The Austrian competition was founded in 1969 by F. Knoppek in Leoben as an instrumental and vocal competition for young people from Austria and South Tyrol aged 10–21 (for brass instrument players, double bass and bassoon up to 23, for singers aged 16–26) . It takes place every two years - since 1975 with preselection in so-called "state competitions" in the state capitals and the "federal competition" in Leoben. Participants are delegated from all Austrian federal states. The Tyrolean delegation also includes participants from South Tyrol.