From nearly 200 applications from all over the world, ten participants were invited to a three-day selection process at the Philharmonie Berlin. The standard was very high, in keeping with the prize: the scholarship includes two years of training at the Karajan Academy for the Berliner Philharmoniker, as well as the coveted task of assisting the chief conductor of the Berliner Philharmoniker, Kirill Petrenko. In addition, the recipient will conduct their own portrait concert with the musicians of the Karajan Academy.

The choice was up to a seven-member jury chaired by Kirill Petrenko. Also on the panel were Andrea Zietzschmann, General Manager of the Foundation Berliner Philharmoniker, Peter Riegelbauer, Managing Director of the Karajan Academy, and Stephan Frucht, Artistic Director of the Siemens Arts Program. The big surprise came with the announcement after the final round: there would be not one, but two scholarship holders. Both Christian Blex and Oscar Jockel impressed the jury with their conducting skills and will share the prize.

In addition to the work with the Karajan Academy, gaining insights into the rehearsals of the chief conductor Kirill Petrenko with the Berliner Philharmoniker is another valuable aspect of the scholarship.

"When you go to other concerts as a conductor, you see the finished product," Christian Blex explained. "But what we're interested in, of course, is how you got there. We now have the privilege of seeing how a masterpiece is created, are able to observe that process with a lot of different personalities with different artistic styles, and how they all achieve this final project. From rehearsal psychology and people management to pure musicality. I think that's awesome."

Both scholarship holders are looking forward to their time at the Philharmonie Berlin, especially encountering new people, and all that they will still learn there.