Die Jury des 17. International Beethoven Piano competition Vienna In 2025 in the afternoon of May 24, the American pianist Derek Hartman chosen as the winner of the 17th International Beethoven piano competition. The 28-year-old musician presented the piano concerto No. 4. Derek Hartman presented a wing from the Bösendorfer (214 VC) and 30,000 euros prize money, donated by Vienna Insurance and the Vienna City Insurance Association as part of the final.
About the winner
Derek Hartman is an American pianist and educator, whose career combines international concert activity, committed music mediation and a close connection to contemporary music. As a doctoral student of the Yale School of Music, he has already met all academic and artistic requirements of the program; His ongoing professional activity now forms the practical part of his dissertation. Previously, he completed courses at Northwestern University and at the Yale School of Music, where he studied with well -known pianists like Boris Slutsky and James Giles. In 2024, Hartman won the first prize at the Chicago International Music Competition in the “Professional Concert Artist” category and also received special prices for the best interpretation of a classic sonata and a work of a Russian composer. He was awarded the third prize at the Washington International Piano Competition and reached the final and semi-final round of numerous international competitions, including the International Schumann Piano Competition and the Chopin competition of the Kosciuszko Foundation.
Hartman is currently teaching as a lecturer for piano at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University. In addition to his teaching activity, he maintains an active concert career. Among other things, he performed in the John F. Kennedy Center, in the Kravis Center and in the historic Ruïnekk in the Netherlands and played with ensembles such as the Amernet Quartet and the Yale-based New Music ensemble Versicolor. As an artist and lecturer of the Contemporart Chamber Music Festival in Romania, he is also in demand internationally as a chamber musician. His artistic activity is supplemented by a deep interest in music education. Hartman was a teaching scholarship at the New School for Music Study and Piano Arts of Wisconsin and has been involved in working with young musicians in the USA for years. Through his scientific research, diverse appearances and pedagogical projects, he is passionate about a wide -ranging repertoire – from old music to works of the 21st century.
More prices
Jonas Stark and Martin Nöbauer received ex aquo the 2nd price. The Klemens Kramert special award was awarded to Martin Nöbauer. The Sonder Prize was on Tianyou Li forgive.
“It was an incredibly high level to hear at all performances – the proof that a young generation of music talents full of passion will also go their way in these times,” says happily Jarack von Arnimartistic director of the competition.
Rector Ulrike Sych: “The MDW-University of Music and Performing Art Vienna feels committed to the Viennese Beethoven tradition. The international Beethoven piano competition has been significant for the promotion of outstanding talent for decades. I congratulate this year’s winner Derek Hartman from the heart and I am convinced that this success will open up new artistic perspectives for an international career.”
The final of the competition took place in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein Vienna. The three young talents were accompanied by the Viennese symphonists Under the direction of Petr Popelka.
Die Jury
Jasminka Stanish, Ronan O’Hora, Syrians, Jasminka Stanish.
About the competition
The international Beethoven piano competition Vienna took place in May 2025 for the 17th time. With its long tradition and unique restriction to Beethoven’s piano work, it is one of the most renowned and leading piano competitions worldwide. He has been organized and carried out by the MDW University of Music and Performing Art Vienna for more than 60 years and also proves the leading role of the MDW in continuing a special Viennese Beethoven piano tradition. The previous winners include Mitsuko Uchida, Stefan Vladar and Jasminka Stancul.
The prices
1. Preis:
30,000 euros (donated by the Vienna Insurance Group and the Vienna City Insurance Association),
as well as a Bösendorfer concert wing model 214 VC (donated by L. Bösendorfer GmbH)
2. Preis:
12,000 euros (donated by Erste Bank)
3. Preis:
6,000 euros (“Rita Medjimorec Memorial Prize”, donated by Heinz Medjimorec)
More information: https://beethoven-comp.at/
The Competition to look up: https://mdw.vhx.tv/