Both commemorate the composer Felix Mendelssohn, and are awarded to promising young musicians to enable them to continue their development.

It was revived by the Ministry of Culture of the former East Germany in 1963, in the form of two annual prizes for composition and for performance.

As well as Humperdinck, famous recipients include the pianist Wilhelm Kempff and the composer Kurt Weill.

The funds raised at the 1848 concert were invested and allowed to accumulate until 1856, when Arthur Sullivan was elected as the first scholar.

[18] Recipients include the composers Frederick Corder, George Dyson,[19] Malcolm Arnold and Kenneth Leighton.