1. Upload a video recording of the required repertoire for the preliminary selection to a video platform of your choice (YouTube or Vimeo). Please include details regarding the repertoire and duration of each piece in the video description. Music cuts, arrangements, or other technical manipulations of pitch or duration within completed movements are not permitted.
See below for the video repertoire

2. Complete the online registration form (see below), including the links to the video

3. In addition to the fully completed online registration form, the following documents must be sent digitally via email to feuermann@udk-berlin.de by April 30, 2027:

a) A copy of a valid ID card or passport
b) Confirmation/consent to participation from the teacher or an internationally recognized musician (signed and scanned)
c) Proof of payment for the registration fee (30 euros)

Only complete applications will be considered.

Changes to the repertoire are permitted until July 15 after admission to the competition.

Age limit: 29 years old (date of birth after October 30, 1997)

Application deadline: April 30, 2027, 11:59 p.m. (CET)

First Round/Video Round

Music cuts, edits, or other technical manipulations of pitch or duration within completed movements in the video recording submitted for the application are not permitted. Cuts between individual movements and between works are permitted. The video must not be older than six months at the time of registration. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in disqualification from the competition.
 

Decision on the Video Round

The preliminary jury’s decision regarding admission to the competition will be communicated in writing by July 1, 2027, at the latest. The decisions are final. Subsequently, all admitted participants will receive a copy of the commissioned work by mail.

Order of Performance

The order of performance in the Second Round (live round) on September 27 and 28, 2027, will be determined by lottery. The competition organizers will decide the order of the participants in the final round.

With the exception of the commissioned work and the sonatas with piano, all works must be performed from memory, including in the video recording submitted with the application. The final round will take place with a conductor.

All rounds of the competition are open to the public. The competition organizers aim to livestream both the live round in Berlin and the finals.

The jury reserves the right to shorten the program during the competition round. All prize winners agree to be present at the awards ceremony and to accept their prize in person.

By registering for the competition, the participant accepts the terms and conditions of participation and the competition, as well as the jury’s decision, as binding. Legal recourse is excluded.

In cases of doubt, the German version of the terms and conditions of participation shall prevail.

Registration Fee

30 euros, to be paid by bank transfer before registration and no later than April 30, 2027

Participation Fee

50 euros, for participants invited to the competition; to be paid by bank transfer on July 1 following notification of admission

Bank Account Information

Berlin University of the Arts

IBAN: DE74 1009 0000 8841 0161 74

BIC: BEVODEBBXXX, Berliner Volksbank

Payment reference: Feuermann 2027 + Last Name + First Name

In cases of exceptional financial hardship, the registration and participation fees may be reduced; however, there is no entitlement to such a reduction. An informal request, including an explanation, must be submitted via email to feuermann@udk-berlin.de.

Refunds are not available.

Affordable hotels are recommended to participants. For participants in the final concert, the competition organizer will pay a lump-sum amount to help cover lodging expenses. In cases of exceptional financial hardship, the competition committee may grant assistance with travel expenses; however, there is no entitlement to such assistance. An informal request, stating the reasons, should be submitted by email to feuermann@udk-berlin.de. The competition organizers will endeavor to arrange accommodations with host families upon request.

Recognized pianists will be available to competition participants as chamber music partners. Participants may bring their own accompanists at their own expense. For the final concert, each participant will have an approximately 45-minute orchestra rehearsal on September 29, as well as a dress rehearsal on the morning of the respective final concert. All orchestra rehearsals and concerts will take place with a conductor.

First round – Video Recording

Recordings must be uncut and may not be more than 6 months year old.

1. Johann Sebastian Bach: Präludium und Sarabande aus der Bach-Suite Nr. 4 oder Nr. 6
Johann Sebastian Bach: Suite für Violoncello solo N0 4, Prelude and Sarabande
Johann Sebastian Bach: Suite für Violoncello solo N0 6, Prelude and Sarabande

2. Richard Strauss: from Don Quixote Op 35, Finale (with piano)

3. Joseph Haydn:  Cello Concerto No 2 D Major, 1st movement: Exposition, Development and Cadence from Emanuel Feuermann.

4. David Popper: Spinnlied op. 55 No 1

Second round, 27 and 28 September, maximal 12 contestants

60 minutes

1. Michael Cohen-Weissert: commissioned work tbc approx. 10 Minutes

This work has been specially composed for the competition. Applicants will receive the
sheet music two months before the start of the competition.

2. Ludwig van Beethoven:
a sonata for piano and violoncello (Op 5 No 1 or No 2 or Op 69 or Op 102 No 1 or No 2)
or
variations for piano and violoncello (Op 66 or WoO 45 or WoO 46)
(All movements are to be performed without repeats)

3. One or more works of the competitor’s choice. Individual movements also permitted. No works from the first round.

Third round maximal 3  finalists

The finalists are obliged to perform at first

Paul Hindemith: Sonata Op 25 No 3 for Cello solo

AND afterwards

Victor Herbert: Cello Concerto No. 2 e minor Op 30 or

Eugène d’Albert: Cello Concerto Op 20 or

Robert Volkmann: Cello Concerto a minor Op 33 Originalfassung. A piano reduction and the solo part can be purchased from Lucksmusic. A full score is available at the competition office.

Emanuel Feuermann Grand Prix: 10,000 euros

2nd Prize: 7,500 euros

3rd Prize: 5,000 euros

Special Prize for the Best Interpretation of the Commissioned Work: 2,500 euros

Music Prize for Young Talents: 2,500 euros

Audience Prize in the Finals: 2,500 euros

The contestant agrees that the contest organizer is entitled to have all events held as part of the contest recorded and broadcast in whole or in part, e.g., as a livestream via the Internet. This also applies to audio, film, still image, and video recordings, as well as all other electronic and mechanical recording methods. The contestant shall have no claim to compensation arising from this. In particular, the organizer reserves the right to authorize radio and television stations to broadcast, record, and air all contest events.

Artistic Operations Office // Emanuel Feuermann Festival // feuermann_ @udk-berlin.de