Young pianists shine at the International Bach Competition in Dresden!

Young pianists shine at the International Bach Competition in Dresden!

The 6th International Piano Competition of Encounters took place in the C. Bechstein Center Dresden on November 8th and 9th, 2025, an event that was all about Johann Sebastian Bach. The occasion of the competition was the 340th anniversary of Bach's birthday and the 275th anniversary of his death. The Free Music Association Paukenschlag e.V. had invited to encourage young talents to engage with the master's work. Among the participants were two particularly talented pianists from the Altenburger Land music school: 13-year-old Karl Seyffarth and 17-year-old Johannes Rudolph. Both presented themselves extremely successfully and took excellent places in their age groups.

Karl Seyffarth competed in the 12 to 14 year old age group and won first prize, while his colleague Johannes Rudolph, who was five years older, won second prize in the 15 to 17 year old category. Headmistress Gabriele Herrmann warmly congratulated the two students, as well as their teachers Christiane Treibmann and Ulrike Hinkelmann. These successes not only celebrate the achievements of the young pianists, but also the excellent training at the Altenburger Land Music School, which places great value on technical precision and musical sensitivity. In the words of the organizers: “Bach's influence on piano music is crucial, and this competition aims to encourage creative interpretations of his pieces.”

Diverse participation and strict guidelines

The competition is aimed specifically at students and young people in non-professional piano training. A large number of young talents from different nations took part, making the competition an exciting platform for musical exchange. The categories are divided generously: the youngest participants in the “Student” category are up to 8 years old, while the “Professional” category is open to young pianists aged 18 and over. Particular emphasis was placed on ensuring that special schools and highly gifted pianists were excluded from participation in order to ensure fair competition.

The length of the game varied depending on the age group. The youngest participants had to play a maximum of five minutes in total, while the professionals were given up to 25 minutes to impressively showcase Bach's works. A clear rule was that only original sheet music could be used to ensure the quality of the performances.

A harmonious musical event with charisma

The event was rounded off by the awards ceremony, which took place on November 9, 2025 at 3:30 p.m. In addition to certificates, the participants also received non-cash prizes, and the best among them could also win the Grand Prix: up to 300 euros for the professional category and up to 150 euros for students in the upper age groups. A tasty offer for everyone who took part with a lot of commitment.

In addition, the successes of the two pianists fit seamlessly into a larger artistic event. From November 2nd to 11th, 2025, the Bach Museum in Leipzig hosted various events celebrating Bach's work, including guided tours and thematic events that immersed visitors deeply into the composer's world. On the public day, people were able to learn more about Bach's legacy as part of an open discussion.

The competition and the accompanying events show how alive and relevant Bach's legacy is for the young generation. It will be exciting to see what talents will emerge from this!