The years' jury was Julia Wolfe (USA), Akira Nishimura (Japan) and Huba de Graaff (the Netherlands). Anne La Berge (USA / Netherlands) replaced Julia Wolfe during the weeks' competition.

Here below a short film about the selection process.

The winner of the Gaudeamus Prize 2009 was Ted Hearne.

At the final concert of the International Gaudeamus Music Week 2009, which took place in Amsterdam, The Netherlands from 7 to 12 September, the Gaudeamus Prize was awarded to the American composer Ted Hearne (1982). He receives the award of € 4,550, intended as a commission for a new work to be performed at the next edition of the International Gaudeamus Music Week in 2010.

Ted Hearne received the prize for a selection from Katrina Ballads, performed on September 10, 2009 at the Conservatory of Amsterdam by `the ereprijs with Wim Boerman conducting. Hearne himself was vocal soloist in this piece.

An honourable mention went to Toru Nakatani (Japan, 1979) for 16_1/64_1, which was performed on 9 September in the Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ  by the New Music Ensemble of the Conservatory of Amsterdam, Jos Zwaanenburg conducting.

During the final concert of the Gaudeamus Music Week the Project Young Composers  (PJC) of the Holland Symfonia took place.  Three prizes were presented; the PJC prize went to Matthias Kranebitter and both the PJC Incentive prize and PJC Audience Prize went to Janco Verduin.

For your viewing pleasure, highlights from the Gaudeamus Music Week captured in a short documentary.

Of the 366 works sent from all over the world, fifteen compositions were selected for performances during the  Gaudeamus Music Week.

• Symfonieorkest Toru Nakatani (Japan, 1979) – 54_1/128_1 (2009)
• Evis Sammoutis (Cyprus, 1979) – Krouseis (2007)
• Kamermuziek Drasko Adzic (Servië, 1979) – Igra sudjaja (The Dance of the Moirae) (2007)
• Enda Bates (Ierland, 1979) – String Quartet no. 1 (2008)
• Giuliano Bracci (Italië, 1980) – Con il disincanto, l’incanto e la frenesia (2008)
• Ryan Brown (VS, 1979) – Bansky (2006)
• Ted Hearne (VS, 1982) – selectie uit Katrina ballads (2007)
• Peter McNamara (Australië, 1980) – Distorted waters (2007)
• Toru Nakatani (Japan, 1979) – 16_1/64_1 (2007)
• Robert Phillips (VS, 1981) – Mapuana mai kekahi (scent of another)(2005)
• Andrea Sarto (Italië, 1979) – Hèvel (2008)
• Elektronische muziek Thomas Bensdorp (Nederland, 1981) – Jeux d’Enfants (2008)
• Thanasis Kaproulias (Griekenland, 1980) – Silence, aircraft noises and harmonies in pain (2007)
• Michal Prynda (Polen, 1984) – Untitled 3 for improvised piano and electronics (2008)
• Yu Tao (China, 1981) – Ciel Demandé (2006)