Tuba Final – The winners have been announced

Of the 85 participants who had originally travelled to the 61st Markneukirchen International Instrumental Competition 2026 in the tuba category, the international jury selected three outstanding young soloists for the final round on Thursday, 14 May 2026, at the Markneukirchen Musikhalle. There, Byoungho Kang, Diego Stine and Igor Martínez performed once again before the seven-member jury and the audience, who were also invited to vote for their favourite and award an audience prize, sponsored by Sparkasse Vogtland.

With Jan Koetsier’s Concertino Op. 77 for tuba and string orchestra, the three finalists once again demonstrated their exceptional musical skill and captivated the numerous guests with their technical virtuosity, musical expressiveness and tonal variety. They were accompanied and supported musically by the Clara Schumann Philharmonic Orchestra Plauen-Zwickau, conducted by GMD Leo Siberski.

In this final round, too, the candidates impressed the jury, and first, second and third prizes were awarded as follows:

    First Prize-winner: Diego Stine, born 2001
    Second Prize-winner: Igor Martínez, born 1994
    Third Prize-winner: Byoungho Kang, born 2003

The finalists come from South Korea, the USA and Venezuela, once again reflecting the great international diversity of this long-established competition.

Free from the pressure of the competition, they will once again perform a selection of works from the various rounds at the prize-winners’ concert on Saturday, 16 May 2026. The first-prize winner will once again perform the piece from the final round. The second- and third-place winners will perform Anthony Plog’s *Three Miniatures* for tuba and piano and Robert Schumann’s *Adagio and Allegro*.