1. Organiser
The Kurt Maas Jazz Award is an event organised by the University of Music and Theater Munich (HMTM).
2. Eligibility
Students of all majors of the HMTM Jazz Institute under the age of 30 are eligible to participate.
3. Application and registration deadline
The application can be submitted until 22 November 2024 by sending the completed registration form to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Pre-selection credentials:
4. Admission
The jury’s decision on admission to the competition or admission to the final round will be communicated after the selection has been made. The decisions are final and no further explanations will be given. Admitted applicants will receive a confirmation by email. Applicants who are not admitted will also be informed by email.
5. Acknowledgment of conditions
By registering for the competition the participant accepts all terms and conditions of the competition as well as the jury’s decisions as binding. Legal action against any decision made by the jury is not permitted. This also applies to the individual benefits associated with the respective prizes. Applications that do not meet the requirements of the competition can be rejected.
6. Student of a jury member
Should a student of a jury member be among the candidates, this jury member cannot participate in the evaluation of this candidate. Anyone who is studying with or has studied with a jury member and did not complete the course of studies at least three years ago is considered a student. Participation in master classes does not apply to this rule.
7. Competition rounds
There will be two rounds in the competition: the pre-selection and the final round. A maximum of five people will be admitted to the final (public) round. The final round will take place on Thursday, 6 February 2025 at 1:00 PM in Saal X (HP8).
The following conditions apply to the final round:
Candidates admitted to the final round must send their competition programme as well as a motivational letter (in English) for the summer programme at Berklee College of Music, Boston by 19 January 2025 via email to the following address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
8. Awards ceremony and award concert
The award ceremony will take place as part of the award concert on 4 July 2025 at 8:00 PM at the Isarphilharmonie (HP8). The award winners commit themselves to participating in this event without receiving payment. The head of the university’s Jazz Institute will curate the programme. It is expected that each award winner personally accepts their award.
9. Prizes
First prize: Funding for a five-week summer study programme at Berklee College of Music in Boston, including flights, accommodation and meals. If the first prize winner is unable to attend the summer programme for personal reasons or due to force majeure, the jury may, at its own discretion, award this prize to the second or third prize winner and/or award the first prize winner an appropriate substitute prize.
Second prize: Funding for a four-week study stay in Brazil at the Sao Paulo State Music School »EMESP Tom Jobim« and/or at the Souza Lima Conservatório e Faculdade de Música in Sao Paulo, including flights, accommodation and meals. If the second prize winner is unable to attend this study stay for personal reasons or due to force majeure, the jury may, at its discretion, award this prize to the first or third prize winner and/or award the second prize winner an appropriate substitute prize.
Third prize: Funding for a (remunerated) performance at the Night Club of the Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich including a live audio recording of the concert for personal use.
10. Media use
The University of Music and Theatre Munich reserves the right to use recorded material of the competition rounds as well as the award concert or extracts from these for the production of a CD and/or DVD for promotional purposes and in order to document the competition. The university also reserves the right to submit the competition entries in audio and/or audio-visual form, itself or through third parties, on analogue and/or digital sound/image/video media, including platforms, regardless of the format or procedure, in order to evaluate or have the material evaluated and distribute or have the material distributed commercially and non-commercially. The required declaration of consent is deemed to have been issued by the participant upon registration for the competition; the same applies to the transfer of rights in accordance with the above-mentioned terms. Competitors and award winners are not entitled to additional remuneration.