YOUNG JAZZ TALENT AWARD 2026 .
TENOR SAXOPHON ONLY
The idea of launching a YOUNG JAZZ TALENT AWARD to provide professional support to young jazz talents as they embark on their careers arose in the summer of 2021 during a meeting between Prof. Dr Jürgen Ringbeck of the ‘Ringbeck Foundation’ and Peter Weiss, then director of the ‘Jazz Schmiede, Düsseldorf’. Young, as yet unestablished German jazz musicians aged between 16 and 23 are to be invited to participate as part of an early-stage support programme.
The call for entries for the first YOUNG JAZZ TALENT AWARD 2022 initially focused on percussionists – DRUMS ONLY – in the North Rhine-Westphalia region; this was followed by PIANO ONLY in 2023, VOCALS ONLY in 2024 and GUITAR ONLY in 2025.
THE THEME FOR 2026: TENOR SAXOPHONE ONLY.
The prize, worth €5,000, will be used to fund an ‘exclusive tour’ for the winner with their own band at renowned German jazz clubs in the year the prize is awarded. The winner will thus have the opportunity to perform alongside well-known jazz greats and share the stage with them; they will be offered an exceptional springboard for their career. The criteria for assessing applicants are:
– Creativity
– Virtuosity/technique
– Innovation
– Potential
The YOUNG JAZZ TALENT AWARD is organised through a collaborative partnership: the prize is sponsored by the ‘Ringbeck Foundation, Düsseldorf’ and organised jointly with the ‘Jazz Schmiede, Düsseldorf’ – directed by Peter Baumgärtner since 2024 –, the ‘Folkwang University of the Arts, Essen’ – this year with Sebastian Gille, lecturer in saxophone – and the ‘Cologne University of Music and Dance’ – Professor Niels Klein.
The YOUNG JAZZ TALENT AWARD has successfully established itself as an exclusive brand offering innovative support to young German jazz talents. The presentation of the award winners and associated events are organised with the support of ‘Jazz Schmiede, Düsseldorf’, via a dedicated website, our own social media channels, specialist jazz media and local media.
THE COMPETITION
To simplify the selection process whilst ensuring a high standard of candidates, the initial shortlist was restricted to tenor saxophonists studying in North Rhine-Westphalia. Sebastian Gille, lecturer in saxophone at the ‘Folkwang University of the Arts, Essen’, and Professor Niels Klein, of the ‘Cologne University of Music and Dance’, both renowned teachers in the region, each proposed two suitable candidates who, having met all the necessary requirements, were nominated for the competition.
And here they are, the tenor saxophonists nominated for the YOUNG JAZZ TALENT AWARD 2026
– Thies van Ballegooy
– Roland Danyi
– Dennis Grasmik
– Iara Sosalla Serodio
The auditions, the selection of the winner and the award ceremony will take place as a public event.
16 May 2026. from 8.00 pm
Jazz Schmiede
Himmelgeister Straße 107g
Entrance: Ulenbergstraße
40225 Düsseldorf
Each candidate will perform with the backing band – Lars Duppler (piano), Lisa Wulff (bass), Dominik Raab (drums) – two well-known pieces from different styles of jazz and one of their own compositions.
The winner will be selected by a panel of experts and the audience in attendance, and the award ceremony will take place on the same evening.
THE JURY
Kristina Brodersen – renowned jazz saxophonist Jörg Kaufmann – saxophonist and composer
Peter Weiss – founder and organiser of the YOUNG JAZZ TALENT AWARD – jazz drummer
Jürgen Ringbeck – founder and organiser of the YOUNG JAZZ TALENT AWARD – jazz enthusiast
the audience at the “Jazz Schmiede . Düsseldorf’ on the evening of the competition event.
The winner will be honoured on the same evening; their concert tour with a band will begin in autumn 2026. Performances are planned at renowned jazz clubs in Cologne, Wuppertal, Bielefeld and at the Jazz Schmiede in Düsseldorf. Peter Baumgärtner will organise the tour. The winner’s prize money will be used to cover fees, travel expenses, hotel accommodation, etc.
https://jazztalentaward.de/en/
CONTACT
JAZZ SCHMIEDE . Düsseldorf
Jazz in Düsseldorf e.V.
Himmelgeister Str. 107e
40225 Düsseldorf
Germany
+49 211 3110564
info@jazz-schmiede.de . www.jazz-schmiede.de
PETER BAUMGÄRTNER . Chairman
M +49 177 3416381
peter.baumgaertner@jazz-schmiede.de
TAMMEN GMBH
Advertising Agency . Management Consulting
Wilhelmstraße 14
49076 Osnabrück
Germany
+49 541 T 9 400 400 . F 9 400 450
info@tammen.de . www.tammen.de
ROLF TAMMEN . Managing Director
T +49 541 9 400 490 . M +49 170 9 100 490
rolf.tammen@tammen.de
