Winners of the 2026 Aeolus International Competition for Wind Instruments
Since 1995, the International Aeolus Competition for Wind Instruments has taken place in Düsseldorf, Germany. Each year highlights three categories of instruments, with the 2026 edition featuring the trumpet, trombone, and tuba. The participants come from all over the globe and are 28 years old or younger. € 60,000 of total prize money is offered, with the first prize receiving € 20,000.
The Prizewinners for the 2026 edition were: 1st Prize Ben Stümke (Trumpet), 2nd Prize Sophie Bright (Trombone), and 3rd Prize Byoungho Kang (Tuba). Stümke also received the Audience Award and Special Prize for the Best Interpretation of Contemporary Music.
15-year-old Ben Stümke began his trumpet studies at the Folkwang University of Essen with Laura Vukobratovic. From 2023-2025, he studied at the Robert Schumann Hochschule Düsseldorf. Since 2025, he has been playing in the Federal Youth Orchestra and has won numerous awards, including the NRW Youth Chamber Music Award, the Federal Youth Music Competition, and the Folkwang Brass Competition.
Trombonist Sophie Bright studied with Ian Bousfield at the Hochschule der Künste Bern. She is now pursuing a Master’s degree at the Royal Academy of Music in London under Peter Moore and Matthew Gee, supported by the prestigious ABRSM Scholarship, alongside competitive awards from Switzerland’s Lyra Stiftung and Fritz-Gerber-Stiftung.
Third Prize winner Byoungho Kang began his studies through the Kumho Young Prodigy program in South Korea. Currently studying at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover, Kang has been a prize winner at the Markneukirchen International Instrumental Competition, the Jeju International Brass Competition, the Busan Music Competition, the Woohyun Music Competition, the Yonsei Wind Competition, and the Music Journal Competition.
All three finalists performed with the Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra, culminating in a celebration of a brass-filled event from September 8-13, 2026.
Jury members for the week’s competition included:
Florian Csizmadia (Chair)
Ian Leslie Bousfield (Trombone)
Mireia Farrés Bosch (Trumpet)
Hannes Läubin (Trumpet)
Katy Jones (Trombone)
Prof. Thomas Leander (Rektor of the Robert Schumann Hochschule)
Alexander von Puttkamer (Tuba)
Lee Tsarmaklis (Tuba)
In total, there were 32 trumpet participants, 31 trombone participants, and 15 tuba contestants. Additional prizes were awarded to Balász Drahos (Trumpet), Jasmin Iris Ghera (Trumpet), and Massimiliano Nese (Trumpet).
The 2027 Competition will highlight the Bassoon, Clarinet, and Oboe categories.
Photo Credit: Susanne Diesner / Facebook
Learn more about the 2026 results and competition by clicking this link.
