International Friedrich Kuhlau Flute Competition

About the Competition

Founded in 1970, the International Friedrich Kuhlau Flute Competition is one of the world’s most distinguished competitions dedicated to the music and legacy of Friedrich Kuhlau (1786–1832), the German-Danish composer whose contributions helped establish the flute as a major solo and chamber instrument during the early Romantic period.

Organized by the Friedrich Kuhlau Society (Friedrich-Kuhlau-Gesellschaft e.V.), the competition is held biennially in Uelzen, Germany, bringing together outstanding young flutists and chamber ensembles from around the world. Since its establishment, it has earned an international reputation for promoting artistic excellence, collaborative musicianship, and a deep appreciation of Kuhlau’s extensive flute repertoire.

Unlike many international competitions that focus exclusively on solo performance, the Kuhlau Competition embraces both solo flute and chamber music, reflecting the composer’s enduring contribution to flute literature. Its carefully designed repertoire encourages participants to demonstrate not only technical mastery but also musical sensitivity, stylistic understanding, and ensemble communication.

Over more than five decades, the competition has welcomed participants representing numerous countries and has become an important platform for emerging professional musicians. Through its distinguished international jury, high artistic standards, and commitment to preserving Kuhlau’s musical legacy, it continues to occupy a unique place among the world’s leading flute competitions.

2025 Competition Highlights

• Held from October 19–25, 2025, in Uelzen, Germany.
• Featured international categories for solo flute and flute chamber music.
• Open to musicians 18–30 years of age from all nationalities.
• International jury chaired by Anna Dina Bjørn-Larsen, with distinguished performers and educators representing Germany, Norway, Italy, Hungary, France, and South Korea.
• Total prize fund of up to €13,800 awarded across multiple categories.
• Continued its long-standing mission of promoting Friedrich Kuhlau’s music while encouraging the highest standards of contemporary flute performance.

Laureates of Previous Competitions

2023
🥇 Shigetora Yokoi (Japan) – 1st Prize
🥇 Ryo Yamanishi (Japan) – 1st Prize

2021
🥇 Yesung Kim (South Korea) – 1st Prize
🥈 Uliana Zhivitskaya (Russia) – 2nd Prize
🥉 Wuhao Yu (China) – 3rd Prize

2019
🥉 Yesung Kim (South Korea) – 3rd Prize

2015
🥇 Andrea Mairhofer (Italy) & Alexey Zuev (Russia) – 1st Prize
🥈 Katherine Bateman (USA) & Seungwon Lee (South Korea) – 2nd Prize
🥉 Shu-Torng Lin (Taiwan) – 3rd Prize

2013
🥇 Ting-Wei Chen (Taiwan) & Yu-Tung Pan (Taiwan) – 1st Prize
🥈 Agnese Nikolovska (Latvia) & Vita Gajevska (Latvia) – 2nd Prize