Amelio Trio is awarded the Hans Gál Ensemble Prize

The Academy of Sciences and Literature cordially invites you to the award ceremony for the Hans Gál Ensemble Prize, which will be presented to the Amelio Trio on December 15, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. The award ceremony will be accompanied by a concert by the trio, which will also include a work by Hans Gál. In addition, the award-winning trio will be included in the annual program of Villa Musica Rhineland-Palatinate with several concerts.

In selecting the Amelio Trio, the jury has chosen a young ensemble that is "undoubtedly one of the most promising chamber music formations of its generation" and is particularly distinguished by "a combination of expressive musicality, intelligent interpretation, personal approach to the work, and great stage presence". The jury emphasizes in its statement that the ensemble is "curiously searching for new concepts and contemporary compositions, which they perform with their own voice. We see enormous potential for an international career in this ensemble and would like to use this award not only to honor their artistic achievements to date, but also to specifically support the trio's next career steps".

The Amelio Trio, consisting of Johanna Schubert (violin), Merle Geissler (cello), and Philipp Kirchner (piano), has established itself as one of the leading chamber music ensembles of its generation. Founded in 2012, the trio has impressed audiences with its distinctive interplay and musical energy, which it has perfected in more than a decade of playing together. For the 2026/27 season, it was named ECHO Rising Star, which includes performances in the most important concert halls throughout Europe. The ensemble's growing international career was launched by recent competition successes, including second prize at the renowned ARD Music Competition 2023 in Munich, the prize at the German Music Competition 2024, and first prize at the Schumann Chamber Music Competition 2022. Their debut CD, Time in Flux, will be released on September 5, 2025, on the Leipzig label GENUIN.

The Academy of Sciences and Literature in Mainz and the Villa Musica Rhineland-Palatinate State Foundation have been awarding the Hans Gál Ensemble Prize since 2020. The prize, which honors international young ensembles, was made possible in honor of the Jewish composer Hans Gál and through the foundation of the same name established by Susanne and Andreas Barner. Depending on the size of the ensemble, it is endowed with €12,000 to €20,000.

The prize is intended to commemorate the composer, musicologist, and music educator Hans Gál (1890-1987). He was director of the Mainz Conservatory from 1929 to 1933. After the National Socialists seized power, Hans Gál, who was of Hungarian-Jewish descent, was immediately suspended and left Germany in the same year. The family initially lived in difficult circumstances in Vienna and emigrated to Great Britain in 1938. As a composer, he left behind an extensive oeuvre in the tradition of Johannes Brahms and the Vienna turn of the century.

Entry is free. Registration required here.

Invitation