The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra’s Principal Trombone Jonathon Ramsay took out the grand prize at the 2019 Aeolus International Competition for Wind Instruments.

The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra’s Principal Trombone Jonathon Ramsay has won the 2019 Aeolus International Competition for Wind Instruments in Düsseldorf, taking home the 10,000 Euro prize ($16,000) as well as the Audience Award.

Philippe Schwarz, Jonathon Ramsay, Ross Knight and Lennard Czakaj. Photo © Aeolus International Competition for Wind Instruments

The competition, open this year to trumpet, trombone and tuba players, was held at the Robert Schumann Hochschule in Düsselford from September 16 to 22, with the musicians competing in three rounds with piano accompaniment, separated by instrument, and a final comprising the winners of each instrumental section performing with the Düsseldorfer Symphoniker at the Tonhalle Düsseldorf.

“It was a long and exhausting week,” Ramsay tells Limelight. “Every single day was either rehearsing or performing, however it was also an incredible opportunity to meet other fantastic musicians and to hear some of them play.”

Scottish tuba player Ross Knight, solo tubist with the Orchester de la Suisse Romande, came in second, with polish trumpeter Lennard Czakaj coming in third, while Philippe Schwarz, Principal Trombonist at the Stadttheater Gießen, won the Prize for the Best Contemporary Interpretation.

“I feel incredibly fortunate to have won the prize,” says...