01/05/2026
Disclaimer / Public Statement
The International Erich Bergel Association distances itself entirely from the "Târgu Mureș International Conducting Competition" and assumes no responsibility whatsoever for its organisation, communication, selection procedures, jury decisions, prizes, public statements, or any other aspect of the competition.
Any use of Erich Bergel’s name, image, biography, or artistic legacy in connection with this competition must not be understood as implying approval, cooperation, or endorsement by the International Erich Bergel Association.
The competition currently advertised in Târgu Mureș is organised by Association Kult Mind in cooperation with the Târgu Mureș State Philharmonic, according to its own website, and not by the International Erich Bergel Association. We further note that the previous editions of this competition, which were dedicated to Erich Bergel, have already been the subject of serious public criticism. In April 2024, Slipped Disc published an article under the title “Another dodgy conducting competition”, referring to concerns surrounding this competition.
The International Erich Bergel Association also objects to the simplified and misleading presentation of Erich Bergel merely as a “Romanian conductor.” Erich Bergel was born in Râșnov/Rosenau near Brașov/Kronstadt, in Transylvania, as the child of Saxon parents. He belonged to the Transylvanian Saxon cultural and historical tradition. To describe him simply as “Romanian” ignores an essential part of his identity, heritage, biography, and artistic legacy.
This inaccurate and superficial handling of Erich Bergel’s life and background demonstrates, in our view, a serious lack of understanding of the person, the history, and the artistic significance of Erich Bergel. His name and legacy deserve scholarly accuracy, cultural sensitivity, and institutional integrity.
