The International Competition "Franz Schubert and Modern Music" (FS&MM) is a chamber music competition launched by the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz in 1989 and has since been offered triennialy. It brings young musicians from all over the world to Graz. The audience can enjoy a free-admission, multi-day festival of chamber music.

The FS&MM is not a competition like any other. Right from the start, it was about bringing Schubert's chamber music into relation with new and newest works for suitable ensembles. In addition, the expansion of the chamber music repertoire is actively pursued with composition competitions and commissioned works.

Future-oriented and job-related, this competition is looking for creative, imaginative, curious and at the same time high-level music personalities who can reach and touch their listeners in a variety of ways through chamber music interaction. In return, we offer the prizewinners not only prize money totaling around € 75,000, but also career counseling and support as well as workshops in the areas of career planning, self-management and music education for all participants.

With this competition, the University of Music and Perofmring Arts Graz is facing up to its responsibility to enable young musicians on their way from university to professionalism both to determine their position and to confront the reality of a profession that is inherently competetive. Top-class and internationally recognized jurors face this ambitious challenge and, with their qualified feedback, contribute to making this competition a significant milestone in the artistic development of the participants.

This competition is clearly positioned as a competition of the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz and therefore is also intended to transport key themes of the university, such as Audience Engagement. Thus, a special prize for Audience Engagement is awarded.

"Franz Schubert and the Modern Music" is associated with the World Federation of International Music Competitions (WFIMC) - a prestigious institution that represents only selected classical music competitions, and is also member of the Alink-Argerich Foundation (AAF).

Apart from the entire organizational implementation of the competition - the preparation as well as the follow-up - the Competitions Office is also busy working with external consultants to maintain and rebuild colloborations with concert organizers in order to create national and international performance opportunities for prizewinners.