The winner of the 2024 prize
The Wolf Durmashkin Composition Award 2024 goes to Otto Wanke and Danielle Lurie for their
masterful works that translate emotional depth and historical sensitivity into innovative musical
language.
1st prize: Otto Wanke
The jury awarded 1st prize to the work “grains. ..loops. …” by Otto Wanke, as the composition masterfully translates the emotional depth and complex structure of Sutzkever’s poem into an innovative musical language and creates a haunting reflection on hope and resilience. Otto Wanke, a Viennese composer, began his career with jazz in Prague and later studied instrumental and electro-acoustic composition in Vienna. He teaches electronic composition at the Janáček Academy of Music in Brno and was the 2018 winner of the Wolf Durmashkin Composition Award.
2nd prize: Danielle Lurie
The 2nd prize went to the work “Friling” by Danielle Lurie, as it poignantly expresses the tragedy and hope of the Vilnius ghetto with profound musicality and historical sensitivity, while impressively questioning the role of music in extreme situations. Danielle Lurie, bassoonist and composer, is active in Germany and Israel. She is currently studying bassoon and composition in Freiburg and Munich. Her works have been performed by the Meitar Ensemble and the Volta Ensemble of the HMTM, among others.
