International violin contest for young talents

Promoting young talents is a matter of great importance to the Wilo-Foundation. The internationally renowned Henri Marteau violin contest was named after the famous violinist, who firmly believed that supporting and encouraging young and talented artists was an integral part of musical culture. The contest, which includes a final gala concert, takes place every three years at Haus Marteau in Lichtenberg and in the Freiheitshalle (hall of freedom) of Hof. It is designed to support young talents in their musical career through prize money, non-cash prizes, a support programme, and encounters with internationally renowned musicians. Thanks to its media partner, the Bavarian “Bayrische Rundfunk” broadcasting station, there is broad coverage on the contest, allowing contestants to reach a large audience. During the contest, the young violinists stay with families from Hof and Lichtenberg, where they get to know German culture.

In 2017, the Wilo-Foundation awards the first prize of the contest: a cash prize of 10,000 euros to support young international musicians who are exceptionally talented, and a prize of 1,000 euros that is awarded by the youth jury (selected young violinists studying at Hof School of Music).

Our funding partner:

In 2007, the district of Oberfranken became the sponsor of the contest, which was launched in 2002 by the Freundeskreis der Musikbegegnungsstätte Haus Marteau e.V. (the association “friends of the Haus Marteau music retreat”). Hofer Symphoniker gGmbH has overall responsibility for organising and managing the contest. Hofer Symphoniker, founded in 1945, is a culture and education enterprise, defining itself as a musical and social instrument with a cultural mandate that spreads the name of the city of Hof far beyond the region. With its many initiatives in the fields of orchestra music, its various youth and adult education programmes as part of the school of music, school of arts and Suzuki Academy, and its different social engagement activities it has become an important cultural player in Bavaria.

Funding partner

Hof Symphony Orchestra gGmbH

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