Busoni Composition Prize 2026 awarded to Njabulo Phungula
13 Nov 2026, 7 pm

The award winner, Njabulo Phungula, composes music characterised by sensitivity and artistic depth. It invites the listener in, opens up new realms of perception and creates an intense relationship between sound, time and listening. What also makes his work remarkable is his ability to combine complexity with immediacy. His works are performed in South Africa, the USA and throughout Europe, including by the Klangforum Wien, the Ensemble Recherche and the International Contemporary Ensemble.

The works of the Sponsorship Award recipient, Raphaëlle Aoun, impress with their sonic sophistication. Through her music, she aims to forge a connection with her audience and to stimulate reflection and dialogue on the role of contemporary music in today’s society. Her works are performed by renowned ensembles and soloists, including the Ensemble Modern, the Ensemble Musikfabrik and the Ensemble LUX:NM. She is currently studying for a Bachelor’s degree in composition at the Hanns Eisler Academy of Music in Berlin.

The Busoni Composition Prize was established in 1988 by Aribert Reimann and is awarded every two to three years to young composers for compositions of exceptional quality and innovative compositional approaches. Through this award, the Akademie der Künste supports emerging composers; since 1992, it has also supported composition students.