The International Aeolus Competition for Wind Instruments has firmly established itself as a worldwide recognized stage for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone, Trumpet, Horn, Trombone and Tuba. It takes place once a year in Düsseldorf since 2006.

Aeolus Competition is open to young musicians of all nationalities younger than 28 years. Each year three of the Instrument groups are opened for competition: In 2025, it will be the horn, oboe, and saxophone. The total prize money is € 60,000, the first prize wins € 20,000.

14. September 2025

Prizes have been announced!

Dimitri Pinchuk (C) Susanne Diesner

1. Prize: Dimitri Pinchuk, Saxophon

2. Prize: Alexander Kronbichler, Oboe

3. Prize: Jin Zhicheng, Horn

 

Audience Award: Jin Zhicheng, Horn

 

Special Prize for best interpretation of a contemporary piece: Guo Yu, Oboe

 

 

11. September 2025

Special Prize for best interpretation of a contemporary piece

Guo Yu, Oboe

The winner of the special prize for contemporary music is Guo Yu, who presented an own composition in the second round. He will perform his piece once more in the final Concert on Sunday, September 14, at 11.

 

Congratulations!


 

Winners of the Aeolus International Competition for Wind Instruments 2024 on Deutschlandfunk:

“Konzertdokument der Woche“ Sunday, 28th of September 2025, 9.05p.m.

28. September 2022

What has become of the prize-winners ?

Polina Tarasenko – Finalist 2023

Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Solo Trombone

Xianhua Liu – Finalist 2023

Philharmonisches Orchester Bremerhaven – Solo Tuba

Karsten Hoffmann – Finalist 2022

Staatsoper Berlin – Solo Horn

Sinfonieorchester Wuppertal – Solo Horn

Traian Sturza – Finalist 2021

Düsseldorfer Symphoniker – Solo Bassoon

Gioele Coco – Finalist 2021

Neue Philharmonie Westfalen – Solo Oboe

Lennard Czakaj – Finalist 2019

Staatstheater Stuttgart – Solo Trumpet, Finalist Maurice André Wettbewerb 2022

Jonathan Ramsay – Finalist 2019

Berliner Philharmoniker – Solo Trombone, 2. prize ARD Wettbewerb 2022

Ross Knight – Finalist 2019

Orchestre de la Suisse Romande – Solo Tuba

Philippe Stier – Finalist 2019

MDR Sinfonieorchester – Solo Trombone

Bamberger Symphoniker – Solo Trombone

Bora Demir – Finalist 2018
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin – Solo Horn
Ilyes Boufadden – Finalist 2018
Orchestre de Chambre de Paris – Solo-Oboe
Pascal Deuber – Finalist 2018
Bayerische Staatsoper – Solo Horn, 1st prize ARD Wettbewerb 2021
Marceau Lefévre – Finalist 2018
Brüsseler Philharmonie – Solo Bassoon, Ensemble Intercontemporain – Solist
Matvey Demin – Finalist 2017
Tonhalle Orchester Zürich – Soloflute, Gold medal Tschaikowsky Wettbewerb 2019
Louise Pollock – Finalist 2016
Solotrombone Göteborg Opera Orchestra, Professor for Trombone, Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler, Berlin
Constantin Hartwig – Finalist 2016
Solo-Tuba Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden
Roeland Henkens – Finalist 2016
seit 2016 Solo trumpet an der Nationaloper Oslo
Christopher Koppitz – Finalist 2017
seit 2017 Solo-Oboe Bielefelder Philharmoniker
Andreas Cellacchi – Finalist 2015
Solo-Bassoonist Concertgebouw Orchester Amsterdam
Claire Wickes – Finalist 2014
seit 2016 Solo Flute English National Opera
Blas Sparovec – Finalist 2014
seit 2015 Solo-Clarinet Gürzenich-Orchester, Köln
Bartek Dus – Finalist 2012
Professor for Saxophone, Academy of Music in Katowice, Polen
Sergey Elecky – Finalist 2011
Solo Clarinet Russisches Nationalorchester
Alec Frank Gemmill – Finalist 2011
Solo Horn Scottish Chamber Ochestra
Fabian Neuhaus – Finalist 2010
seit 2012 Solo Trumpet NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover
Lars Karlin – Finalist 2010
seit 2014 Solo trombone Berliner Konzerthaus Orchester
Vikentios Gionanidis – Finalist 2010
seit 2013/14 Solo Tuba Deutsche Oper Berlin
Jonatan Rautiola – Finalist 2009
Professor for Saxophone, Sibelius Academy Helsinki; Professor for saxophone, Tampere Music Academy Finnland
Angelos Kritikos – Finalist 2008
2010 Solo Trombone Bamberger Sinfoniker
Zoltán Mácsai – Finalist 2007
Solohorn Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden
Lukas Beno – Finalist 2007
1. Solo Trumpet im Gewandhausorchester Leipzig
Paolo Mendes – Finalist 2007
2010/2011 Solo Horn Deutsches Sinfonieorchester Berlin
Balazc Toth – Finalist 2007
seit 2012 Solo Trumpet Dortmunder Philharmoniker
Philipp Tutzer – Finalist 2006
Solo Bassoon Mozarteum-Orchester Salzburg, Professor an der Anton Bruckner Universität Linz
Matthias Schorn –  Finalist 2006
seit 2007 Solo Clarinet Wiener Philharmoniker
Koryun Asatryan – Finalist 2006
seit 2011/2012 Professor für klassisches Saxophon an der Musihochshule in München