Gerhard Trede Prize (Gerhard Trede Foundation)

The Gerhard Trede Prize of the Gerhard Trede Foundation honors outstanding young composers in the fields of jazz and contemporary music. Based in the Hanseatic city of Hamburg, this membership-free competition format is aimed at private emerging talents who dedicate themselves to the scenic reinterpretation of works by Gerhard Trede. The goal is to promote not only the performance culture but also the creative further development of the musical legacy of the namesake. As an award, the prize offers a valuable platform to present the individual styles of the participants in the prestigious environment of the University of Music and Theatre Hamburg (HfMT).

Within the framework of the composition competition, young composers are invited to either rearrange an existing work by Trede for the Large Ensemble of the Jazz Department at HfMT or to create an original new composition incorporating titles from Gerhard Trede’s oeuvre. The artistic evaluation is conducted by a specialist jury that pays particular attention to originality, craftsmanship, and the congenial integration of Trede-appropriate motifs. The award ceremony will take place on 06.11.2024 in the Jazz Hall of HfMT Hamburg and promises an inspiring encounter between established musicians of the ensemble and promising emerging talents. This annually held composition competition opens exceptional networking opportunities and sustainably supports the winners on their musical development path.