The Carl von Ossietzky Composition Prize is celebrating a small anniversary this year: this is the tenth time that the University of Oldenburg's Institute of Music has awarded the prize, which was established in memory of Carl von Ossietzky. Never before in the history of the competition, which was organised this year for works for guitar ensemble, have so many participants (99) from so many countries taken part (27!). Not only were almost all European countries represented among the entries, but also countries from other continents, such as Canada, USA, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Australia, Japan and Malaysia. The jury, consisting of Violeta Dinescu , Axel Weidenfeld, Christoph Keller, Siegrid Ernst, and Roberto Reale, has decided to split this year's main prize: the Carl von Ossietzky Composition Prize, endowed with 800 euros, will be shared equally between Beatrice Barazzoni from Italy for her composition "Air" and Peter Moran from Ireland for "Bommy". In addition, 10 other compositions will be honoured: Mariano Rocca (Argentina), Simon Barber (Germany), Maxim Seloujanov (Germany), Roberto Victorino (Brazil), Dylan Curran (USA), Carlo Thomsen (Germany), Pèter Köszeghy, (Germany ), Paul Mitchell-Davidson (England), Pedro Nuno Marreiros Louzeiro (Portugal), Bertissolo, Guilherme (Brazil). 9 further works will be included in the repertoire by the guitar ensemble of the Carl von Ossietzky University (repertoire award). These include compositions by Takahiro Sahuma (Japan), Chaz Underriner (USA), Jordan Nobles (Canada), Rami Chahin (Germany/Syria), David Pocknee (Netherlands), Jean Francois De Guise (Germany/France), Lewis Krauthamer (France), Tazul Tajuddin (Malaysia), Kosuke Hashizume (Belgium). The compositions by Yashima Tamon (Germany) and Ole Hübner (Germany) receive an honourable mention for young composers and Lars Opfermann (Germany), born in 1989, receives the Young Composer Award.

Next year, the Carl von Ossietzky Composition Prize will be awarded for works for percussion ensemble, and the organisers are looking forward to receiving numerous entries and hope for a similarly strong response.