DMR and BMR calls for adequate funding of the ARD International Music Competition

The 73rd ARD International Music Competition came to a successful conclusion on 20 September in Munich with the final prizewinners' concert and award ceremony. From next year, however, serious changes are in store, as the ARD broadcasters will in future - and initially for a limited period until 2029 - only finance the renowned competition with a basic amount of 50% of the previous funding. This means drastic cost-cutting measures and an intensive search for additional funding partnerships.

Antje Valentin, Secretary General of the German Music Council, commented: ‘The inspiring standard of the ARD Music Competition was impressively demonstrated at the prizewinners’ concerts last week. The competition is one of the most important international events and meeting places for top young musicians. However, this excellence is in jeopardy with ARD's announcement that funding will be halved starting from 2025. One of the first harsh consequences that the competition organisers must now draw from the cost-cutting measures is the reduction of four competition categories, which are rotated on a regular basis, to three. The German Music Council is calling on the directors of ARD to back this competition more resolutely and to get involved in the question of how the competition could be adequately financed. After all, this is also and above all about the effective and sustainable promotion of young top musicians at the beginning of their careers.’

Bavarian Music Council (BMR) President Dr Helmut Kaltenhauser emphasises the need for financial support from all broadcasters to ensure the continuation of this important competition.

BMR President Dr Helmut Kaltenhauser commented: ‘We congratulate the young musicians on their successes! However, the high musical quality of the competition can only be maintained if it is adequately funded. Together with the other state music councils, we already emphasised at last year's ARD competition that this is part of the cultural mandate of public broadcasting. In order to secure the future of this unique top competition, we are calling for it to be adequately supported by all broadcasters. Because, as the Alinde Quintett, winner of the wind quintet category, aptly put it: ‘For all of us, this is the biggest competition of all.’

In 2024, 726 applicants from 58 nations took part in the ARD Music Competition in the wind quintet, voice, oboe and cello categories - a new record. In recent decades, the competition has provided numerous musicians with a springboard for their solo careers: prizewinners include Jessye Norman, Christoph Eschenbach, Christian Tetzlaff, Sharon Kam and Sol Gabetta.