The Erste Bank Composition Award has become one of the most important distinctions in the field of new music in Austria. Since 1989, Erste Bank has annually awarded this prize to an exceptional composer in honour of his/her creative work to date.
The Erste Bank Composition Award includes a minimum of three performances by Klangforum Wien within a period of 12 months. The premiere usually takes place as part of the WIEN MODERN festival. In addition, the new work is released on a portrait CD by the label Kairos.
Until 2015, Prof. Lothar Knessl (deceased 2022) was responsible for selecting the composition prize winners.
In 2016, Christian Scheib, Gerd Kühr and Sven Hartberger will take over as jury members. Since 2021, Peter Paul Kainrath, artistic director of the Klangforum Wien, has been a member of the jury in place of Sven Hartberger.