black and white bed linen

Walter Furrer Prize 2025

Open call for pianists studying in Europe

The Walter Furrer Förderverein is awarding a prize for the best interpretation of Walter Furrer’s Piano Variations (1926)

Open call

for pianists studying in Europe

The Walter Furrer Förderverein is awarding a prize for the best interpretation of Walter Furrer’s Piano Variations (1926)

Walter Furrer Prize 2025

Written in Paris after his years of study with Nadia Boulanger (1887–1979), the Piano Variations (1926) by the German-born Swiss composer Walter Furrer (1902–1978) reflects cultivated European musical traditions and, in our opinion, represents a milestone for future generations of musicians to discover. The world premiere took place in January 2025, performed by Ilya Shmukler, winner of the Concours Géza Anda 2024.

And now it is your turn: apply for the Walter Furrer Prize 2025!

Walter Furrer Prize 2025

Written in Paris after his years of study with Nadia Boulanger (1887–1979), the Piano Variations (1926) by the German-born Swiss composer Walter Furrer (1902–1978) reflects cultivated European musical traditions and, in our opinion, represents a milestone for future generations of musicians to discover. The world premiere took place in January 2025, performed by Ilya Shmukler, winner of the Concours Géza Anda 2024.

And now it is your turn: apply for the Walter Furrer Prize 2025!

Need-do-Know

Who can apply?

Pianists of all nationalities enrolled as students at music universities across Europe.

What we offer

A total prize fund of CHF 5000 and three solo piano concerts in Switzerland from 16 to 18 January 2026, with accommodation and travel expenses covered.

Auditions

The auditions will take place in two rounds: The video preselection (application until 15 August 2025) and the live audition at the Hochschule der Künste Bern in Switzerland (1 November 2025).

Winners concerts

Results will be announced on 7 November 2025. The winner’s concerts in Switzerland will take place from 16 to 18 January 2026.

Costs

Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs for the audition in Bern. The application fee of CHF 50 must be paid by bank transfer before the application deadline.

Need-do-Know

Who can apply?

Pianists of all nationalities enrolled as students at music universities across Europe.

What we offer

A total prize fund of CHF 5000 and three solo piano concerts in Switzerland from 16 to 18 January 2026, with accommodation and travel expenses covered.

Auditions

The auditions will take place in two rounds: The video preselection (application until 15 August 2025) and the live audition at the Hochschule der Künste Bern in Switzerland (1 November 2025).

Winners concerts

Results will be announced on 7 November 2025. The winner’s concerts in Switzerland will take place from 16 to 18 January 2026.

Costs

Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs for the audition in Bern. The application fee of CHF 50 must be paid by bank transfer before the application deadline.

Abdullayeva, Liya - HKB Bern

Gapon, Mariia - HKB Bern

Gomes Ferreira, Bruno - HKB Bern

Kaptein, Alexandra - HfMT Köln

Karpova, Ekaterina - HKB Bern

Leshkin, Andrei - HEM Neuchâtel

Lu, Eric Z. - mdw Wien

Michela, Rocco - FHNW Basel

Polovko, Nataliia - HfM Freiburg

Popp, Simon - UdK Berlin

Sahin, Safiye - FHNW Basel

Preselection Results

We are happy to announce the participants admitted to the live audition in Bern on 1 November 2025. The names, in alphabetical order, are:

Thank you for your applications, and we look forward to seeing you soon in Bern!

Abdullayeva, Liya - HKB Bern

Gapon, Mariia - HKB Bern

Gomes Ferreira, Bruno - HKB Bern

Kaptein, Alexandra - HfMT Köln

Karpova, Ekaterina - HKB Bern

Leshkin, Andrei - HEM Neuchâtel

Lu, Eric Z. - mdw Wien

Michela, Rocco - FHNW Basel

Polovko, Nataliia - HfM Freiburg

Popp, Simon - UdK Berlin

Sahin, Safiye - FHNW Basel

Preselection Results

We are happy to announce the participants admitted to the live audition in Bern on 1 November 2025. The names, in alphabetical order, are:

Thank you for your applications, and we look forward to seeing you soon in Bern!