Number of prizes doubled

In view of the enormous number of entries, the prizes for the Carl von Ossietzky Composition Competition will be doubled this year. The competition thus honours four composers for outstanding choral compositions and awards two main prizes and two prizes for young composers. Over fifty composers from 18 countries from Canada to Romania, Syria to Taiwan took part.

Not only the number, but also the quality of the compositions submitted is above average. The spectrum ranges from solid a cappella movements to spoken recitals with ensemble accompaniment, jazz vocalises and choirs in the audience. The voices are often based on texts by Carl von Ossietzky, and in one case a previously unpublished poem by Ossietzky has even been set to music. The jury will endeavour to offer selected entries, including those that have not won prizes, to regional and national choirs for performance.

The winners of the competition have already been informed in writing. The main prize was won by Alina-Maria Dumbrava from Bucharest ("Nie wieder Krieg" for choir, piccolo flute, saxophone, double bass and percussion) and Rainer Rubbert from Berlin ("Fremde sind wir auf der Erde alle" for soloists, two choirs and double bass ad lib.), the newcomer prize went to Katharina Wetzel from Crivitz ("friedensfänger" for choir a cappella) and Benjamin Scheuer from Henstedt-Ulzburg ("Nobel. In memory of Carl von Ossietzky" for narrator, choir, trumpet, violin, percussion and piano).

The composition competition was launched in 1996 by uniChor director Manfred Klinkebiel and is now supervised by composer Prof. Violeta Dinescu. The jury also includes the composer Christoph Keller, Jörg Siepermann, Julia Kruska, Katharina Melloch and Roman Kehle. The work by Alina-Maria Dumbrava will be premiered by the uniChor, date to be announced.