Halftime at The Muri Competition. Young talents from all over the world. Virtuosic playing on oboe and bassoon. The first round is over, the tension is rising. The Muri Competition is entering its decisive phase. After the start with around 100 participants, 40 young oboists and bassoonists will now compete in the second round. Leonardo Bizzotto, a young talent from Aargau, is also represented in the second round. The competition is now heating up: Who will impress in the second round? Who will make it to the semi-finals? Who will take a decisive step closer to the final concert? The audience can experience the talents live until the finale on April 19th.
The first round already showed: the level is enormously high. The talents traveled from 27 countries and five continents.
Anyone walking through the monastery grounds these days can feel the familiar atmosphere of competition. Here, participants discuss with judges. There, young talents play badminton together or sit in the sun in the monastery courtyard. This closeness makes The Muri Competition Especially. Close to the location. Close to the audience. In Muri, they can be experienced up close at a crucial moment in their development.
«It's impressive how international this competition is. And at the same time, you feel something familiar here,» says Matthias Rácz, chairman of the bassoon jury.
The second half of the competition will be even more exciting for the audience. The second round, the semi-finals, and the finals will follow. During these days, guests will experience not only great musical skill but also expression, personality, and composure. The final concert on April 19th marks the climax of The Muri Competition 2026. The six finalists will perform with the argovia philharmonic under the direction of Georg Köhler. Two works will be played that remain part of their instruments' repertoire to this day: Mozart's Oboe Concerto in C major, K. 314, and Weber's Bassoon Concerto in F major, Op. 75.
That's what The Muri Competition international class, young talent, and the special proximity to them, which is unique to Muri. The coming days invite you to experience the decisive phase of the competition – and perhaps the beginning of a great career – live.
Information for the audience
Semi-final: Friday, April 17, 2026, from 11 AM, Festsaal Muri
Finale with award ceremony: Sunday, April 19, 2026, from 5 PM, Festsaal Muri
Finale Tickets 50.00 CHF, the-muri-competition.ch/tickets