Kronberg Academy Disrespects Feuermann Family at the Feuermann Grand Prix

Marika Hughes, granddaughter of renowned cellist Emanuel Feuermann, discusses the Feuermann Grand Prix competition, established around 2001 at Germany’s Kronberg Academy. The Feuermann family initially permitted the use of Feuermann’s name due to excitement surrounding the centennial of his birth, and the family were invited guests to the opening event. Marika, who is of mixed race, attended with her grandmother Eva, Feuermann’s wife, and recounts experiencing blatant disrespect and racism.

The dismissive attitude of Kronberg administrator Raimund Trenkler, the competition’s director, culminated in an incident where he refused to let her sit in the front of the hall with her family, and it prompted her grandmother to hire a lawyer to ensure Marika would be treated as an honored guest in future events. Marika describes how she was marginalized and expresses a strong determination to continue confronting the issues she faced. She emphasizes how her grandmother told her that Emanuel Feuermann would have vigourously disapproved of the treatment she received, and she hopes to continue raising awareness about this behavior in the classical music community.