In October 2025, I had the honor of being one of the selected participants of the Stretto International Piano Concerto Competition, a prestigious competition for young classical pianists. The first round had taken place online a few months earlier, and after successfully passing it, I was thrilled to travel to Tel Aviv, Israel, where the live rounds were hosted that year.
Coming from cold Germany to the 30-degree Tel Aviv heat, it initially felt more like a summer holiday than a piano competition. But soon, reality set in, and I spent most of my days practicing 8–10 hours daily at the conservatory — not always easy, since there were fewer practice rooms than participants.
Then came the second round, where each pianist performed a concerto accompanied by a second piano. I played Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor. Here you can see a photo from the second round:
After my performance, I felt a huge sense of relief and went straight to the beach for a swim. But I hadn’t been there for even twenty minutes when I received a phone call: I had advanced to the final round! I was overjoyed — though slightly disappointed when my teacher, Yossi Reshef, insisted I leave the beach and return to the practice rooms.
The next day, rehearsals with the orchestra began. In the final, we would perform the concerto not with a second piano, but with a full orchestra — and not just any orchestra: the Israel Chamber Orchestra, one of Israel’s finest orchestras, which has performed with legends such as Mstislav Rostropovich, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Isaac Stern, and Itzhak Perlman. Here you can see a photo from the rehearsal:
Two days later, the moment arrived — the final round. My performance was scheduled for 9 p.m. Unfortunately, I had caught a virus and developed a fever and headache. I seriously considered withdrawing, but having come this far, I couldn’t let the opportunity slip away. I went on stage – the adrenaline gave me the strength I needed, and under the direction of the brilliant conductor Nitai Rach, the performance went well.
At the award ceremony the following day, I was deeply honored to receive Third Prize, being the only international participant among the top winners.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Maestro Nitai Rach and all the musicians of the Israel Chamber Orchestra for their patience and outstanding musicianship. My deepest thanks also go to my teacher Yossi Reshef, who supported me with dedication and encouragement throughout the whole competition and the preparation period — I am endlessly grateful.
