It was nine-year-old Stella Werner 's first time taking part in the "Jugend musiziert" competition. She immediately won an excellent first prize with 23 points against strong competition from Braunschweig, Wolfenbüttel and Salzgitter. The maximum number of points is 25 and a first prize is awarded for a score of 21 points or more. Stella impressed with a sonata movement by Joseph Haydn, a lyrical piece by Edvard Grieg and a waltz by Louis Köhler.
Another strong competitor was nine-year-old Zi Han Jayden Sun. He took up the challenge for the third time this year and was also able to secure 23 points with a convincing performance. Jayden won his first prize with a bagatelle by Ludwig van Beethoven, a lyrical piece by Edvard Grieg and a polonaise by Frédéric Chopin.
Justus Buttkeis the third participant from the Salzgitter music school to play in the "piano solo" category. Like Stella and Jayden, he belongs to Donny Lobisch-Ehlert's piano class. Although Justus is already studying (not music), he wanted to take part in "Jugend musiziert" again at the age of 20, as the age limit is set at 21. His challenging program with works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms and Franz Liszt was rewarded with 22 points and a first prize.
A violin trio from the municipal music school also performed in the chamber music on string instruments category.
The students Lilly Marie Diehl, Lovelyn Nasarani and Anna Bombala played works by James Hook, Reinhard Kaiser and Henk Badings. The three young musicians impressed the jury not only with their individual skills, but especially with their joint playing.
The expert jury praised their musical breathing, dynamic variety, varied tempi and appearance as a "real team" and rewarded this performance with 23 out of a possible 25 points, which will enable them to take part in the state competition in Osnabrück from March 12 to 15. There, the three girls will compete with the best musicians in their age group from Lower Saxony.
The Salzgitter Music School wishes its prizewinners every success!