, Etude No. 13 from The School Of Velocity, P.I. Tchaikovsky "Autumn Song" from the cycle The Seasons Teacher/school: Anisimova Irina Yakovlevna, Music school No. 12 named after S.S. Prokofiev
Category 4
1st Prize and Category Winner
Patrik Szokolay / Germany Program: Joseph Haydn: Sonate D-dur Hob.XVI:24 1.Allegro, Isaak Berkowitsch:Variationen über ein Thema von Paganini Teacher/school: Susanne Bitar, Belvedere Special Musikgymnasium Weimar Germany
2nd Prize
Emanuel de la Torre Quiroz / Germany Program: 1. "Prélude Op. 3. No.2 in C# minor" by Sergei Rachmaninow, 2. "Water Lilies in the Evening Glow" by Alexander Rosenblatt, 3. "Songs Without Words Op.67/4, Presto (Spinner's Song)" by Felix Mendelssohn Teacher/school: Martina Hussmann, Musikschule Vaterstetten, Germany
Pavel Andonov / Bulgaria Program: 1. Bach - French Suite III - Alemande; 2. Haydn - Sonata B Dur - I part; 3. Dubois - SCHERZETTO; 4. Burgmuler - Etude op.109 - The Perles; Teacher/school: Zvezdelina Todorova, Art School DOBRI HRISTOV - Varna Bulgaria
Category 5
1st Prize and Category Winner
Maria Anisia Iacsa / Romania Program: L.v. Beethoven - Sonata No. 10 in G major, Op. 14 No. 22, F.Liszt - Waldesrauchen, S. 145 No.1 Teacher/school: Mrs. Olga Podobinschi, "Dinu Lipatti College of Arts", Bucharest, Romania
3rd Prize
Siyana Krasimirova Ivanova / Bulgaria Program: Carl Czerny, Op. 299, No.29, J.S.Bach-Allemande, French Suite II, Ludwig van Beethoven-Op. 2, No.1, Sonata I part Teacher/school: Zvezdelina Todorova, NATIONAL SCHOOL OF ARTS "DOBRI HRISTOV" - Varna, Bulgaria
Honorable Mention 1st Degree
Ivana Milićević / Montenegro Program: C. Czerny – H. Germer: Chromatic Etude No. 18, G. F. Handel: Sarabande from the Suite in D minor, HWV 437, J. Haydn: Sonata Hob.XVI:9, No. 3 in F major, 1st movement, O. Mericanto: Valse lente Teacher/school: Marija Gajić, ŠOSMO "Vida Matjan", Kotor
Category 6
1st Prize
Celina Höferlin / Austria Program: W.A.Mozart - Piano sonata No. 14 in C minor, KV 457, 1.movement, Chopin - Waltz in A flat major, Op.42, C.Debussy - Pour le piano, I. Prelude Teacher/school: Prof.Andreas Weber, Pre-College of Mozarteum university
Category 7
1st Prize and Category Winner
Ryugo Yoshino / Japan Program: Gaspard de la nuit "Scarbo" Ravel Maurice Teacher/school: the Music Department of Toho Gakuen High School
2nd Prize
Kalina Petkova / Bulgaria Program: F.Chopin Polonaise in d moll Op71 no 1, Adrien Talexy - Etude Mazurke Op.19 Teacher/school: Zvezdelina Todorova, The National School of Arts "Dobri Hristov"- Varna
3rd Prize
Ioanna Anastasopoulou / Greece Program: Fantasia in d minor, K. 397, W. A. Mozart 2. Etude Op.72 No 2, in g minor, M. Moszkowski Teacher/school: Lydia Iatraki, Athens College (College Conservatory)
Category 8
1st Prize and Category Winner
Lu Yuefeng / China Program: Chopin etude op 25 no 10, Mettner sonata op 39 no 5 Teacher/school: An Tianxu, Central music college attached middle school
3rd Prize
Leandro Argolo Rodrigues / Brazil Program: A Lenda do Caboclo (Heitor Villa-Lobos), Prelude Db Major Op.28 No.15 | Frédéric François Chopin, Prelude No. 1 | George Gershwin Teacher/school: Carolina da S. Antônio Austin
Category 9
1st Prize and Category Winner
Zhijia He / China Program: Chopin Ballade No.1, Beethoven Sonata No.23 "Appassionata" 3rd movement Teacher/school: Alan Chow, Eastman School of Music
2nd Prize
Valérie Petrů / Czechia Program: L. v. Beethoven - Sonata No. 15 in D major, op. 28, 4th movement (Rondo. Allegro ma non troppo), R. Schumann/F. Liszt - Widmung, op. 25, No. 1, V. Novák, Songs on Winter Nights, op. 30, A Stormy Night Teacher/school: MgA. Marie Al-Ashhabová, Conservatory Teplice, Czech Republic
Daniel Robles Núñez / Mexico Program: Franz Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, Sergei Rachmaninov - Moment Musicaux Op. 16 No. 4 Teacher/school: Conservatorio de Música del Estado de Puebla, México
Category 11
1st Prize and Category Winner
Suan Choi / South Korea Program: S. Prokofiev from Ten Pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 75 No. 4, 6, 10 Teacher/school: Bespalko Polina, University of Cincinnati- College Conservatory of Music
1st Prize
David Alecsandru Irimescu / Italy Program: Scarlatti Sonata k 214, Rachmaninov Etude tableau op 39 n 5, Debussy from 2 volume of Preludes: ...Ondine, Kapustin Concert-etude op 40 n 8 Teacher/school: Turin Conservatory "Giuseppe Verdi"- Claudio Voghera, Pinerolo Academy- Enrico Pace, Rossetti Academy Lugano- Vovka Ashkenazy
2nd Prize
Yoobin Ko / South Korea Program: R. Schumann Fantasie in C Major, Op. 17, 1st mov., F. Chopin Etude Op. 10 No. 1, S. Prokofiev Piano Sonata No. 3 in A minor, Op. 28 Teacher/school:
Cheng Zejin / China Program: Liszt-VALLEE D'OBERMANN, Rachmaninoff's -Preludes Op.32 No.12 Teacher/school: CAMCLAR (Guangzhou)Media Co.,Ltd.
3rd Prize
Suryeon Noh / Germany Program: S.Prokofiev - Pianosonate No.4, F.Schubert - Klavierstück Es-Dur D 946 Nr. 2 Teacher/school: Prof. Jan Philip Schulze, Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover
Mahler's first public concert
"On 13-10-1870 there was, by way of an exception, an Abonnement suspendu, the reason being that a nine year-old boy, the son of a local Jewish tradesman named Mahler, was to be heard for the first time playing the piano before a large audience. The great success the future virtuoso achieved with his audience did him honour; one could only wish that for his excellent playing he had had an equally good instrument at his service. If the young artist's former teacher, Herr Kapellmeister Viktorin, hears of yesterday's success, he can certainly be pleased with his protege."
Our Absolute Winners
Rules
- The competition will be via videos published only on www.youtube.com.
- The competition is open for competitors of all nationalities up to the age of 32, the competition is divided into 11 age categories.
- The competition is a one-round competition, and the condition of the competition is to play from memory.
- The repertoire is free and should consist of one or more pieces which has to fulfill the time limit.
- The video must be a real recording without editing, shot in one static shot, with the camera slightly away from the competitor. Must be visible on the competitor's hands and body at all times.
- The video recording not more than 6 months old must be placed on www.youtube.com, the competitor will include in the application the exact internet link to the video recording.
- Each piece/composition can have a separate link.
- The full names of the pieces, the composer and the competitor, must be included in the video title or description (in English)
- The video must be public and accessible for the duration of the competition and for the next 6 months after the end of the competition.. The competitor will not seek a financial reward for posting the video and gives consent to post the video on the organiser's web site to announce the results.
- The organiser reserves the right not to open a category for organisational reasons or not to accept an application or to shorten the competition deadline for the competition for capacity reasons.
- The competition deadline: 31.5.2025.
- Announcement of results: 30.6.2025.
- Failure to comply with the above conditions, as well as an apparent reading of the notes during the game, may result in the competitor being eliminated from the competition.
- Application shall be submitted exclusively electronically by completing an online form at www.mahler.institute (at the end of this page) and paying a registration fee.
Age categories
Awards
Prizes totalling €5000 will be awarded.
Gustav Mahler Prize - Grand Prix - Personalized Glass Trophy, Prize Money 30,000 CZK, Diploma - the Absolute Winner
Concerts in Prague and Jihlava
Prize of Gustav Mahler Philharmonic Jihlava
Prize of Chief Conductor of the Gustav Mahler Philharmonic Jihlava
Prize of Jury president
Prize of Director of Gustav Mahler Institute Prague
Prize for the best Czech competitor
Prizes for the interpretation of a compositions
Video lesson vouchers
Each competitor receives a diploma (by email) and the evaluation of the performance
Jury
President:
Univ. Prof. Libor Novacek BMus MMus
Solo pianist, Professor of Piano, Prague Conservatoire, Czech Republic
Members:
Doc. Mgr. Renata Lichnovská
pianist, pedagogue of The Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts Brno, Czech Republic
Mgr. Jiří Jakeš
Principal conductor of Gustav Mahler Philharmonic Jihlava, Czech Republic
- The jury will assess the competitive performance of the competitors, determine the order of the competitors in each category, determine the absolute winner of the competition, determine the award holder.
- The jury's deliberations are not public, the jury does not publish evaluations.
- The jury's decision is final, indisputable and there is no appeal.
Application Procedure
Application shall be submitted exclusively electronically by completing an online form at www.mahler.institute (at the end of this page) and paying a registration fee. A proof of payment of the fee shall accompany the application. Applications may be submitted no later than May 31, 2025. You will receive a final confirmation of your participation in the competition after you have submitted your application and credited the payment of the registration fee to our bank account (it takes a few days). Please wait for the confirmation email. If you don't receive the email within a few days, send us a notification.
Registration fee:
category 1 - 6: € 45
category 7 - 9: € 75
category 10 - 11: € 90
The bank fee is paid by the sender of the payment.
To pay the registration fee, use our bank account::
IBAN: CZ4820100000002601525645
BIC/SWIFT: FIOBCZPPXXX
Owner: Institut Gustava Mahlera, z.s.
address: Fio banka, a.s., Millennium Plaza, V Celnici 10, 117 21 Prague, Czech Republic
Fee can be paid via payPal (please use our email for Paypal: manager@f-gm.cz or QR).
Application form
Please, fill in in English only!