It is with great pleasure that I report on the conclusion of the 2025 Theobald Böhm Flute and Alto Competition, which has once again brought together some of the finest flutists from around the world.
Held in the exquisite Johannissaal of the Nymphenburg Palace, this event was not merely a contest of technical prowess but a profound homage to the legacy of my esteemed ancestor, Theobald Böhm.
An Opening Befitting the Occasion
The competition commenced on Saturday, 8 March, with a concert by the esteemed jury members, who performed works dedicated to Theobald Böhm. This exclusive event was held for the competitors, offering them an opportunity to reflect on the artistry and innovation that Böhm bequeathed to our instrument.
Later that afternoon, I had the privilege of delivering a lecture on Theobald Böhm’s life and contributions, illustrated with a carefully curated selection of slides.
On Sunday, 9 March, the jury presented their concert once more, this time to an audience of some 60 descendants of Theobald Böhm and their spouses—a most moving gathering of family united by music.
That evening, in an act of solemn tribute, Aldo Baerten performed Theobald Böhm’s Opus 31 at his gravesite, a moment of great dignity and reverence.
The Competition
The competition itself unfolded over the course of the following week. The first round, spanning from Monday morning to Wednesday evening, was marked by performances of impressive caliber, a testament to the level of preparation and artistry each competitor brought to the event. The second round, held on Thursday, narrowed the field further, leading to the decisive third round on Friday noon, after which the jury rendered its final judgment.
This year, we were privileged to welcome 68 competitors from 20 countries, a truly international assembly of musical talent.
Presiding over the proceedings was a panel of distinguished jurors, each an eminent figure in their own right:
- Sung-hyun Cho (South Korea)
- Matvey Demin (Russia)
- Iva Lubomirova (Bulgaria)
- Martin Belič (Slovenia)
- Aldo Baerten (Belgium)
- Nihan Atalay (Turkey)
- Anton Kushnir (Ukraine)
The Laureates of the 2025 Theobald Böhm Flute and Alto Competition
After much deliberation, the jury awarded the following distinctions:
First Prize (€5000, generously provided by the Stiftung Otto Eckart):
Miss Haeun Kim (South Korea)
Second Prize (€3000, graciously donated by Christine Böhm):
Miss Anamarijah Lajh (Slovenia)
Third Prize (€2000, kindly offered by Eva Mändl):
Miss Ana Tutić (Croatia)
Two additional distinctions were conferred:
Prize for the finest performance on an alto flute in G:
Miss Anamarijah Lajh (Slovenia)
Prize for the most outstanding competitor under the age of 20:
Miss Chaeun Kim (South Korea)
A Tribute to Theobald Böhm
While the competition itself provided many moments of technical brilliance and expressive depth, it was the spirit in which it was held that remained paramount. Theobald Böhm’s vision – his pursuit of perfection in sound, mechanics, and musical expression – was honored at every stage. From the historical surroundings of Castle Nymphenburg to the deeply moving tribute at his gravesite, this competition was not only a celebration of artistry but a reaffirmation of Böhm’s indelible legacy.
I extend my warmest congratulations to the laureates and my deepest gratitude to all those who contributed to making this event a success.
Ludwig Böhm
ludwig.boehm@t-online.de | www.theobald-boehm-archiv-und-wettbewerb.de | www.theobald-boehm-shop.de
Address: Asamstrasse 6, 82166 Gräfelfing, Germany, tel. 0049-89-875367
Ludwig Böhm was born in Munich, where he studied English, French and Spanish at the University and was a teacher from 1981 to 1983. Inspired by a great exhibition in the Munich Municipal Museum in 1981 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the death of his great-great-grandfather Theobald Böhm (flautist, composer, flute-maker, inventor of the Böhm flute, Munich 1794–1881), he dedicated his life from that time on to keeping the memory of Theobald alive. As a result of more than 30 years of research, he published in 2012 all 88 compositions and arrangements of Theobald together with Dr. Raymond Meylan and in 2013 20 books and 4 translations from and about him.
He travelled to flute festivals in Japan, Australia, USA, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Italy, Croatia, Luxembourg, Slovenia, China, Great Britain, Iceland, Thailand, Portugal, Chile, Poland and Armenia and presented a slide lecture about Theobald. He is the President of the Theobald Böhm Archive, founded in 1980, of the Theobald Böhm Society, founded in 1990 and of the Theobald Böhm Foundation, founded in 2014. In 2006, 2011 and 2016, he organized in Munich the 1st, 2nd and 3rd International Theobald Böhm Competition for Flute and Alto Flute.
List of professional open G# players
Current list of 480 professional open G sharp players can be seen in the homepage www.theobald-boehm-archiv-und-wettbewerb.de under “Open G sharp Key”. If you are a professional open G sharp player, who have not yet contacted Ludwig Böhm, please do so at ludwig.boehm@t-online.de to be added to the list.
