Herbert von Karajan
YOUNG CONDUCTORS AWARD
Supported by ROLEX
On the trail of Herbert von Karajan
Musical excellence has always been central to the Salzburg Festival’s identity. Its founding manifesto envisioned Salzburg as a meeting place for the foremost artists of their time. Herbert von Karajan was instrumental in shaping the Festival’s character; today, his name lives on in one of the most prestigious awards for emerging conductors. The jury is chaired by Manfred Honeck, himself a leading figure in international musical life.
During the Award Concert Weekend, three young conductors present themselves to a distinguished jury and the public. Each leads the Camerata Salzburg in a concert of their own, demonstrating not only their musical vision but also their individual artistic signature. The jury then selects the winner of the Herbert von Karajan Young Conductors Award, who receives €15,000 and returns to the Salzburg Festival in 2028 to conduct the prize-winners’ concert.
The award’s history reveals the possibilities this distinction can open. Former laureates Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, Maxime Pascal and Lorenzo Viotti have become regular guests at the Festival and established themselves internationally. The award thus celebrates exceptional talents poised to shape the future of conducting while offering them a lasting connection to Salzburg.
An initiative of the Salzburg Festival in cooperation with the Eliette and Herbert von Karajan Institute.
From the application to the award ceremony
The Herbert von Karajan Young Conductors Award is open to conductors from all over the world who are over 21 and under 35 years of age.
Registration
Registering for the competition is only possible via the online form by 11 January 2027 at 11:59 pm. After the deadline, the jury will view the materials submitted and choose up to eight candidates. Applicants will be notified by the end of February 2027.
Rehearsal Day
The Rehearsal Days, which are not open to the public, take place on 31 March and 1 April 2027 in Salzburg. On these days, the eight candidates will work with the Mozarteum Orchestra and the œnm. œsterreichisches ensemble fuer neue musik on several compositions, in the presence of the jury. In addition to a mandatory piece, there will be works for the candidates to choose from. The repertoire will be announced until the end of November 2027.
At the end of the Rehearsal Days, the jury will announce the three candidates who are invited to the Award Concert Weekend.
YCA Award Concert Weekend
The three finalists will conduct a one-hour concert each as part of the 2027 Salzburg Festival on 30 and 31 July as well as 1 August at the Main Auditorium of the Mozarteum Foundation, which will also involve participants in the Young Singers Project. The concert programmes will be chosen jointly by the Salzburg Festival and the candidates. Rehearsals for the concerts presumably begin on 26 July 2027.
In a public award ceremony after the last concert, the jury will announce the winner of the Herbert von Karajan Young Conductors Award, who receives a cash prize of 15,000. – €.
YCA Award Winner’s Concert
In addition to the prize money, the winner of the Herbert von Karajan Young Conductors Award will have the opportunity to conduct a concert with an international orchestra and a young, up-and-coming soloist as part of the 2028 Salzburg Festival. The programme selection is the responsibility of the prizewinner in consultation with the Salzburg Festival.
The prizewinner’s concert will be recorded and published as a CD in the edition “Salzburger Festspieldokumente”.
Jury 2027
Laureates
Music Director of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg
Chief Music Director of the Dutch National Opera
Music Director of the Le Balcon Orchestra
Associate Artist with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Principal Music Director of the Kassel State Theatre
Principal Conductor of the Orquestra y Coro Nacional de España