The German piano trio was recognised for its achievements, particularly in its interest in contemporary works
The Villa Musica Rheinland-Pfalz foundation and the Academy of Sciences and Literature Mainz have awarded the 2025 Hans Gál Ensemble Prize to the Amelio Trio, a young piano trio from Germany.
The award ceremony of the Hans Gál Ensemble Prize will take place at the Academy of Sciences and Literature in Mainz on 15 December 2025. The Amelio Trio will perform a work by Hans Gál, and will be featured in several concerts organised by Villa Musica in the future.
The jury praised the ensemble as ’undoubtedly one of the most promising chamber music groups of its generation,’ highlighting its ’strong musical expression, intelligent interpretation of classical works, and radiating stage presence.’ The trio’s interest in contemporary music also played a vital role in its being chosen as the new laureates of the Hans Gál Ensemble Prize.
Founded in 2012, the Amelio Trio comprises violinist Johanna Schubert, cellist Merle Geissler, and pianist Philipp Kirchner. The trio has won prizes at numerous competitions, including second prize at the ARD Music Competition 2023, the German Music Competition 2024, and first prize at the Schumann Chamber Music Competition 2022.
The Amelio Trio was named ECHO Rising Stars for the 2026/27 season and it will perform in top concert halls across Europe. Its debut album Time in Flux will be released on 5 September 2025 on GENUIN.
Established in 2020 in honour of composer Hans Gál (1890–1987), the prize is intended to support emerging chamber music ensembles. The prize is endowed with €12,000 to €20,000, depending on the size of the laureate ensembles. The 2025 jury consisted of professors Ervis Gega (chair), Claudia Eder, Julius Berger, Tim Vogler, and Oliver Wille.
Hans Gál came from a Jewish Hungarian family and was well known to audiences in the UK, and especially in Scotland as one of the founders of the Edinburgh Festival, He served as the director of the Mainz Conservatory of Music from 1929 until 1933. After fleeing Nazi Germany, he emigrated to the UK in 1938, ultimately acquiring citizenship and teaching as a long-term professor at the University of Edinburgh.
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