Final Concert

From October 18 to 23, Cologne will once again host the international competition Deutscher Dirigentenpreis, or German Conductors’ Award. It is organized by the German Music Council in partnership with the Cologne Philharmonie, the Cologne Opera, the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne and the WDR Symphony Orchestra. Both the opera and concert genres are the focus of the award, which thereby encourages its candidates to work across genres. The competition offers its candidates two outstanding ensembles, the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne and the WDR Symphony Orchestra, an excellent ensemble of singers from the Cologne Opera, and a first-rate concert hall, the Philharmonie. Its cash prizes and further incentives make the German Conductors’ Award one of the most lucrative awards for conductors in Europe.

Twelve candidates have qualified for this year’s competition, held from October 18 to 23, 2021: Hangyul Chung (South Korea), Martijn Dendievel (Belgium), Barbara Dragan (Poland), Valentin Egel (Germany), Aivis Greters (Latvia), Oren Gross-Thaler (Israel), Paul Marsovszky (Germany), Abner Padrino (Venezuela), Yifan Sun (China), José Ángel Salazar-Marín (Venezuela), Gabriel Venzago (Germany) and Hankyeol Yoon (South Korea).

The following prizes will be awarded: First Prize: 15.000 € sponsored by the City of Cologne and others, Second Prize: 10.000 €, Third Prize: 5.000 € and Audience Prize: 1.000 €. Concerts, assistant positions and productions with numerous orchestra and opera houses are also associated with the various prizes.