Results of the 21st International Carl von Ossietzky Composition Competition 2021/22:
Prize winners

The Carl von Ossietzky Composition Prize was announced this year for the 21st time by the Institute of Music at the University of Oldenburg. The ensembles for which the competition is organised change from year to year. In this way, a continuously growing repertoire of compositions with a focus on a medium level of difficulty is created, which brings together pupils, students and amateurs from different styles to play together. The 21st Carl von Ossietzky Composition Prize was advertised for compositions for 1-4 pianos with experimental playing forms and techniques. Works from 5 countries were submitted.

The jury reviewed the very demanding and artistically diverse submissions and decided to honour the following compositions:

1st prize - 1,000 euros goes to Jens Klimek, Magdeburg, for "Discoveries and Inquiries"

2nd prize - 700 euros goes to Christoph Renhard, Lieboch/Austria, "Four stars and one dark nebula"

3rd prize - 500 euros goes to Volker Ignaz Schmidt, Heimsheim, for puls I, "on the edge"

The sponsorship award - 500 euros goes to Niklas A. Chroust, Vienna, for "Blicke in den Himmel" (Views into the sky)

The following works also received an award:

"Timbre" by Günter Berger, Dötlingen

"Utopia V" by Christian Dimpker, Berlin

"Bathypelagio" by Valerio Sannicandro, Paris

Furthermore, the following entries will be included in the repertoire of the Carl von Ossietzky Composition Competition due to their high compositional quality:

"...dots and loops..." "by Otto Wanke, Vienna

"Halm" by Jakob Böttcher, Berlin

The award ceremony and the performance of selected compositions are expected to take place in June/July 2023 in the auditorium of the University of Oldenburg. The exact date will be announced.

Next year, the Carl von Ossietzky Composition Competition will be announced for the "musik_szene_theater" category.

Submission deadline extended to 1 June 2022

With the announcement of the 21st International Composition Competition 2021/22, the
Institute of Music at the University of Oldenburg aims to expand the repertoire of contemporary music of moderate difficulty.
For 2021, the Institute of Music is organising the competition for compositions for piano(s) played experimentally and/or electronically. The instruments may be conventional upright or grand pianos, with up to four instruments, the sound spectrum of which is expanded through the use of microphones, electronic amplification and/or preparations. Conventional and experimental playing techniques may and should be combined as required! The Institute has extensive experience with piano preparations (from John Cage to the present day) and is well-equipped with studio technology.
The submitted works should be easy to read and perform for trained amateurs or interested piano students, so that they can become familiar with the repertoire of experimental playing techniques on the keyboard instrument and experience them as extensions of the sound spectrum. The performance should last no longer than 10 minutes.
It is possible to submit several works. The compositions should not yet have been published by a publisher nor premiered. There is no age limit.
The thematic focus of the works is open.
Please submit two copies of each work, accompanied by a commentary, in anonymous form, along with a sealed envelope containing the sender’s name and address and a brief CV. Entries may only be submitted by post.

Submission deadline extended to 1 June 2022 – the deadline for entries is 1 March 2022 (postmark) to:
University of Oldenburg
School III, Institute of Music

Carl von Ossietzky Composition Competition
For the attention of Christiane Abt
PO Box 5634
D-26046 Oldenburg, Germany

The jury will award three main prizes (1st prize: 1,000 euros, 2nd prize: 700 euros, 3rd prize:
500 euros) and an encouragement prize (500 euros) for young composers (aged 25 and under – please mark submissions with an ‘F’ on the envelope!), as well as honourable mentions and repertoire prizes.
Performances of selected works, under the artistic direction of Christiane Abt and Werner Barho, are expected to take place at the end of the summer semester 2022 in the auditorium of the University of Oldenburg.

Jury:
Christiane Abt, pianist and artistic collaborator

Werner Barho, pianist

Krystoffer Dreps, composer
Christoph Keller, composer

Olga Riazantceva-Schwarz, composer and pianist
Rida Murtada, conductor of the University of Oldenburg Symphony Orchestra

Volker Schindel, artistic assistant for music, set design and theatre

Music subjects students

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With the announcement of the 21st International Composition Competition 2021/22, the Institute of Music at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg aims to expand the repertoire of contemporary music of medium difficulty.

For 2021, the Institute of Music is announcing a competition for compositions for piano(s) played experimentally and/or electronically. This may involve conventional piano(s) (upright) or grand piano(s) and up to four instruments, the sound spectrum of which will be expanded through miking, electrification and preparations. Conventional and experimental playing styles may and should be combined as required! The Institute has extensive experience with piano preparations (from John Cage to the present day) and is well equipped in terms of studio technology.

The submitted works should be easy to read and perform by trained amateurs or interested piano students, in order to familiarise them with the repertoire of experimental playing styles on the keyboard instrument and to enable them to experience these as extensions of the sound spectrum. The performance should last no more than 10 minutes.

It is possible to submit several works. The compositions must not have been previously published or premiered. There is no age limit. The content of the works is open to the composer’s discretion. Works, accompanied by a commentary, must be submitted anonymously in duplicate, together with a sealed envelope containing the sender’s name and address and a brief curriculum vitae. Submissions may only be made by email.

NEW DEADLINE for submission is 1 June 2022 (postmark) – Deadline for submission is 1 March 2022 (postmark) to:

Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Faculty III, Institute of Music, PO Box 2503,

Carl von Ossietzky Composition Competition

for the attention of Christiane Abt

D-26111 Oldenburg, Germany

Jury:

Christiane Abt, pianist and artistic collaborator

Werner Barho, pianist

Krystoffer Dreps, composer

Christoph Keller, composer

Olga Riazantceva-Schwarz, composer and pianist

Rida Murtada, conductor of the University of Oldenburg Symphony Orchestra

Volker Schindel, artistic collaborator for music, set design and theatre

Music students