The International Joseph Haydn Chamber Music Competition 2023 will see young string quartets and piano trios from all over the world converge on Vienna to compete artistically for the eighth time. The competition, held since 2001, has by now developed into one of the young international  chamber music scene’s largest and most important  such events.Alongside its reputation, considerable cash prizes, provided by respected institutions, friends and partners of the mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna itself, provide the incentive for the best young ensembles to step up and compete with their colleagues.

The focus, of course, is on the competition’s namesake himself: Joseph Haydn, the pioneer of Viennese Classicism and “father” of chamber music. Playing Haydn’s music skillfully  and in a way that does it appropriate justice is one of the biggest challenges for young professional ensembles. But alongside Haydn’s chamber music oeuvre, the competition also places a deliberate and special emphasis on Viennese Classicist chamber music works in general, as well as on works of the Second Viennese School. In each of these categories, importance is accorded to stylistically appropriate musical interpretation and the building of bridges between the two eras in question. A further  area of emphasis is the promotion  of contemporary classical music. This aspect is served especially by the composing competition held in cooperation with the Department of Music Composition and Electro-acoustics, the winning works of which are made part of the competition’s compulsory repertoire.

String quartets and piano trios of all nationalities are welcome to apply to the International Joseph Haydn Chamber Music Competition 2023.
Application Deadline: 1.9.2022
Age limit – born on or after 1 January 1987.