Trio finalists announced for Franz Schubert and Modern Music competition

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The 12th Franz Schubert and Modern Music International Chamber Music Competition is currently underway at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Graz, Austria. The competition consists of three categories: trio for piano, violin and cello, duo for voice and piano (lied) and piano duo.

Following the semi-final rounds of the piano trio category on Monday 10 February, in which seven ensembles performed, four trios have been selected to progress to Wednesday’s final round. They are:

Astatine Trio

Bernstein Trio

Trio Brontë

Trio Goldmund

The ensembles will compete for the chance to win first prize of €13,500 plus individual career consulting and guidance. Second prize consists of €9,750, while third prize consists of €6,750.

A special prize of €1,500 will be awarded for the best interpretation of the prizewinning work of the International Piano Trio Composition Competition. One finalist ensemble across the three categories will receive a special prize comprising CD production and promotion, valued at €11,000.

The jury for the piano trio category is chaired by Chia Chou and comprises Vincent Coq, Ellen Margrete Flesjø, Thomas Hoppe, Anssi Karttunen, Minna Pensola, Isabelle van Keulen and Katharina Wincor.

The members of the extended jury, brought in for the finals, consists of personalities from the cultural sector. They are Annett Baumeister, cultural manager of the city of Staufen, Germany; Inna Davidova, director of the Herman Braun Foundation, Latvia; Birgit Hinterholzer, secretary general of Jeunesse - Musikalische Jugend Österreichs; and Ulf Werner, programme and orchestra director at the Konzerthaus Berlin.

A gala concert will be held on 15 February at the Stefaniensaal (Congress Graz) at 7:30pm, featuring performances from the prizewinners.

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