The Ö1 Jazz Scholarship 2026 Final at Funkhaus Vienna was a strong reminder of how much artistic potential is currently emerging in the field of Austrian jazz. As one of the country’s most visible platforms for young jazz talent, the Ö1 Jazzstipendium connects jazz competition, higher music education, and the professional world of contemporary jazz in Vienna. The scholarship is awarded as a full scholarship for a two-year Bachelor’s or Master’s programme at JAM MUSIC LAB Private University.
The six finalists — Tillmann Risse, Carla Kaltenböck, Adrian Varady, Michael Horvath, Marion Wolf, and Serafin Javorka — brought remarkable individuality, musical depth, and improvisational strength to the stage. Their performances reflected exactly the qualities that matter most in today’s jazz performance practice: artistic identity, communication, spontaneity, and the courage to develop a personal voice.
I was pleased to be part of the jury together with Wolfgang Muthspiel, Jeff Levenson, Andreas Felber, Elke Tschaikner, Anke Fischer, and Dietmar Petschl. The final once again showed how important this scholarship has become for jazz studies in Austria, music education in Vienna, and the promotion of the next generation of professional instrumentalists and vocalists. The live final took place on 8 April 2026 at Funkhaus Vienna.
The winner of the Ö1 Jazz Scholarship 2026 will be announced on 30 April 2026, during the evening Ö1 Jazz Day concert broadcast live on radio as part of International Jazz Day. For the full report on the final and all details about the scholarship, please visit the JAM MUSIC LAB website.