Announcement

 

The ninth „Daniel Herz“ competition will take place between the 29th of August and 06th of September 2026 on the Pirchner organ in the cathedral and the Herz/Ahrend organ in the „Frauenkirche“ of Brixen/Bressanone.

Organists of all nations can participate, who are not born before 31.12.1986.The competition will consist of one preselectional recording, one elimination round in two parts and a final audition.

Prizes are as follows:
   EUR 5,000 first prize
   EUR 3,000 second prize
   EUR 2,000 third prize

Moreover, the Committee will arrange some concerts for the winners, e.g.:
   Auer: „Aurer Orgelsommer“ (Schwarzenbach, 1599)    
   Brixen: „Brixner Orgelkonzerte“    
   Bozen: „Bozner Orgelsommer“    
   Badia: „Festival Badiamusica“ (Ahrend, 2013)    
   St. Pauls: “Pauls Sakral”    
   Sand in Taufers: „Musikultur Taufers“ (Metzler, 2008)    
   Vicenza: “Festival Organi storici del Vicentino- patrimonio da ascoltare“

The Jury will consist of:
   Andrea Marcon Italy (chair)    
   Anna Scholl  Germany
   Jörg Halubek Germany
   Franz Comploi Italy

Coordinator: Philipp Comploi
Organisation: Verband der Kirchenmusik Südtirol / Cusanus Academy, Bressanone

Participation rules / application

The application form must be send by mail within April 15th, 2026 to office@danielherz.it

 

The following items must be enclosed to the application:

• Name, Surname, Postal Address and Mobile Phone Number, 
• a copy of the identity card or passport
• a detailed artistic biography
• a live (uncut) recording (MP3) with the following program:
      1)  Johann Sebastian Bach: „Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein“, BWV 641
      2)  Johann Sebastian Bach: Präludium and Fugue in G major, BWV 550
      3)  one of the following works:
          a) Johann Gottfried Walther: Concerto del Signor Vivaldi in si minore appropriato all’organo
              Allegro – Adagio – Allegro
   
          b) Max Reger:  Trio Nr. 4 (Scherzo) + Nr. 5 (Siciliano) from 6 Trios op. 47
  
          c) Johannes Brahms         Praeludium and Fugue g minor, WoO 10
  
  (please name mp3 audio files as follows: „Composer_Surname_Name“ e.g. „Bach_Daniel_Herz“)
  
  
• a written and signed declaration that the enclosed recording is authentic; the date and place of recording should be clearly noted.

After the deadline for the registration, the jury will choose 20 participants from the registrated candidates. The selected participants pay a registration fee of Euro 80,00 after the confirmation of their participation. The registration will be considered valid as soon as the Organization has received the registration fee. Upon failure to attend the competition, there will be no refund of the registration fee.

Participants are responsible for travel and accommodation costs. (On request cheap accommodation can be arranged at the „Cusanus Academy“).

Other

The elimination round is devided in two recitals and will take place on the Pirchner organ in the cathedral and on the Herz/Ahrend organ in the “Frauenkirche”. The final exam will take place again in the cathedral of Brixen/Bressanone. They are open for the public.

Stop assistants will be provided by the Organizational Committee.The participants are going to play anonymously and the order of appearance will be determined by random drawing.

The decisions of the Jury are final and not subject to review or appeal.

At the conclusion of the competition the winners will give a gala concert (Sunday 06th September 2026 at 8 PM). The Organizational Committee has sole rights over possible audio or video recordings made during the contest.

All participants accept the present regulation.