Wiener Schule
Conducting Competition & Masterclass
in celebration and memory of Antonio Salieri (1750-1825)
August 15 - 22, 2025 | Vienna, Austria
And the winners of the “Wiener Schule” Conducting Competition 2025 are…:
1st Prize (ex aequo):
Benjamin Zwick (Switzerland) & Minami Suda (Japan)
2nd Prize:
Maris Kugis (Latvia)
3rd Prize:
Gregor Böttcher (Germany)
Orchestra Prize
Ioanna Vlagkouli (Greece)
Audience Prize
Gregor Böttcher (Germany)
Ioanna Vlagkouli (Greece)
President Prize
Ioanna Vlagkouli (Greece)
Honorary Winner Prizes:
(3 Finalists)
Ivo da Silva (Portugal)
Hung-I Wu (Taiwan)
Max Kaiser (USA)
Congratulations!
Spirit and Aim
Our aim at the "Wiener Schule" Conducting Competition & Masterclass is to preserve the Viennese Tradition and to carry it on to the new generation. We strive to assist talented young conductors in effectively preparing for future success and achieving their goals.
In our masterclass, we employ unique methods, grounded in practical experience, to help participants analyze scores as a conductor and build their own creative concept for the performance and rehearsal.
We offer a series of seminars on crucial topics designed to increase young conductors' chances of success, including:
"How to prepare to win a conducting competition"
"How to organize your time in a competition round and give it an efficient structure”
"How to present your talent in the right way as a young conductor"
Specializing in music from the Viennese school and its performance tradition, we provide the knowledge about the style and aesthetic of Viennese classical music. This includes not only theoretical knowledge but also practical conducting performance.
Our goal is to bridge the gap between university studies and real-world musical performance for emerging conductors.
We aim to show young conductors what they can learn and how they can grow by taking part in competitions. We have implemented an innovative judging system: all competitors will also serve as the jury members, participating directly in the voting process.
Please join us! This masterclass and competition can transform your career, helping you become a better conductor and increasing your chances of a successful future.
And something more important: Join us to pay our respect and celebrate the anniversary year of Antonio Salieri!
Jin Wang PhD.
Vienna, 05.02.2025
Wiener Schule Conducting Competition
Repertoire
1st Round
10 minutes with the orchestra per candidate
W.A. Mozart
Symphony No. 38 in D major “Prague Symphony”
KV 504 (1st Movement)
J. Haydn
Symphony No. 101 in D major “The Clock”
Hob.I:101 (1st Movement)
L. van Beethoven
Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93
(1st Movement)
A. Salieri
Ouverture “Falstaff” *
A. Salieri
Symphony in D Major “Il Giorno onomastico”
(1st Movement) *
A. Salieri
Symphony in D Major “La Veneziana”
(1st Movement) *
* these scores will be provided by the competition
2nd Round
12 minutes with the orchestra per candidate
W.A. Mozart
“Sprecher-Szene” from “The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte)”
KV 620
W.A. Mozart
“Hai già vinta la causa!” from “Le Nozze di Figaro”
KV 492
A. Salieri
“Nell’impero di Cupido” from “Falstaff” *
A. Salieri
Keyboard Concerto in C major
(1st Movement)
A. Salieri
Concertino da camera
(1st Movement)
Final Round
20 minutes with the orchestra per finalist
A. Salieri
Ouverture “Falstaff” *
W.A. Mozart
“Sprecher-Szene” from “The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte)”
KV 620
W.A. Mozart
“Hai già vinta la causa!” from “Le Nozze di Figaro”
KV 492
A. Salieri
“Nell’impero di Cupido” from “Falstaff” *
A. Salieri
Keyboard Concerto in C major
(1st Movement)
A. Salieri
Concertino da camera
(1st Movement)
A. Salieri
Symphony in D Major “Il Giorno onomastico”
(1st Movement) *
A. Salieri
Symphony in D Major “La Veneziana”
(1st Movement) *
W.A. Mozart
Symphony No. 38 in D major “Prague Symphony”
KV 504 (1st Movement)
J. Haydn
Symphony No. 101 in D major “The Clock”
Hob.I:101 (1st Movement)
L. van Beethoven
Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93
(1st Movement)
Jury
Innovative Jury System
Our competition introduces a groundbreaking approach to judging. Founded by Maestro Jin Wang, who has extensive experience as a jury member in numerous leading competitions worldwide, we recognize that traditional judging systems may not always allow the most talented candidates to reach the finals due to the nature of the voting system mechanics.
In Maestros Jin Wang words: “No matter how much we try to make our judging 100% honest, for some reason the candidates with the biggest talent often couldn’t get the chance to proceed to the final round, which often surprises even us - jury members! It bothered me enough that I decided not to organize the competition last year. This year, however, I decided to completely revolutionize the whole process, I have found the reason and I want you to experience it for yourself!”
To address this issue, we have implemented an innovative system where all competitors also serve as jury members, directly participating in the voting process. This unprecedented approach provides deep insights into the complexities of competition judging, offers an eye-opening experience, and could lead to significant personal discoveries.
Additionally, during our Mastreclass we also offer special seminars on this topic. These seminars explore how judging systems work in conducting competitions. They give participants a full understanding of the evaluation process.
Prizes
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EUR 3.000,- & official Diploma
participation in one concert organized by AIA Aritst Management
2 years contracts as AIA Artist
Letter of recommendation to our partner orchestras
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official Diploma
2 years of artistic coaching by AIA Artist Management, specialists in advising and coaching young conductors
Letter of recommendation to our partner orchestras
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official Diploma
2 years of artistic coaching by AIA Artist Management, specialists in advising and coaching young conductors
Letter of recommendation to our partner orchestras
Masterclass
What does it take to win a conducting competition? Is it just natural talent and hard work, or is there something more?
If you’ve ever wondered that, you’ve come to the right place. At Jin Wang Academy, we have the answers! Our program is crafted to give you a set of unique insights into competitions!
The seminars include such topics as: How do you prepare for a conducting competition? How can you make the most of your time on the podium? What matters most in the first round? How does the second round differ from the first and the final round? What do jury members expect from you? How does the voting system work? And what are the dos and don’ts at each stage?
Join us in Vienna for seminars, ensemble conducting sessions, and in-depth analysis with Maestro Jin Wang—the ultimate expert in the field of conducting competitions.
Maestro Jin Wang has won eight prestigious international competitions, including the Nicolai Malko Competition, Arturo Toscanini Conducting Competition, and Prague Spring Competition. He was also a jury member at the Jorma Panula Conducting Competition, Grzegorz Fitelberg International Competition for Conductors, Jeunesse Musicale Conducting Competition in Bucharest, BMI International Conducting Competition in Bucharest, and the Wiener Schule Competition in Vienna. Through these experiences, he has learned every aspect of the process.
Learn from his journey and gain the unique perspectives that can transform your approach to conducting competitions!
Prices
Application Fee: EUR 20,- (non refundable)
“Wiener Schule” Conducting Competition & Masterclass (FULL PROGRAM)
Duration: August 15 - 22, 2025
Price: EUR 1.200,-
“Wiener Schule” Conducting Competition ONLY
Duration: August 20 - 22, 2025
Price: EUR 700,-
Masterclass with Maestro Jin Wang ONLY
Duration: August 15 - 19, 2025
Price: EUR 700,-
Passive participation (audience)
Masterclass: EUR 150,-
Competition: EUR 150,-
About Maestro Jin Wang
Maestro Jin Wang, PhD, began his journey arriving in Vienna at 27 years old —facing language barriers, cultural differences, and the daunting questions: "How do I survive?" and "How do I become a conductor?" Like many young musicians, he struggled and nearly gave up his dream.
After arriving in Vienna, he encountered a musical tradition that was entirely new to him. This shock pushed him to relearn the fundamentals, absorb the "grammar" of the Viennese aesthetic, and discover the deeper meaning of music—not just in classrooms of the Music University, but through the inspiring examples of conductors like Vaclav Neumann, Claudio Abbado, Leonard Bernstein, Zubin Mehta, and his own mentors, Professor Karl Österreicher and Leopold Hager.
With no initial connections, Jin Wang turned to international conducting competitions. Despite early losses that challenged his resolve, he refined his craft and began winning—from small contests to major international stages. At 30, he won the Prague Spring Conducting Competition; at 31, he triumphed at the Toscanini Competition and earned second prize at the Fitelberg competition in Katowice; and by 32, he secured first prize at the Nikolai Malko Competition in Copenhagen. Each victory opened new doors, leading him to conduct major orchestras across Europe and beyond.
Today, Maestro Jin Wang not only thrives as a professional conductor but also serves as a juror in international competitions. He has founded events like the BMI Conducting Competition with the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra and the "Wiener Schule" International Conducting Competition in Vienna, created in memory of Professor Karl Österreicher.
Motivated by his own painful setbacks and his observation of loss of promising talents, Maestro Jin Wang is passionate about guiding young conductors. At Jin Wang Academy, we offer hands-on masterclasses and seminars—covering everything from competition preparation to efficient rehearsal planning—designed to equip you with the skills and insights that many conservatories overlook.
If you have the talent, determination, and desire to excel, join us. Learn from Maestro Jin Wang’s journey, transform your approach, and step confidently onto the stage of international competitions.
FAQs
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The primary language for the masterclass and competition is English. During orchestra rehearsals, English is preferred; however, participants may also use German. Maestro Jin Wang can also guide you in Mandarin.
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All participants are required to thoroughly prepare the entire repertoire, as the masterclass will cover all listed pieces.During the competition, each competitor's assigned piece and conducting order will be determined by drawing lots. This ensures that any piece from the repertoire could be selected for you to conduct, reflecting the comprehensive preparation undertaken during the masterclass.
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Your 5-minute video submission should provide us with an impression of your talent and potential. Here are the guidelines:
Content: The video can include excerpts from rehearsals or performances. You're free to select segments that best highlight your skills.
Ensemble Size: Conducting a small orchestra or ensemble is acceptable. We also accept videos with piano.
Purpose: The goal is to provide insight into your talent and conducting style.
This video will help us understand your capabilities and potential as a conductor.
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After completing the application process, you will receive the score as a PDF via email.
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If you require a visa to participate, we can provide you with an invitation letter. Please contact us regarding this matter.We can issue the invitation even before the application deadline.