Johannes Wiedenhofer wins Fanny Mendelssohn Composition Prize

Johannes Wiedenhofer, a 21-year-old composer from Munich, has been awarded the 2026 Fanny Mendelssohn Composition Prize. Out of 25 applicants, Wiedenhofer secured the award, which includes a €10,000 prize and a composition commission.

The award ceremony took place during the KlangART Vision festival at the John Cage House in Halberstadt. As part of the event, Wiedenhofer presented the world premiere of his chamber work, "wenn das licht bricht II," composed for flute and bassoon.

The prize is awarded annually to European composers under the age of 35. It is a collaborative effort between the KlangART Vision festival, the Fanny Mendelssohn Förderpreis Hamburg, and the Moses Mendelssohn Academy Halberstadt.

Wiedenhofer, who has been composing since age nine, currently studies music theory at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich and composition at the Mozarteum Salzburg.