Mittenwald is not afraid of any expense or effort: in 2022 there will again be an international violin making competition in the birthplace of Matthias Klotz (1653 to 1743).
The municipal council decided unanimously.
Mittenwald
- “If we are not predestined for it in Germany, then who?” A perfectly legitimate question from Michael Altmann (CSU) on Tuesday evening in the Mittenwald municipal council. Because thanks to the beneficial creative power of the legendary Matthias Klotz, the place has undoubtedly enjoyed the reputation of an instrument maker stronghold since the 17th century. “A unique selling point,” says Altmann, who, like his other official colleagues, approved the ninth edition of the International Violin Making Competition from June 3 to 19, 2022.
This competition was held for the first time in 1989 in Mittenwald. Since then, this event has been held almost every four years. Instrument makers around the globe then make their exhibits available to an expert jury for evaluation. Recently, however, the response has decreased somewhat: while in 2010 246 participants submitted 275 instruments and 68 bows, in 2014 there were only 205 participants with 221 instruments and 66 bows. The low point finally followed in 2018, when only 130 experts sent their 143 instruments and 58 bows to Mittenwald. But there are reasons for that: At the same time, the competition was held in Cremona, Italy.
"Regardless of this, you can see a downward trend," explained the responsible Philipp Golka from the tourist information to the local councils. For this reason, a new “replicas” category is aimed for in 2022. At the same time, the registration procedure is to be digitized. Of course, all of this costs money. Golka and Co. reckon with a maximum of 35,000 euros, which the Mittenwald taxpayer is allowed to pay for it. The Whitsun holidays were chosen as the orientation date - with ulterior motives, of course. The experts need space and peace to store and evaluate the instruments. Both are given in the elementary and middle school as well as the violin making school during the holidays.
The members of the organizing committee were also proposed to the municipal council: In addition to Golka, they include Mayor Enrico Corongiu, Sabrina Blandau (managing director of Alpenwelt-Karwendel-GmbH), Patrick Wagner (AWK), Dr. Constanze Werner (director of the violin making museum), Georg Neuner (violin making school) and the master violin makers Rainer W. Leonhardt and Anton Sprenger.
According to Golka, an OC representative from the ranks of the municipal council would also be desirable. But the response from the addressees on Tuesday was zero, as a first tender request from the mayor showed. In the end, Ludwig Hornsteiner (CSU) wanted to know from Golka to what extent such a competition would affect the number of overnight stays. "That is relatively manageable," replied Golka. But that is not the primary goal of such an event. “It's about the perception of the place. That creates identity. "
