The audition, the selection of the prizewinner and the award ceremony took place on March 31, 2023 with a public event in the »Jazz Schmiede. Dusseldorf«. Together with the backing band (Reiner Witzel, saxophone . Oliver Lutz, bass . Tim Dudek, drums), each candidate played three pieces of music (modern, standard and ballad) of their choice.
The selection of the prizewinner by a competent jury, the members of the backing band and the present audience followed by the award ceremony on the same evening.
More than 120 guests came together in the Jazz Schmiede this year and experienced a great evening with the lectures by the highly talented music students from the Folkwang University of the Arts. Essen and College of Music and Dance. Cologne. Jona Hahn, Paul Küppers, Nicholas von der Nahmer and Noah Reis Ramma were nominated, all of whom presented themselves as outstanding pianists and had no problems getting used to the backing band.
Martin Sasse, lecturer for pop keyboard and jazz piano at the Institute for Music and Media at the Robert Schumann University in Düsseldorf, member of the jury: "It was a great pleasure to listen to the four pianists. Insanely talented, young, creative and full of joy in playing, I was impressed. The result was so close and ultimately not quite fair, because all four were extremely good for their age. The stylistic range was enormous great, that also made the decision difficult. Ultimately, however, Paul Küppers was the most convincing when it came to the harmonic and melodic depth. A lasting evening, also due to the great audience and the great organization of the Jazz Schmiede. Thanks to you all!!!"
The winner Paul Küppers is looking forward to his YOUNG JAZZ TALENT CONCERT TOUR in autumn 2023 - with concerts in renowned jazz clubs in Bielefeld, Cologne, Düsseldorf and Oldenburg.
- Martin Sasse . Internationally renowned jazz musician . Professor for piano
- Kristina Brodersen . Renowned jazz musician on the saxophone
- Jürgen Ringbeck . Initiator and Organiser YOUNG JAZZ TALENT AWARD . Jazz enthusiast
- the accompanying band of the pianists in the "Jazz Schmiede . Düsseldorf" on the evening of the competition
- the audience of the "Jazz Schmiede . Düsseldorf" on the evening of the competition
Martin Sasse
Kristina Brodersen
Jürgen Ringbeck
YOUNG JAZZ TALENT AWARD 2023
