Carl von Ossietzky – Composition Prize
22nd International Competition focusing on ‘music_scene_theatre’

The competition sought compositions at the intersection of music and performance, sound and action, and music and theatre, for example in the form of musical theatre miniatures, musical performances, expanded music or other similar forms of expression.

The deadline for submitting compositions was 31 December 2024.

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NEWS: Winners’ Concert featuring four world premieres on Saturday 29 November 25 at 6.00 pm in the Aula and KMS at the University of Oldenburg.

Press release from the University of Oldenburg dated 19 November 2025

The pieces awarded prizes by the jury at the 22nd Carl von Ossietzky Composition Competition, with the theme ‘musik_szene_theater’, are ‘Im Frühling 2022’ (1st prize) and ‘Fusion’ (3rd prize) by the young composer Yuanbin Cao (Stuttgart), as well as “the h/ours of the night” (Encouragement Prize for Young Composers) and the piece “schuld?” by Niklas A. Chroust (Vienna) will be premiered at the upcoming prize-winners’ concert on 29 November 2025 at 6.00 pm in the auditorium of the University of Oldenburg, under the artistic direction of Volker Schindel and colleagues, performed by students and guest musicians.

The concert was accompanied by a sound installation:
Music for “Between Eyes and Ears”, realised by Unerhört Bremerhaven and pgnm Bremen.

Review dated 2 December 2025 in the NWZ see HERE.

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The jury reviewed the ambitious and artistically diverse entries in an anonymous process and decided to award prizes to the following compositions (see the PRESS RELEASE):

1st prize ( 1,000 euros) for ‘Im Frühling 2022’ by Yuanbin Cao, Stuttgart

2nd Prize (700 euros) for “Forgetting and Being” by Niklas A. Chroust, Vienna

3rd Prize (500 euros) for “Fusion” by Yuanbin Cao, Stuttgart

Encouragement Prize ( 500 euros) for “the h/ours of the night” by Niklas A. Chroust, Vienna

Four further compositions will be included in the composition competition’s repertoire due to their high quality in terms of compositional concept and practical feasibility:

“The singing valley” by Steffi Weismann, Berlin

‘schuld?’ by Niklas A. Chroust, Vienna

“nochmal normal” by Benedikt Bindewald, Berlin

“Contact” by Yuanbin Cao, Stuttgart

On the day of the jury’s selection meeting, on Sunday 9 February 2025 at 7.00 pm, the production Plans for Future Operas by the Norwegian composer and author Øyvind Torvund was selected as part of the concert series NOIeS! organised by klangpol at the EXHALLE of the Oldenburg State Theatre. Further information HERE.

With the launch of the 22nd International Composition Competition 2024/25, the Institute of Music at the University of Oldenburg aims to expand the repertoire of contemporary music and experimental music theatre of moderate difficulty.

For the current round, the Institute of Music is inviting entries for compositions that explore the intersection of music and performance, sound and action, and music and theatre – for example, in the form of musical theatre miniatures, musical performances, expanded music or other similar forms of performance.

The submitted works should be easy to read and perform by trained amateurs or interested music students (instruments, singing/speaking voice, action/performance, dance, etc.). The exact instrumentation is open, though chamber music-style ensembles (approx. 1–10 performers) are preferred.

Submitted works should be of medium difficulty and should not exceed a performance duration of 20 minutes; they must not have been previously published or performed. There is no age limit for participation in the competition.
Compositions by teams (composition, direction, etc.) are also permitted. The thematic focus of the works is open.

Please submit two anonymous copies of the works, accompanied by a commentary, along with a sealed envelope containing the sender’s name and address and a brief CV. Entries must be sent by post only.

The closing date for entries was 31 December 2024 (postmark) to:
University of Oldenburg
School III, Institute of Music – Composition Competition
Volker Schindel (Music, Stage, Theatre)
Ammerländer Heerstr. 114–118
D-26129 Oldenburg

The jury will award three main prizes (1st prize: €1,000, 2nd prize: €700, 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 Volker Schindel and colleagues, are expected to take place at the end of the summer semester or at the end of 2025 in the University’s auditorium or, where appropriate, in the EXHALLE of the Oldenburg State Theatre as part of the klangpolconcert series “NOIeS!”.

The jury:
Prof. Dr Gordon Kampe – composer
Christoph Keller – pianist and composer
Vendula Nováková – music theatre director and curator
Felix Schauren – conductor and music educator

Christiane Abt – piano, contemporary music, music theatre
Krystoffer Dreps – composer and composer-performer
Olga Riazantceva-Schwarz – pianist and composer
Volker Schindel – MA in ‘Music, Performance and Theatre’, director and performer
Jonas Schmitt, Ernestine Eickstädt – music students at the University of Oldenburg

22nd Composition Competition

Carl von Ossietzky Composition Prize

22nd international competition focusing on “music_scene_theatre”

We are seeking compositions that explore the intersection of music and performance, sound and action, and music and theatre – for example, in the form of music theatre miniatures, musical performances, expanded music or other such performance formats.

The deadline for submitting compositions was 31 December 2024.

+++ UPDATE: The jury has reached its decision; see the PRESS RELEASE from the University of Oldenburg dated 27 February 2025 +++

The jury reviewed the challenging and artistically diverse entries in an anonymous process and decided to award prizes to the following compositions:

1st prize (1,000 euros) for ‘Im Frühling 2022’ by Yuanbin Cao, Stuttgart

2nd prize (700 euros) for ‘Vergessen und Sein’ by Niklas A. Chroust, Vienna

3rd prize (500 euros) for ‘Fusion’ by Yuanbin Cao, Stuttgart

Sponsorship prize (500 euros) for ‘the h/ours of the night’ by Niklas A. Chroust, Vienna

Four further compositions will be included in the repertoire of the composition competition due to their high quality in terms of the compositional idea and its practical realisation:

‘The singing valley’ by Steffi Weismann, Berlin

‘schuld?’ by Niklas A. Chroust, Vienna

‘nochmal normal’ by Benedikt Bindewald, Berlin

‘Contact’ by Yuanbin Cao, Stuttgart

The production Plans for Future Operas by Norwegian composer and author Øyvind Torvund was presented by klangpol as part of the NOIeS! concert series in the EXHALLE at the Oldenburg State Theatre on the day of the jury’s selection meeting on Sunday 9 February 2025 at 7.00 pm. More information HERE.

With the announcement of the 22nd International Composition Competition 2024/25, the Institute of Music at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg aims to expand the repertoire of contemporary music and experimental music theatre of medium difficulty.

For the current round, the Institute of Music is organising a competition for compositions that explore the intersection of music and the stage, sound and action, and music and theatre – for example, in the form of music theatre miniatures, musical performances, expanded music or other similar performance formats.

The submitted works should be easy to read and perform by trained amateurs or interested music students (instruments, singing/speaking voice, action/performance, dance, etc.). The exact instrumentation is open, but chamber music ensembles (approx. 1–10 performers) should be favoured.

The submitted works should not exceed a medium level of difficulty or a performance time of 20 minutes, and must not have been published or performed previously. There is no age limit for participation in the competition.

Compositions by teams (composition, conducting, etc.) are also permitted. The content of the works is open.

Entries, accompanied by a commentary on the work, must be submitted anonymously in duplicate, together with a sealed envelope containing the sender’s name and address and a short CV. Entries may only be sent by post.

The closing date was 31 December 2024 (postmark) to:

Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg
Faculty III, Institute for Music – Composition Competition
Volker Schindel (Music, Stage, Theatre)
Ammerländer Heerstr. 114–118
D-26129 Oldenburg
GERMANY

The jury will award three main prizes (1st prize: 1,000 euros, 2nd prize: 700 euros, 3rd prize:

500 euros) and a sponsorship prize (500 euros) for young composers* (aged 25 or under – please mark submissions with ‘F’ on the envelope!), as well as awards and repertoire prizes.

Performances of selected works, under the artistic direction of Volker Schindel and colleagues, are expected to take place at the end of the summer term or at the end of 2025 in the university auditorium or, where applicable, in the EXHALLE of the Oldenburg State Theatre as part of the klangpol concert series "NOIeS!".

The jury:
Prof Dr Gordon Kampe – composer
Christoph Keller – pianist and composer
Vendula Nováková – music theatre director and curator
Felix Schauren – conductor and music educator

Christiane Abt – piano, new music, music theatre
Krystoffer Dreps – composer and composer-performer
Olga Riazantceva-Schwarz – pianist and composer
Volker Schindel – KM “Music, Scene, Theatre”, director and performer
Jonas Schmitt, Ernestine Eickstädt – Music students at the University of Oldenburg