Hamburg, the 23. September 2025: In 2025, the Claussen Simon Foundation will award the Claussen Simon Composition Prize, which is endowed with 15,000 euros, for the third time in cooperation with the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg and the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra. In addition to chief conductor Alan Gilbert, the composers Magnus Lindberg, Johannes Maria Staud, Clara Iannotta as well as Reinhard Flender and Fredrik Schwenk were members of the jury.
Alan Gilbert, Chief Conductor of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra: “Veljko Nenadić stood out among the many talented composers we considered for the Claussen Simon Composition Award for the honesty and sincerity of his compositional voice. His music is natural, rousing and shows a very personal perspective on his musical roots. I am delighted to be able to award Veljko Nenadić and hope that the opportunities offered by this prestigious award will inspire him as a composer and musician and make his music accessible to a wider audience.”
For Veljko Nenadić, the award also has a special significance because it is awarded by renowned artists and composers and represents a truly unique opportunity for young composers. “I am also looking forward to working with the Claussen-Simon-Stiftung, because I am convinced that it will broaden my horizons and open up new opportunities for my future work.”
Prof. Dr. Regina Back, Executive Board of the Claussen Simon Foundation: “With Veljko Nenadić, the jury has honoured an outstanding representative of the young international composer scene. His music surprises with unexpected twists and moves through its energised, imaginative world of sound. We look forward to the new work and look forward to the premiere at Elbphilharmonie Visions 2027.”
Veljko Nenadić (born 1998) is one of the most awarded and performed Serbian composers of the young generation. He has won more than 50 awards at composition competitions and festivals, including important awards such as the victory at the Bartók World Composition Competition 2022 in Hungary, the first prize at the 6. International Competition for Choral Composition Ennio Morricone, the first prize in the Luigi Nono composition competition in Italy and the victory of the Jeunesses Musicales International Composer Competition in Belgium. His works were awarded by renowned personalities from the composition world such as Ennio Morricone, John Corigliano, Unsuk Chin and Tristan Murail and performed by outstanding soloists such as Barnabás Kelemen, Alberto Mesirca, Julia Hartig, Maja Bogdanović and Daniel Rowland. The compositions of Veljko Nenadić have already been heard at concerts and music festivals throughout Europe and have been broadcast on the radio. Nenadić received his education at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade with Isidora Žebeljan. Since 2021, he has been studying organ at the same faculty with Maja Smiljanić-Radić and is currently working as an assistant at the Chair of Composition. In addition to his compositional work, he regularly performs as a pianist, organist and harpsichordist.
The Claussen Simon Composition Award enables a young composer to premiere a large-scale work in a musically excellent setting and at the same time offers content and organisational support in the course of the composition process. Through the cooperation of the three renowned institutions, the awarded receives comprehensive support, the transfer of valuable experience and active support in the professional establishment as a composer. Central is the direct exchange with the conductor, orchestra, concert hall and foundation. In 2025, the Claussen Simon Composition Prize was awarded for the third time. The first prize winner in 2020 was the Swedish composer Lisa Streich. In 2023, the British composer Alex Paxton was awarded the Claussen Simon Composition Award.
Composers in the crosshairs of our attention