Winners

Of the nearly 400 applicants, four conductors advanced to the final of the Solti International Conducting Competition, held at the Béla Bartók National Concert Hall at Müpa Budapest. The finalists demonstrated their skills by conducting world-renowned orchestral works.

The jury’s awards were announced at the gala concert following the competition. The jury, chaired by Pinchas Steinberg, decided not to award a first prize. Second prize was awarded to Drummado Wijnhamer, while third prize went to Yu-Te Wu, who also won the Audience Prize.

2nd Prize

Drummado Wijnhamer (The Netherlands) is a master’s student at the Franz Liszt University of Music in Weimar. In 2025, he won prizes at several prestigious competitions, including first at the Central German Academies Conducting Competition, where he conducted the MDR Leipzig Symphony Orchestra in the final. He has worked with orchestras such as the Dresden and Rotterdam Philharmonics and this year holds a scholarship from the German Music Council’s Forum Dirigieren.

3rd Prize

Yu-Te Wu’s (Taiwan, China) repertoire ranges from opera to symphonic and contemporary music. As a scholarship holder from the Finnish LEAD! Foundation, he is being mentored by Jukka-Pekka Saraste and Paul Hughes. He is currently music director of the Guandu Philharmonic Orchestra, and assistant conductor of the Taiwan National Symphony Orchestra, the Taoyuan Wind Symphonic Band and the Con Bello Symphonic Band.