10th International Telekom Beethoven Competition Bonn

From November 30 to December 10, 2023, the International Telekom Beethoven Competition Bonn took place in the city of Beethoven's birth. The piano competition, which was launched in 2005, is celebrating its anniversary this year. The focus is on the piano works of Ludwig van Beethoven. The audience was able to experience the 24 participants from a total of 16 nations live on site or via livestream on MagentaTV and MagentaMusik360.

Close coolaboration with Steinway & Sons

From the very beginning, the International Telekom Beethoven Competition Bonn has worked exclusively with Steinway & Sons. In addition to practice instruments and grand pianos, a D-274 concert grand piano is available on stage for the young pianists in all rounds.

Important support from Steinway concert technicians

Throughout the entire duration of the piano competition, the instruments are looked after by a Steinway concert technician. On stage, the concert grand piano is the most important partner for the participants on their way through the demanding programs to the finals. Steinway concert technician Thomas Lepler emphasizes:

'With the two grand pianos on the stages, the aim is for them to play and sound as perfect as possible throughout the competition. The biggest challenge is to provide and develop a grand piano for the solo rounds that meets the tastes of all pianists. The instrument must therefore be very universal.‘

This anniversary edition of the competition was a wonderful success and the participants, jury and audience alike were delighted with the outstanding sound of the Steinway concert grand pianos.

Caleb Borick, Lovre Marušić and Zhouhui Shen — the winners of the International Telekom Beethoven Competition Bonn 2023

Three finalists played their way through to the orchestral final, performing various Beethoven piano concertos with the Beethoven Orchestra Bonn under the direction of Dirk Kaftan.

Caleb Borick not only won over the jury with his chamber music and accomplished playing style in both final rounds and especially with the Piano Concerto No. 3, winning 1st prize, but also the public voting. Lovre Marušić was awarded 2nd prize with a resounding Piano Concerto No. 4 and pianist Zhouhui Shen shone with Piano Concerto No. 2 for 3rd prize.

Congratulations on this outstanding achievement

The jury, chaired by Pavel Giliov, is made up of renowned pianists and piano teachers, including Steinway Artists Arie Vardi, Soo-Jung Shin, Gábor Farkas and Ya-Fei Chuang. They join Steinway & Sons in congratulating all the pianists on their successful participation in this competition, which was held entirely in the spirit of Beethoven and his music.

Photos: Norbert Ittermann