Instrument grants

As set out in its articles of association, the Christa Bach Marschall Foundation supports young and gifted musicians in the domain of classical music. The Foundation has awarded scholarships for master classes in the context of the Leipzig Bach Competition since 2006, and since 2021 has also funded a concert series featuring laureates of the Bach Competition in and around Leipzig.

In the Violin section of the 2026 Bach Competition, the Christa Bach Marschall Foundation will award two grants for instrument loans:

•     one for a violin of Baroque construction and one for a violin of modern construction
•     These will be loaned to participants in the 2026 Leipzig Bach Competition for the duration of four years.

Interested participants will be able to try out the instruments with no obligation between competition rounds. They can sign up to do so once admitted to the competition. The decision as to who is awarded the instrument grants lies with the competition jury.

 
Instrument 1 (Baroque)

Baroque violin after Johann Christian Hoffmann, Leipzig 1729 – built on the model of one of the two violins ordered from Hoffmann by Johann Sebastian Bach in 1729 for St. Thomas’ Church or the Neukirche.
Made in 2024 by André Mehler (Leipzig): http://www.geigenbau-mehler.de/
The instrument is a reconstruction of a Baroque violin and resembles the original instruments in appearance.
Includes two bows: one bow with a clip-in frog by Bernhard Ritschard (Lübeck) and one classical bow by Marie-Eve Geeraert (Milan)

 
Instrument 2 (modern)

Master instrument after Guarnerius del Gesu, which combines the characteristic fullness and warmth of Guarneri violins with a Stradivarius-inspired curvature that greatly facilitates articulation and playability. This lends it both a powerful, sonorous tone in the lower registers and clarity and brilliance in the higher registers – without the difficulties frequently feared with Guarneri violins. It is thus an ideal instrument for young musicians.
Made in 2024 by Klaus Ludwig Clement (Leipzig): https://clement-geigenbau.com/