6th Leonard Bernstein Institute-competition

for students of concert wind and percussion instruments at the mdw,
institute-internal selection audition

 

Competition is open for:

all students of LBI (also HBK, HBL, VBL, postgraduates)

There are 4 categories:

      A: students of HBK, HBL, VBL as well as those in the 1st study cycle
      B: students of the 2nd study cycle and postgr. programs
      D: Free Improvisation (regardless of age/age category)

Program:
A specific program must be prepared for each round, which is freely chosen and must last between 10 and 15 minutes. If the maximum playing time is exceeded, the jury reserves the right to interrupt the pieces. The program can include individual movements as well as audition excerpts (also on the respective auxiliary instrument) and must be appropriate in terms of difficulty relative to the chosen category, and agreed upon with the main subject instructor.

Round 1:
The first round takes place within each instrument group between January 12 and January 30, 2026. At least one student per category from each class should participate and present themselves solo. The jury consists of faculty members from the department, and the results must be submitted to the KBB by January 30, 2026, at the latest. For each instrument, one winner from categories A and B will advance to the final — thus two students per instrument in total.

Clarinet candidates have the opportunity to compete for the Rudolf Jettel Prize, initited by Mag. Kurt Schmid. To qualify, one of the following pieces must be performed:

a) Rudolf Jettel: Trois Caprices, 3rd movement - Vivace, for clarinet and piano (to be played without piano)

b) Rudolf Jettel: From Five Grotesques, No. 5 Allegro molto

Round 2 / Final: April 29 2026, Concert Hall of the Future Art Lab:

In the final round, the winners of the individual instrument groups will compete against each other:
woodwinds vs. woodwinds, brass vs. brass, percussion vs. percussion — regardless of age category.

A mixed external jury, consisting of teachers from various mdw institutes or invited external artists, will decide on the winners of each category and instrument group

Free Improvisation:

Participation in the category Free Improvisation is open to all instruments and age groups.
Qualification for the final is independent of the results in categories A or B and will be determined in a separate preliminary round by a specialized jury.

To register for this category, please tick the box “Free Impro” on the application form.

The performance should last 3 to 5 minutes, and the evaluation will be based on criteria such as intensity, authenticity/originality, and musical expression.
Depending on the number of applicants, up to three candidates may advance to the final.

Jury:

Round 1: All faculty members of the instrument group, potentially other main subject instructors.
Round 2 / Final: An external mixed commission (no main subject instructors).

Improvisation:
Round 1: Faculty from the “Free Impro” department.
Round 2 / Final: In addition to the external jury for the classical qualification, experts in “Free Improvisation” will join the jury.

Prizes:
Nomination for scholarships, public concerts, and sponsor vouchers.

All prize winners will receive a certificate.

 

 

Application form for the 6th competition 2026

--> Registration deadline - Dezember 12th, 2025!
(send form to ostroverkhova@mdw.ac.at)

 

 

 

We would like to thank
our prize donors 2024:

 

 

 

BUFFET CRAMPON

***

 

 

Wiener Flötenwerkstatt
Werner Tomasi Ges.m.b.H.

***

 

 

Breslmair

***

 

 

Adams Musical Instruments

***

 

 

 

VOTRUBA Musik

***

 

 

Tonkünstler Orchester

***

 

Yamaha

***

 

K & K Musikinstrumente

***

 

Woodstock Academy

 

***

Musik Lechner

 

***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)