"Laudatory remark: 'Wuppertal was marvelous'"
In a lively and enlightening address, Federal Minister of Youth Karin Prien hailed the competition participants as "ambassadors of music and excellence." Emphasizing the enduring support of the Federal Ministry for this 62nd anniversary celebration, she declared her commitment to ensuring the longevity and prosperity of the "Jugend musiziert" competition and its associated ensembles like the Federal Youth Orchestra, Federal Jazz Orchestra, and Federal Youth Choir.
From June 5th to the climactic finale, the vibrant city of Wuppertal was graced by over 1,800 young musicians from 17 nations. The cultural partner, WDR 3, enthusiastically recorded all three prize-winner concerts, set to be broadcast on June 24th at 8:03 PM in a special program. The distinguished federal jury bestowed 430 first federal prizes, 629 second federal prizes, and 495 third federal prizes upon the impressive young musicians who hailed from far and wide across Germany and from German schools abroad. A remarkable 273 received the distinction "with very good success", 18 "with good success", and 1 "with successful participation". North Rhine-Westphalia proudly hosted the federal finals for the seventh time.
With the backing of around 40 institutions, foundations, and private individuals, the allure of participating in the federal competition "Jugend musiziert" has only grown. These diverse benefactors allowed for targeted and personalized support to standout musicians. This year, total prizes worth an impressive 160,000 euros were up for grabs, tantalizingly including the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe's special prize for family ensembles, the coveted annual scholarships from the Jürgen Ponto Foundation, and the Eduard-Söring Prize awarded by the Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben. The concert of the special prize winners will take place on July 5th at the Beethovenhaus in Bonn.
Ulrich Rademacher, Chairman of the "Jugend musiziert" board, reveled in the success of this year's event, proclaiming the three "Ws": Wuppertal was wonderful, the city was teeming with the enthusiasm of the children and young people, and the diversified framework program was riveting. Notable novelties included the concert 'Jumu Beyond Borders', showcasing contributions from the solo category of ancient music, the new singer-songwriter and band categories, as well as MENA instruments from Berlin and the eastern Mediterranean region.
Irene Schwalb, Head of Competitions at the German Music Council, echoed Rademacher's sentiments, praising the debut of Wuppertal as the host city for the finale of Jugend musiziert as a resounding success. Despite the slightly challenging weather during Pfingsten, the young musicians breathed life into the 20 evaluation venues and two open-air stages. The evaluations were not merely performances but concerts in their own right, exceptionally well-attended by a crowd eager to celebrate the power of music. The vibrant atmosphere was further amplified by the first-ever audience awards, presented by the Fördernetzwerk Jugend musiziert at the prize-winners' concerts and after-show parties.
In the vibrant city of Wuppertal, where the Federal Youth Orchestra, Federal Jazz Orchestra, and Federal Youth Choir held court, the young musicians were not only excelling in music but also embracing the broader aspects of lifestyle, education, and self-development. The impressionable participants, being ambassadors of music and excellence, expansion into entertainment was evident, with the inaugural shows featuring singer-songwriter and band categories. In alignment with this, education-and-self-development opportunities were presented through the various prizes, such as the scholarships from the Jürgen Ponto Foundation, encouraging the recipients to further their personal growth and immerse themselves in various art forms, including music.
