Fresh Takes on Youth Makes Music: New Participant Selection Sparks Controversy
A Contentious Shift in the National Music Competition, Youth Makes Music
Federal competition launches with reduced participant count: Young musicians kick off the event
The German Music Council has made changes to the selection process for the federal competition of Youth Makes Music, resulting in fewer participants. This decision has drawn criticism from various state music councils, raising concerns about unsettling young musicians.
Audio Piece
On Thursdays, beginning June 2025, the federal competition of Youth Makes Music kicks off in Wuppertal. With a tightened selection process aimed at lowering costs, the number of participants has dropped compared to previous years. Criticisms have already surfaced, including from the Thuringian and Saxon Music Councils. Over 1,800 young musicians from across the country will showcase their talents in the finale of the music talent competition until June 11th.
By Gloria Weimer, our website CULTURE
- Due to revised rules, fewer talents have qualified for the federal competition of Youth Makes Music, slated for June 5th to 11th.
- The German Music Council implemented the new rules for financial reasons, even though it may unsettle young musicians.
- Critics argue that the new participation process might demotivate young musicians, particularly those scoring just below the top.
The federal competition of Youth Makes Music is held in Wuppertal for the first time. According to the German Music Council, 1,800 young musicians from all corners of the country will perform in 1,157 public competitions. The competition runs from June 5th to 11th, 2025, concluding with four prize winner concerts.
The Struggle for Participation
This year, public discourse revolves around the new participation conditions. In Youth Makes Music, young musicians first perform in state competitions in front of an expert jury, who evaluate them and award points. The maximum score is 25 points.
Previously, scoring 24 or 25 points in the state competition ensured a spot in the federal competition. This time, however, this only earned a prize at the state level. To move forward to the federal level, an additional jury nomination was required. For participants with 23 points, the competition ended at the state level. In Thuringia, this would have resulted in a significant decrease in participants, as Constanze Dahlet from the Thuringian Music Council explains. The 23 points would have accounted for around half of the participants. In Saxony-Anhalt, a similar situation arises.
New Stipulations in 2025: State Quotas for Selection
For the first time, the German Music Council has restricted the number of participants in the federal competition of Youth Makes Music. Due to the competition's size and insufficient funds, as the Music Council announced on its website, quotas were distributed to the states. Musicians who participated in the state competition had to be nominated by the jury this year, and the German Music Council then decided who could participate. Constanze Dahlet from the Thuringian Music Council expresses her deepest regret that participants are unsettled by such a procedure. No guarantee can be given that one will advance.
Torsten Tannenberg from the Saxon Music Council starkly criticizes the regulation, stating it is "undignified" and has brought much unrest to the competition, affecting participants and parents alike.
A Call for Redesigning the Point System
Maja Schütze perceives the current regulation as potentially demotivating for young performers. As a mandolinist who has often participated in state and federal competitions with "Jugend musiziert," she acknowledges the challenge of explaining to a child that, despite a good performance and a "23," one may not advance.
Torsten Tannenberg from the Saxon Music Council sees the chance in this regulation to maintain high levels at the federal competition by having juries only forward top performances to the federal level.
Constanze Dahlet from the Thuringian Music Council concurs, noting that the point scores have incrementally increased in recent years. She observes that lower-tier awards were not valued as much. Dahlet hopes that state competitions will become accessible to more musicians in the future if top performances are held at the federal level in the future: "I think that's also the chance to say that even a third prize is a performance that one has worked for and that's what we want to honor."
Secured Participation for Nominees Earning 24 and 25 Points
The number of 24 and 25-point ratings in the state competitions in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia has remained stable compared to previous years. The lower number of referrals to the federal competition is primarily due to the fact that musicians with 23 points were no longer in the running.
The German Music Council made it known in advance that if the quotas of all states were not exceeded, all nominees would receive a place. Already in April, after the conclusion of state competitions, it was announced: All nominees may participate in the federal competition. This means that all musicians who have scored 24 or more points in the state competition can now attend Wuppertal.
Making Amends and Reconfiguring the Point System
Torsten Tannenberg from the Saxon Music Council admits that the situation worked out well this year. However, he emphasizes the need to prevent such uncertainty for participants in future years. "We will insist that the procedure we used this year is not a good one." Negotiations between state music councils and the German Music Council are scheduled for this year to find solutions and discuss how the point system at Jugend musiziert should be restructured in the future.
Sources: our website KULTUR (Gloria Weimer), Editorial processing: vp
Advocating for More Music from Young Aspiring Musicians
Culture
Theresia Philipp, Composer from Saxony, assumes artistic leadership of the Federal Jazz Orchestra
Saxony's Theresia Philipp takes over artistic leadership of the Federal Jazz Orchestra
The musician from Saxony, Theresia Philipp, has taken on the artistic leadership of the Federal Jazz Orchestra. As the first woman in this position, she will initiate the ensemble's musical direction.
Against 30 applicants, musician from Saxony takes over artistic leadership of the Federal Jazz Orchestra
In an intense competition against 30 applicants, Theresia Philipp, a composer from Saxony, has landed the position of artistic leader of the Federal Jazz Orchestra.
ArnstadtRhapsody in School: Classical project causes excitement in children and educators
Tackling the fear of contact between children and classical music, a music project named "Rhapsody in School" aims to bring classical music to life in an engaging and exciting way.
our website THÜRINGEN JOURNALDo20.02.202519:00Uhr03:03 min
Infos zur Sendung
Link des Videos
Rechte: MITTELDEUTSCHER RUNDFUNK
VideoAdditional Cultural News
- Puppet Theater Festival Conquers Stages in Magdeburg
- Leipzig: Bach Returns as an Avatar "Live in Concert" at the Bach Festival
- Erfurt and Gera: Golden Spatz Children's Film Festival Commences with World Premiere
- Halle: Artists Protest Against the Right-Wing Book Fair with a Festival
our website KULTUR - Das Radio | our website KULTUR am Morgen | 28. April 2025 | 07:10 Uhr
Additional Insights on Participation and Selection Changes
- Heightened Competition: A more rigorous selection process could lead to a more competitive environment, boosting the quality of participants but potentially deterring some who find the process intimidating.
- Transparency and Fairness: If the process is seen as fair and transparent, it could increase trust among participants, enhancing the competition's reputation. Conversely, if perceived as biased or opaque, criticisms could surface.
- Accessibility: Changes in selection processes could have varying impacts on accessibility. For example, digital components might make the process more accessible to those with limited mobility or resources but could also disadvantage those without access to technology.
- If criticisms are unfounded or lack merit, the process could be perceived as unnecessary and cause confusion for participants and observers.
- In the long run, well-designed processes could attract more participants by offering prestigious platforms and clear opportunities for advancement. If the process is perceived as unfair or overly difficult, it could deter potential participants and lead to a decrease in overall participation and engagement.
For specific insights into the Youth Makes Music competition, it would be essential to consult their official communications or news releases related to any changes in their selection process.
- The revised selection process for Youth Makes Music has led to a decrease in participants, with only those scoring 24 or 25 points in the state competition qualifying for the federal competition, and an additional nomination required.
- Critics, including from the Thuringian and Saxon Music Councils, argue that this new process might demotivate young musicians who score just below the top, as only the top performances will move forward to the federal level.
- In response to criticisms, the German Music Council has announced that if the quotas of all states are not exceeded, all nominees will be allowed to participate in the federal competition, regardless of their score.
