Prizes/Jury

Prizes

1st prize

12.000.- EURO

Bach statue in bronze by the renowned sculptor Thomas Duttenhöfer

concerts at

  • Bachfest LEIPZIG (2026) – Germany
  • Guitar festival “DARMSTÄDTER Gitarrentage 2026“ – Germany
  • Guitar festival “Gitarrenfestspiele NÜRTINGEN 2027“ – Germany
  • concert series “Kammermusik im Gesellschaftshaus MAGDEBURG“ (2026/27) – Germany
  • concert series “HAMBURGER Gitarrenforum“ ( 2026/27) – Germany
  • Guitar festival at “CASTELL’ ARQUATO“ (2026) – Italy
  • Guitar festival WARSAW (2026/27) – Poland
  • concert KASSEL/Niedenstein (2026/27) – Germany
  • concert series “Junge Elite” ESSEN (2026/27) – Germany
  • concert WEIMAR (2026/27) – Germany

CD production with an all-Bach program on the CHRISTOPHORUS record label, release date 2027 (production 2026 in Germany). Travel and hotel expenses of the musician will be covered by the Darmstädter Gitarrentage e. V. up to a maximum of 700,00 Euro.

2nd prize 8.000.- EURO

3rd prize 4.000.- EURO + sheet music voucher (200,00 Euro) of PRIM-Musikverlag

4th prize 1.500.- EURO + sheet music voucher (100,00 Euro) of PRIM-Musikverlag

5th prize 800.- EURO + sheet music voucher (50,00 Euro) of PRIM-Musikverlag

6th prize 600.- EURO + sheet music voucher (50,00 Euro) of PRIM-Musikverlag

7th + 8th prize = Refund of participation fee (120.- Euro) + sheet music voucher (30,00 Euro) of PRIM-Musikverlag

9th + 10th prize = Refund of participation fee (120.- Euro)

Audience prize 1.000.- EURO

The first six prize winners will also receive valuable non-cash prizes (including gift boxes from D’Daddario)

The hotel costs of the 6 semi-finalists in a first class hotel (max. 3 nights) during their stay in Darmstadt will be covered by the Darmstädter Gitarrentage e. V.

The cash prizes will be paid gross by bank transfer. In the case of foreign winners, a foreigners’ tax of 15% of the gross prize will be withheld.

Jury

Paul O‘ Dette  (USA – baroque lute) – 2nd video round

Tilman Hoppstock (Germany – guitar/musicology, jury president) – Finals

Kurt Koch (Germany – guitar) –  1st/2nd video round

Ansgar Krause (Germany – guitar)

Björn Lehmann (Germany – pianist)

Carlo Marchione (Italy – guitar)

Pablo Márquez (Argentina – guitar)

Thomas Müller-Pering (Germany – guitar)

Nigel North (Great Britain – baroque lute)

Judicael Perroy (France – guitar)

Petra Poláčková (Czech Republic – guitar)

Michael Schneider (Germany – director of Baroque Orchestra “La Stagione”)

Hopkinson Smith (USA – baroque lute) – Finals

Raphaella Smits (Belgium – guitar)

Rainer Zipperling (Germany – baroque cello)