Bonn, April 2026 — Momentum continues to build for American pianist Seth Schultheis, First Prize winner of the 2025 Telekom Beethoven Competition, as a new partnership aims to support not just his artistry—but the long-term sustainability of his career.
Since his competition triumph, Schultheis has embarked on a high-profile run of engagements across Europe. Highlights include Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 at the 30th Beethoven Easter Festival in Poland, a Germany tour with the Klassische Philharmonie Bonn, performances in Munich’s Bergson, and an upcoming appearance in Hatfield, near London, this autumn. He also featured in the Beethoven Orchester Bonn’s New Year’s Concert at the Beethovenhalle, with further concerto appearances alongside the Czech Philharmonic scheduled for 2027.
These engagements reflect the Telekom Beethoven Competition’s ongoing commitment to launching its prizewinners onto major international stages, with additional appearances—including regular invitations to Beethovenfest—already shaping Schultheis’s trajectory.
Now, at a pivotal stage in his career, the Competition has announced a new collaboration with Zenezen, a platform dedicated to the sustainable development and wellbeing of musicians. Over the next twelve months, Schultheis will benefit from tailored mentoring, access to a global network of artists and industry professionals, and opportunities designed to strengthen both his artistic profile and personal resilience.
Pavel Gililov, Artistic Director of the Telekom Beethoven Competition, said:
“We are delighted to collaborate with Zenezen and to provide this additional development opportunity for Seth Schultheis, the first prize winner of our 2025 Telekom Beethoven Competition. We care deeply about the sustainable development of our participants’ artistic careers, and we believe that this must go hand in hand with a strong awareness of musicians’ health and wellbeing, making Zenezen an ideal partner in this shared commitment,”
Ashley Wass, Co-founder and Artistic Director of Zenezen, adds:
“The period following a major competition success is tremendously exciting, but it is also riddled with potential pitfalls. Our mission is to provide Seth with the support that so many young musicians lack at this critical junction, such that he can build a career that is healthy and sustainable from the opportunities that come his way.”
With this joint initiative, the Telekom Beethoven Competition and Zenezen signal a forward-thinking approach: one that recognises that the future of classical music depends not only on talent, but on how that talent is nurtured.
