Our student Christoph Preiß has won first prize at the 19th Schwäbisch Gmünd International Competition for Organ Improvisation. The traditional competition, which has been held every two years since 1989 as part of the European Church Music Festival, is regarded as the most important competition of its kind in Germany.

After the first round of the competition on August 2 in the church of St. Franziskus, three finalists qualified for the decisive concert in the Heilig-Kreuz-Münster on August 3. There, Christoph Preiß was able to prevail against strong international competition and receive the Hubert Beck Prize, which is endowed with 3,000 euros and has been awarded in memory of the competition's initiator since 2013.

Christoph Preiß completed his master's degree in piano with Prof. Bernd Glemser and organ with Prof. Dr. h. c. Christoph Bossert this year. In addition to lessons in liturgical organ playing/organ improvisation as part of his church music studies (expected to graduate in 2026) with Reiner Gaar, he received significant impetus in Prof. Bossert's courses on organ improvisation.