2026 Blakeman Gerber Indianapolis International Baroque Competition

Sunday, July 12, 2026 | Basile Theatre at the Indiana History Center

The 2026 iteration of the Blakeman Gerber Indianapolis International Baroque Competition took place on July 12th, 2026 at the Indiana History Center. That afternoon, the final judges announced Peter Hong-Jo Lim as the 2026 Devona & Amos Grand-Prize Winner. Lim also took home the Audience Choice Award, voted on by the live audience.

The Blakeman Gerber Indianapolis International Baroque Competition is a collaboration between Indianapolis Early Music and the Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra. Open to solo string, wind, and harpsichord instrumentalists, the competition welcomes student and emerging professional musicians specializing in historical performance. Five finalists are selected through an anonymous preliminary round judged by nationally recognized early music specialists.

This year’s Baroque competition welcomes five exceptional soloist to the Basile Theatre stage this July. After a preliminary screening process, these five laureates have progressed from a highly competitive pool of talent from around the world. Experience the competition LIVE at the Basile theatre by reserving your tickets. Only in person will you have the opportunity to vote for the $500 audience choice award given at the end of the concert. Then join us after the concert, while we await the results and name the Devona and Amos Gerber Grand Prize!

The finalists perform in the final round this July, in Indianapolis, as the concluding concert of the 60th Indianapolis Early Music Festival. Each finalist leads the Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra in a Baroque solo concerto. Prizes include the $15,000 Devona and Amos Gerber Prize, along with additional cash awards. All finalists are recognized as laureates, receiving medals, with additional awards presented to all except the first prize winner.

“Showcasing the talents of young artists has long been a priority for Indianapolis Early Music. We partner with Early Music America to present that organizations’s “emerging artists” each year and I am always on the lookout for exciting young performers.  But’s it’s the BGIIBC which truly is the “icing on the cake” as it were where we can present the finest young early musicians from around the globe. The concert setting of the final round of the Competition shows our audience that the future of early music is indeed in good hands!”

- Mark Cudek, Artistic Director, IEM