Irene Steels-Wilsing Stiftung

The Irene Steels-Wilsing Foundation was established at the end of 2011 by Irene Steels-Wilsing to support young European string quartets in their careers. A core element of the support is a competition held every two years in Heidelberg, followed by an award ceremony. In addition to prize money, the winners are offered performance opportunities and individual guidance from renowned jurors and mentors. The foundation sees itself as a patron and mentor for emerging musicians and fills a gap in the funding landscape by focusing not on soloists but on chamber music ensembles.

The mission of the Irene Steels-Wilsing Foundation is to promote the most intimate and perfect form of musical collaboration – the string quartet – and to provide young ensembles with a platform where they can present themselves internationally, develop artistically, and establish sustainable networks. The foundation aims to strengthen cultural exchange in Europe and secure the future of chamber music.

Funding is provided for young, emerging string quartets from Europe who are at the beginning of their chamber music careers. The competition and support offerings are aimed at ensembles that demonstrate technical virtuosity, artistic maturity, and innovative potential, and who have an interest in a sustainable career in the international concert scene.