7th Leonard Bernstein Institute-competition
for students of concert wind and percussion instruments at the mdw,
institute-internal selection audition
The competition is open to:
All students of the Leonard Bernstein Institute (LBI), including HBK, HBL, VBL and postgraduate students, in three competition categories (A, B and C).
Competition Categories
A: Students enrolled in HBK, HBL, VBL programmes and the first stage of their degree studies.
B: Students in the second stage of their degree studies and postgraduate programmes.
C: Free Improvisation (open to all ages and study levels).
Programme – Categories A and B
A separate programme of freely chosen repertoire, lasting 10–15 minutes, must be prepared for each round. The level of difficulty must be appropriate to the respective category, and the programme must be agreed upon with the student's principal instrument teacher (zkF).
Important – First Round: Only solo repertoire (études, orchestral excerpts and solo pieces), optionally combined with electronic media, is permitted. Individual movements and audition excerpts are allowed.
Final: The programme may be freely chosen and must also last 10–15 minutes. If the maximum performance time is exceeded, the jury reserves the right to interrupt the performance.
Please announce the programme details (composer, title of work, movement, instrumentation, etc.) immediately before your performance.
First Round
The first round will take place between 11 and 29 January 2027 within the respective instrumental departments. The exact dates will be announced by the departments in due course. At least one student per category should participate from each class.
The jury will consist of teachers from the respective instrumental department. Teachers from other departments may also be invited.
For each instrument, one winner from Category A and one winner from Category B will qualify for the final (two candidates per instrument in total).
The results of the first round must be submitted to the Concert and Event Management Office (KBB) by 29 January 2027 at the latest.
Special Prize for Clarinet – Rudolf Jettel Prize
Clarinet students may compete for the Rudolf Jettel Prize, established on the initiative of Mag. Kurt Schmid.
To be eligible, candidates must perform one of the following works:
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Rudolf Jettel: Trois Caprices, 3rd movement, “Vivace”, for clarinet and piano
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Rudolf Jettel: Fünf Grotesken, No. 5, “Allegro molto”
Category C – Free Improvisation
Open to all instruments, ages and study levels.
The performance duration is 5–10 minutes. The jury will assess the performances based on criteria including intensity, authenticity/originality and musical expression.
Qualification for the final will be determined in a separate preliminary round by a specialist jury, independently of the results in Categories A or B.
Depending on the number of registrations, up to three candidates may qualify for the final.
Final Round
In the final, the qualifying candidates will compete within their respective instrumental groups:
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Woodwind vs. Woodwind
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Brass vs. Brass
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Percussion vs. Percussion
The final round will take place regardless of age or study level.
A mixed jury consisting of teachers from other mdw institutes and/or external professional musicians (excluding the candidates' own principal instrument teachers) will decide on the awards.
Prizes
Nominations for scholarships, opportunities to perform in public concerts, and vouchers provided by sponsors.
All prizewinners will receive a certificate.
ONLINE REGISTRATION
Register here: ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM
Results of the 6th LBI Competition
We warmly congratulate all prizewinners of the 6th LBI Competition 2026:
Woodwinds
Category A:
1st Prize: Yermolenko Dmytrii / saxophone — 18.4
2nd Prize: Tobias Gasché / oboe — 17.5
3rd Prize: Stepanek Emil / clarinet — 17.4
Category B:
1st Prize: Clemens Girstmair / saxophone — 18.7
2nd Prize: Pau Coso Caballero / flute — 17.7
Rudolf Jettel Clarinet Award:
1. Preis: Elias Auzinger & Emil Stepanek
2. Bernadett Pöll
3. Katharina Hörtnagl & Dayeon Uhm
Brass
Category A:
1st Prize: Hubert Trockenbacher / trombone & Filip Senoner / tuba — 18
2nd Prize: Niko Božek / tuba — 15.7
3rd Prize: Christian Saurwein / trumpet — 15.4
Category B:
1st Prize: Jakob Ettlinger / trombone — 18.2
Category C (Improvisation):
1st Prize: Ema Šunjić / clarinet — 19
2nd Prize: Jakub Piaskowski / saxophone & Sebastian Lercher / horn, Laura Knöler / oboe and Finia Bogner / violin — 18
You can rewatch the finals of the 6th LBI Competition here:
April 29, 2026: https://vimeo.com/event/5754027
The Jury of the final round on April 29, 2026:
Barbara Gisler, flute
Rupert Fankhauser, clarinet
Achille Dallabona, bassoon
Marion Janda, bassoon
Martina Stückler, saxophone
Christian Poitinger, trombone
David Panzl, percussion
For the category Improvisation on April 30, 2026::
Claudia Cervenca
Edward Reardon
Samuel Gryllus
We would like to thank
our prize donors 2026:
Wiener Flötenwerkstatt
Werner Tomasi Ges.m.b.H.
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VOTRUBA Musik
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Bernhart Musikinstrumente
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Schagerl Musikinstrumente
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Tonkünstler Orchester
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Yamaha
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***Thank you***Thank you***Thank you***Thank you***
Past Competitions
First-place winners in the 5th LBI Competition 2025
Woodwinds:
Jakub Józef Piaskowski (Category A)
Yoo Jungmin (Category B)
Silvia Macejova (Category C)
Brass Instruments:
Tobias Achleitner (Category A)
Simon Sajadi (Category B)
Andreas Schönthaler (Category C)
Percussion:
Minji Hong (Category A)
Taikan Yamasaki (Category B)
* * *
First-place winners in the 4th LBI Competition 2024
Woodwind Instruments:
Lena Sakura Scheurich (Category A)
Paul Moosbrugger (Category B)
Danijel Živojinović (Category C)
Brass Instruments:
David Hofbauer (Category A)
Christoph Propst (Category B)
Jonathan Helm (Category C)
Percussion Instruments:
Hiroshi Oyama (Category A)
* * *
First-place winners in the 3rd LBI Competition 2023
Delivicheva, Avigea Louisa, flute, Category A
Macejova, Silvia, saxophone, Category A
Helm, Jonathan, trombone, Category C
* * *
First-place winners in the 2nd LBI Competition 2022
1st place in Category A:
Katharina Paul (horn)
1st place in Category B:
Iosua Dascal-Uifalean (percussion)
1st place in Category C:
Hiroki Tokiwa (percussion)
* * *
First-place winners in the 2021 Competition
Category C: Nicole Henter (flute)
Category B: Martín Castro Tubío (saxophone)
Category A: Florian Strasser (trombone)
First-place winners in the 4th LBI Competition 2024
Woodwind Instruments:
Lena Sakura Scheurich (Category A)
Paul Moosbrugger (Category B)
Danijel Živojinović (Category C)
Brass Instruments:
David Hofbauer (Category A)
Christoph Propst (Category B)
Jonathan Helm (Category C)
Percussion Instruments:
Hiroshi Oyama (Category A)
* * *
First-place winners in the 3rd LBI Competition 2023
Delivicheva, Avigea Louisa, flute, Category A
Macejova, Silvia, saxophone, Category A
Helm, Jonathan, trombone, Category C
* * *
First-place winners in the 2nd LBI Competition 2022
1st place in Category A:
Katharina Paul (horn)
1st place in Category B:
Iosua Dascal-Uifalean (percussion)
1st place in Category C:
Hiroki Tokiwa (percussion)
* * *
First-place winners in the 2021 Competition
Category C: Nicole Henter (flute)
Category B: Martín Castro Tubío (saxophone)
Category A: Florian Strasser (trombone)