The Viatores Quartet performed impressively at the ARD International Music Competition and received the GENUIN Special Prize
The 75th edition of the ARD International Music Competition is nearly over. The competition, which took place from August 30 to September 18, 2026, featured the categories of organ, bassoon, percussion, and string quartet this year. The competition rounds have concluded, and the winners have been determined in all categories.
In the bassoon category, Enrico Bassi (1st prize), Jappe Dendievel (2nd prize), and Laure Thomas (3rd prize) were honored; in the organ category, William Fielding (1st prize), Alexis Grizard (2nd prize), and Julian Emanuel Becker (3rd prize) were honored. In the percussion category, Gabriel Michaud received 1st prize and Yuan Xia received 2nd prize; in the string quartet category, 1st prize went to the Viatores Quartet, and two 3rd prizes went to the Katarina String Quartet and Quartet Fugue.
The winners’ concerts, taking place from September 16 to 18, 2026, will now serve as the grand finale of the competition. These outstanding musicians will perform alongside the Munich Chamber Orchestra (September 17, 2026) and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (September 18, 2026).
This marks the 10th time GENUIN has awarded a special prize. The prize consists of a Dolby Atmos production to be released worldwide. The decision on who would receive this prize was made by sound engineers Holger Busse, Alfredo Lasheras, and Michael Silberhorn after reviewing all participating musicians. This year, the special prize goes to the Berlin-based Viatores Quartet.
Picture: Daniel Delang
See the edition at GENUINWebsite of the ARD International Music Competition
The 75th edition of the ARD International Music Competition is nearly over. The competition, which took place from August 30 to September 18, 2026, featured the categories of organ, bassoon, percussion, and string quartet this year. The competition rounds have concluded, and the winners have been determined in all categories.
In the bassoon category, Enrico Bassi (1st prize), Jappe Dendievel (2nd prize), and Laure Thomas (3rd prize) were honored; in the organ category, William Fielding (1st prize), Alexis Grizard (2nd prize), and Julian Emanuel Becker (3rd prize) were honored. In the percussion category, Gabriel Michaud received 1st prize and Yuan Xia received 2nd prize; in the string quartet category, 1st prize went to the Viatores Quartet, and two 3rd prizes went to the Katarina String Quartet and Quartet Fugue.
The winners’ concerts, taking place from September 16 to 18, 2026, will now serve as the grand finale of the competition. These outstanding musicians will perform alongside the Munich Chamber Orchestra (September 17, 2026) and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (September 18, 2026).
This marks the 10th time GENUIN has awarded a special prize. The prize consists of a Dolby Atmos production to be released worldwide. The decision on who would receive this prize was made by sound engineers Holger Busse, Alfredo Lasheras, and Michael Silberhorn after reviewing all participating musicians. This year, the special prize goes to the Berlin-based Viatores Quartet.
Picture: Daniel Delang
See the edition at GENUINWebsite of the ARD International Music Competition