Isabel Dungworth wins the Bundeswettbewerb Jugend Musiziert

This past month, Isabel Dungworth and pianist Raphael von Franqué won the first prize at the Bundeswettbewerb Jugend Musiziert 2025. We congratulate her and Raphael on this great achievement!

Hailing from Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, the 17-year-old keeps a busy schedule, combining high school with the Youth Studies at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover with Jonas Bylund.
“Sometimes, I warm up before or at school, during our lunch break,” Isabel mentions. Furthermore, she has private lessons with Ann-Catherina Strehmel, from Theater Kiel.

Isabel started on violin before picking up the trombone in 2019. Shortly after she participated in her first Jugend Musiziert competition and was invited to a masterclass in Detmold. Isabel recalls: “There I met people who were all really into music. I had such a good time that I applied for a youth orchestra. I met my closest friends there.” She currently plays at the Bundesjungendorchester.

For this year’s Jugend Musiziert, Isabel played a varied program consisting of the Fantasy by Sigismund Stojowski, a piece by Krenek, Two Latin Dances by Lauren Bernofsky, and a Sonata by Benedetto Marcello. A good combination of standards, new pieces, and personal favourites, as Isabel loves playing Baroque music. On top of that, Isabel enjoys the opportunity to play in front of a jury. She says, “it’s always a good way to motivate me to improve my skills. Also, you meet a lot of people who are really good at what they do, which is very inspiring for me.”

Isabel is also not sitting still after this feat, as she plans on participating at the IPV (International Posaunenvereinigung) Competition in September, and “I am planning to do some, probably Baroque, recordings. I will also get the opportunity to play a solo concert with my youth orchestra in Hamburg.” She recommends young players to do as many competitions as you can, but to also look out for yourself: “Ask yourself if you’re happy with what you’re doing. And then when you’ve practiced this much and enter a competition, just enjoy it!”