International Flute Competition Ferdinand W. Neess

About the Competition

Founded in 2022, the International Flute Competition Ferdinand W. Neess was established to honor the legacy of Ferdinand Wolfgang Neess, the renowned German philanthropist, art collector, and patron of culture whose extraordinary Art Nouveau collection — one of the largest private collections in Europe — was donated to the State of Hessen and is now permanently housed at Museum Wiesbaden.

Inspired by Neess’s lifelong commitment to artistic excellence, beauty, and cultural accessibility, the competition welcomes flutists of all nationalities aged 18 and above, with no upper age limit. In keeping with the founder’s vision, participation is open to both professional and non-professional musicians, making it one of the few international flute competitions to embrace artistic achievement across different stages of a musician’s career.

Held biennially in the unique setting of Museum Wiesbaden, the competition offers participants the opportunity to perform in one of Germany’s leading museums, where music is presented in dialogue with art, history, and architecture. This distinctive environment creates an atmosphere unlike that of traditional concert venues, celebrating the shared pursuit of artistic excellence across multiple disciplines.

In addition to its international jury and substantial prize fund, the competition seeks to foster artistic exchange, encourage outstanding performances, and honor the enduring relationship between music and the visual arts. Through its inclusive philosophy and distinctive cultural setting, the International Flute Competition Ferdinand W. Neess has quickly established itself as an important addition to the international flute competition calendar.

2026 Competition Highlights

• Held June 23–28, 2026, at Museum Wiesbaden in Wiesbaden, Germany.
• Open to flutists 18 years of age and older, with no upper age limit.
• Welcomed both professional and non-professional musicians from around the world.
• Featured an international jury chaired by Cordula Hacke, alongside distinguished performers and educators from Germany, France, South Korea, and China.
• Offered a €10,000 prize fund, including awards of €5,000, €3,000, and €2,000 for the top three laureates.
• Continued its mission of celebrating artistic excellence in one of Europe’s most significant museum collections.

Laureates of Previous Competitions

🥇 Emma Hochschild (Germany) – 1st Prize
🥈 Efrem Workman (United States) – 2nd Prize
🥉 Juree Kim (South Korea) – 3rd Prize
🥉 Shigetora Yokoi (Japan) – 3rd Prize

2022
🥇 Pawel Niziolek (Poland) – 1st Prize
🥇 Uliana Zhivitskaya (Russia) – 1st Prize
🥈 Maël Metzger (France) – 2nd Prize
🥈 Yu-Frei Lin (China) – 2nd Prize
🥉 Theodore Squire (Germany) – 3rd Prize
🥉 Xavier Santos (Portugal) – 3rd Prize