List of classical music competitions explained

European Classical music has long relied on music competitions to provide a public forum that identifies the strongest players and contributes to the establishment of their professional careers. This is a list of current competitions in classical music, with each competition and reference link given only once. Many offer competitions across a range of categories and in these cases they are listed under "General/mixed". Competitions with age restrictions are listed under "Young musicians".

Chamber music

• Asia-Pacific Chamber Music Competition, for piano trios and string quartets, in Melbourne, Australia, every four years^{[1] [2]}
• International Chamber Music Competition Hamburg for piano trios and string quartets (Hamburg, Germany)^[3]
• International Shostakovich Chamber Music Competition (Moscow, Russia)^[4]
• Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition, held in Melbourne, Australia, every four years^{[2] [5]}

Choral/voice

• Australian Singing Competition (Sydney, Australia)^[6]
• Bampton Classical Opera Young Singers' Competition (UK)^[7]
• BBC Singer of the World competition (Cardiff, Wales)^[8]
• Boris Christoff International Competition for Young Singers (Sofia, Bulgaria)^[9]
• Concurs Internacional de Cant Francesc Viñas (Barcelona, Spain)
• International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition (Leipzig, Germany)
• Neue Stimmen International Singing Competition (Gütersloh, Germany)^[10]
• International Stanisław Moniuszko Vocal Competition (Warsaw, Poland)
• International Stasys Šimkus choir competition (Klaipėda, Lithuania)^[11]
• International Tchaikovsky Competition (Moscow, Russia)
• International Vocal Competition 's-Hertogenbosch ('s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands)
• Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award^[12]
• The Klaudia Taev Competition for Young Opera Singers (Pärnu, Estonia).
• Marilyn Horne Song Competition, competition for classical singers and piano accompanists since 1997.
• Operalia, The World Opera Competition (Paris, France)
• Queen Elisabeth Music Competition (Brussels, Belgium)
• Queen Sonja International Music Competition (Oslo, Norway)

Composition

• Gaudeamus International Composers Award (Netherlands)^[13]
• George Enescu International Competition (Composition section) (Bucharest, Romania)^[14]
• International Composers Festival, Hastings and Bexhill, East Sussex, United Kingdom^[15]
• International Uuno Klami Composition Competition (Kotka/Kouvola, Finland)^[16]
• Masterprize International Composing Competition^{[17] [18]}
• Queen Elisabeth Music Competition (Brussels, Belgium)^[19]
• 60x60 – International (New York, US)
• Tōru Takemitsu Composition Award (Tokyo, Japan)^[20]

Conducting

• Cadaqués Orchestra International Conducting Competition (Spain)^[21]
• Donatella Flick Conducting Competition (UK)
• Gustav Mahler Conducting Competition (Germany)
• International Besançon Competition for Young Conductors (France)
• Jorma Panula Conducting Competition (Finland)
• Leeds Conductors Competition (UK)
• Nicolai Malko Competition For Young Conductors (Denmark)^[22]
• Sir Georg Solti International Conductors' Competition (Germany)^[23]
• The Grzegorz Fitelberg International Competition for Conductors (Poland)^[24]
• Tokyo International Music Competition for Conducting (Japan)

General/ mixed

• EUROPAfest (Bucharest, Romania)
• Long-Thibaud-Crespin Competition (previously International Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud Competition; Paris, France)
• Nishinihon International Music Competition (Fukuoka, Japan)
• Mykola Lysenko International Music Competition (Kyiv, Ukraine)
• Windsor Festival International String Competition (Windsor, UK)^[25]

Instrumental

• ARD International Music Competition (Munich, Germany)
• Gaudeamus Competition (Netherlands)^[26]
• International Joseph Joachim Violin Competition Hanover
• International Performers Competition Brno (Brno, Czech Republic)^[27]
• Leos Janacek International Competition (Brno, Czech Republic)^[28]
• Montreal International Music Competition (Montreal, Canada)
• Mykola Lysenko International Music Competition (Kyiv, Ukraine)
• Queen Elisabeth Music Competition (Brussels, Belgium)^[29]
• TROMP international music competition & Festival (Eindhoven, Netherlands)^[30]

Piano/keyboard

• Anton Rubinstein Competition (Dresden, Germany)^[31]
• Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition (Tel Aviv, Israel)^[32]
• Ciutat de Carlet International Piano Competition (Valencia, Spain)^[33]
• Clara Haskil International Piano Competition (Vevey, Switzerland)^[34]
• Cleveland International Piano Competition (Cleveland, US)^[35]
• Concours Géza Anda (Zurich, Switzerland)^[36]
• Dallas Chamber Symphony International Piano Competition (Dallas, US)^[37]
• The Dranoff International Two Piano Foundation (Dallas, US)^[38]
• Epinal International Piano Competition (Epinal, France)^[39]
• EPTA - International Piano Competition Svetislav Stančić (Zagreb, Croatia)^[40]
• Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition (Bolzano, Italy)^[41]
• George Enescu International Competition (Piano section) (Bucharest, Romania)
• Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition (Salt Lake City, US)^[42]
• Hamamatsu International Piano Competition (Hamamatsu, JP)^[43]
• Hilton Head International Piano Competition (Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, US)^[44]
• Honens International Piano Competition (Calgary, Canada)^[45]
• International Chopin Piano Competition (Poland)^[46]
• International Ettore Pozzoli Piano Competition (Seregno, Italy)^[47]
• International Franz Liszt Piano Competition (Utrecht, Netherlands)^[48]
• International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition (organ; Leipzig, Germany)^[49]
• International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs (Paris, France)^[50]
• International Tchaikovsky Competition (Russia)^[51]
• ISANGYUN Competition (Tongyeong, South Korea)^[52]
• José Iturbi International Piano Competition (Los Angeles, US)^[53]
• Kissingen Piano Olympics (Kissinger Klavierolymp, Bad Kissingen, Germany)^[54]
• Lagny-sur-Marne International Piano Competition (Lagny, France)^[55]
• Leeds International Pianoforte Competition (Leeds, UK)^[56]
• Maria Canals International Music Competition (Barcelona, Spain)^[57]
• Mykola Lysenko International Music Competition (Kyiv, Ukraine)
• Paloma O'Shea International Piano Competition (Santander, Spain)^[58]
• Panama International Piano Competition (Panama City, Panama)^[59]
• Peabody Mason International Piano Competition (Boston, US)^[60]
• Petr Eben International Organ Competition (Opava, Czech Republic)^[61]
• Pilar Bayona Piano Competition (Spain)^[62]
• Queen Elisabeth Music Competition (Belgium)^[63]
• Ricard Viñes International Piano Competition (Lleida, Spain)^[64]
• Sendai International Music Competition (Sendai, Japan)^[65]
• St Albans International Organ Competition (St Albans, UK)^[66]
• Sussex International Piano Competition (Worthing, UK)^[67]
• Sydney International Piano Competition (Sydney, Australia)^[68]
• Valencia International Piano Competition Prize Iturbi (Valencia, Spain)^[69]
• Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (Fort Worth, US)^[70]
• World International Piano Competition (Santa Fe, US)^[71]

String instruments

• Carl Flesch International Violin Competition (London, UK; 1945–1992)^[72]
• Carl Nielsen International Music Competition (Odense, Denmark)
• Città di Brescia International Violin Competition (Brescia, Italy)
• George Enescu International Competition (Violin, Cello section) (Bucharest, Romania)
• Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition (Poznań, Poland)
• International Arthur Grumiaux Competition for Young Violinists (Brussels, Belgium)^[73]
• International Brahms Competition (Pörtschach am Wörthersee, Austria)^[74]
• International Fritz Kreisler Competition (Vienna, Austria)
• The International Harp Contest in Israel (Jerusalem, Israel)
• International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition (Helsinki, Finland)
• International Tchaikovsky Competition (Moscow, Russia)
• International Violin Competition Henri Marteau (Lichtenberg and Hof, Germany)^[75]
• International Violin Competition of Indianapolis (Indianapolis, US)
• International Violin Competition Leopold Mozart in Augsburg (Augsburg, Germany)
• ISANGYUN Competition (Tongyeong, South Korea)^[52]
• Klein Competition (San Francisco, US)^[76]
• Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition (Isle of Man, UK)
• Maurice Vieux International Viola Competition (France)
• Michael Hill International Violin Competition (New Zealand)
• Moscow International David Oistrakh Violin Competition (Moscow, Russia)
• Mstislav Rostropovich International Cello Competition (Paris, France)^[77]
• Mykola Lysenko International Music Competition (Kyiv, Ukraine)
• Paganini International Competition (Genoa, Italy)
• Primrose International Viola Competition (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
• Queen Elisabeth Music Competition (Belgium)
• Sendai International Music Competition (Sendai, Japan)
• Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition (Shanghai, China)
• Singapore International Violin Competition (Singapore)
• USA International Harp Competition (Bloomington, Indiana, US)
• Windsor Festival International String Competition (Windsor, UK)^[78]
• Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists (Richmond, VA, US in 2021)^[79]

Woodwind instruments

• BBC Young Musician of the Year (UK)
• Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition (Indiana, US)
• Gregynog Young Musicians Competition (Wales, UK)^[80]
• International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition (Leipzig, Germany)
• International Russian Rotary Children Music Competition (Russia)^[81]
• International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians (Moscow, Russia)^[82]
• Jeunesses Musicales International (Various)^[83]
• New York International Piano Competition (New York, US)^[84]
• Prague Spring International Music Competition (Prague, Czech Republic)^[85]
• Sydney Eisteddfod (Sydney, Australia)

Young musicians

• ABC Young Performers Awards (Sydney, Australia)^[86]
• International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians (Russia)

See also

• European Union of Music Competitions for Youth
• List of Recipients of the Terence Judd Award
• World Federation of International Music Competitions

External links

• List of Classical Music Competitions at MusicaNeo
• Directory of International Piano Competitions
• Musicalchairs.info List of Competitions
• ClassicalNet: Festivals, Competitions, Concerts & Concert Venues
  • World Federation of International Music Competitions
• List of all flute laureates

Notes and References

1. Web site: Asia-Pacific Chamber Music Competition: 8-14 July 2013: Competition overview. Chinese Embassy. 2013.
2. Web site: New future for top music competitions . . 29 July 2016 . 12 November 2023.
3. Web site: International Chamber Music Competition. https://web.archive.org/web/20081223101443/http://www.icmc-hamburg.de/. dead. 23 December 2008.
4. Web site: II Международный Конкурс Камерных Ансамблей Государственный музыкально-педагогический институт имени М.М. Ипполитова-Иванова. www.ippolitovka.ru. 25 June 2017. 15 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170615001245/http://www.ippolitovka.ru/node/1933. dead.
5. Web site: Melbourne Int'l Chamber Music Competition. Musica Viva Australia.
6. Web site: Home. IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition.
7. Web site: Young Singers' Competition . bamptonopera.org . 5 January 2022.
8. Web site: BBC Cardiff Singer of the World. BBC.
9. Web site: Boris Christoff. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070352/http://www.borischristoff.dir.bg/. 4 March 2016.
10. Web site: International Singing Competition Neue Stimmen. Bertelsmann Stiftung. 27 October 2017.
11. Web site: International Stasys Šimkus Choir Competition. Facebook.
12. Web site: Bel Canto Award. 8 February 2017. 7 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170207234107/http://www.jsrbfoundation.com/awards-prizes/bel-canto-award/. dead.
13. Mitrović . Radoš . January 2015 . Gaudeamus Muziekweek . New Sound: International Magazine for Music . 45 . 221–22 . 27 March 2022 . It is a composers' competition, established in 1947 as a local event and turned into an international festival in 1959. .
14. Web site: George Enescu International Competition . 25 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180826005101/https://www.festivalenescu.ro/en/ . 26 August 2018 . dead .
15. https://www.composersfestival.com/ Home | Composers Festival
16. Web site: IV LASTEN JA NUORTEN UUNO KLAMI –SÄVELLYSKILPAILU (2021-2022) | Uuno Klami IV - Kansainvälinen sävellyskilpailu. klamicompetition.fi.
17. News: Clements . Andrew . 12 October 2001 . Masterprize final . . London . 13 October 2021.
18. Web site: Masterprize international composing competition 2000 - 2001 . 8 May 2000 . masterprize.com . Masterprize . https://web.archive.org/web/20000408221513/http://www.masterprize.com/ . 8 April 2000 . dead.
19. Book: Lefever, Katrien . 31 July 2012 . New Media and Sport: International Legal Aspects . T.M.C. Asser Press . 235 . 9789067048729 . 2012940957 . In Belgium, for example, the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition is included in the list of major events..
20. Book: Siddons, James . 2001 . Tōru Takemitsu : a bio-bibliography . London . Greenwood Press . 10 . 9780313272370 . 01023183 . After his death, the Tôru Takemitsu Composition Award was established in 1997....
21. Web site: Cadaqués Orchestra International Conducting Competition. Orquestra de Cadaqués.
22. Web site: MALKO. MALKO.
23. Web site: Sir Georg Solti International Conductors' Competition . 27 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160408000140/http://www.dirigentenwettbewerb-solti.de/english/ . 8 April 2016 . dead .
24. Web site: The 10th Grzegorz Fitelberg International Competition for Conductors . 20 December 2017 . 22 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051054/https://fitelbergcompetition.com/en . dead .
25. Web site: FMMC.org – A Community of Music Lovers and Musicians. 30 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150331224117/http://www.fmmc.org/. 31 March 2015. dead.
26. Web site: Gaudeamus Competition. https://web.archive.org/web/20141209031655/http://www.andriasovstore.com/competition.htm. dead. 9 December 2014.
27. Web site: ENH do telefonu – Mezinárodní hudební festival Brno. 21 August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081005044630/http://www.mhf-brno.cz/mis/en/. 5 October 2008. dead.
28. Web site: Hudební fakulta JAMU – HF.
29. Web site: Home. queenelisabethcompetition.be.
30. Web site: TROMP Percussion Eindhoven – TROMP International Percussion Competition Eindhoven.
31. Web site: Anton Rubinstein Competition. https://web.archive.org/web/20141221152352/http://www.forum-tiberius.org/index.php?id=32&type=0&L=1. dead. 21 December 2014.
32. Web site: Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Competition. https://web.archive.org/web/20160217130515/http://www.arims.org.il/index_society.php. dead. 17 February 2016.
33. Web site: Ciutat de Carlet International Piano Competition . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151015214025/http://www.venamicasa.com/about-valencia/for-music-lovers/carlet-international-piano-competition/ . 15 October 2015.
34. Web site: Concours Clara Haskil – Vevey (Suisse). https://web.archive.org/web/19991005125812/http://www.regart.ch/clara-haskil/. dead. 5 October 1999.
35. Web site: Piano Cleveland. Piano Cleveland.
36. Web site: Geza-Anda – Concours Géza Anda 2021.
37. Web site: Dallas International Piano Competition. 12 December 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20130109013305/http://www.dcspianocompetition.org/. 9 January 2013. dead.
38. Web site: The Dranoff International 2 Piano Foundation | Official Website. dranoff2piano.org.
39. Web site: Website of the Epinal International Piano Competition. Girod. Luc. www.concours-international-piano-epinal.org. 27 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180122010300/http://www.concours-international-piano-epinal.org/en/index.php. 22 January 2018. dead.
40. Web site: KDZ.HR – Glazba, koncerti i umjetnost.
41. Web site: Concorso Pianistico Internazionale Ferruccio Busoni. 4 May 2012. 12 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191012063940/https://www.concorsobusoni.it/. dead.
42. Web site: Gina Bachauer – International Piano Foundation. 11 June 2013.
43. Web site: 2018 . Official Website . Hamamatsu International Piano Competition . 25 April 2018 . 14 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200914114003/https://www.hipic.jp/ . dead .
44. Web site: Hilton Head International Piano Competition.
45. Web site: Honens - Piano | Festival | Competition. Honens.
46. Web site: Chopin Competition 2015 – 17th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150403212032/http://konkurs.chopin.pl/en. 3 April 2015.
47. Web site: Home. www.concorsopozzoli.com. 13 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20141211124931/http://www.concorsopozzoli.com/index.php/en/. 11 December 2014. dead.
48. Web site: International Franz Liszt Piano Competition. 4 May 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120504051539/http://www.liszt.nl/. 4 May 2012. dead.
49. Web site: Wir über uns – Bach-Archiv Leipzig. 4 May 2012. 6 November 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131106021104/http://www.bach-leipzig.de/index.php?id=77&L=1. dead.
50. Web site: International Competition for Outstanding Piano Amateurs - Pianoamateurs. Outstanding Piano Amateurs.
51. Web site: tchaikovsky-competition.com. Domain is for sale. https://web.archive.org/web/20120614020908/http://www.tchaikovsky-competition.com/en. dead. 14 June 2012. tchaikovsky-competition.com.
52. Web site: ISANGYUN COMPETITION. www.isangyuncompetition.org.
53. Web site: José Iturbi Foundation – Popularizing Classical Music…One Note at a Time!. 4 July 2021. 7 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210607170838/http://www.joseiturbifoundation.org/admin/. dead.
54. Web site: Kissinger Sommer – Internationales Musikfestival, Kissinger Piano Olympics. Bayerisches Staatsbad Bad Kissingen, Stadt Bad. Kissingen. www.kissingersommer.de. 30 September 2018. 22 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200922011253/https://www.kissingersommer.de/en/programm/kissinger-klavierolymp/index.html. dead.
55. Web site: CONCOURS INTERNATIONAL DE PIANO DE LAGNY. ciplsm. 4 July 2021. 9 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183546/https://www.concourspianolagny.com/. dead.
56. Web site: LIPC. 8 May 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20040522153840/http://www.leedspiano.com/. 22 May 2004. dead.
57. Web site: Concurs Maria Canals Barcelona – Concurs Maria Canals Barcelona.
58. Web site: XIX Santander International Piano Competition. Home. www.santanderpianocompetition.com.
59. Web site: Concurso de Piano Panamá Nelly y Jaime Ingram.
60. Web site: Peabody Mason Piano Competition. 4 May 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120301082736/http://www.peabodymasonpianocompetition.com/. 1 March 2012. dead.
61. Web site: Petr Eben International Organ Competition 2010. https://archive.today/20130210043106/http://konzervator.cz/organ/Petr-Eben-International-Organ-Competition-Opava-2008?PHPSESSID=8882484a554c99b17e1505661f13f740. dead. 10 February 2013. 4 May 2012.
62. Web site: New Page 2. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175653/http://www.pilarbayona.es/concurso.htm. 3 March 2016.
63. Web site: IIS7. www.concours-reine-elisabeth.be. 4 May 2012. 9 June 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070609030042/http://www.concours-reine-elisabeth.be/. dead.
64. Web site: 2018 23rd RICARD VIÑES INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION – Ricard Viñes International Piano Competition. Ricard Viñes International Piano Competition. 27 April 2018.
65. Web site: 仙台国際音楽コンクール. 仙台国際音楽コンクール /. SIMC. 仙台国際音楽コンクール | Sendai International Music Competition.
66. Web site: St Albans International Organ Festival. 4 May 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20191123045033/http://www.organfestival.com/. 23 November 2019. dead.
67. Web site: Sussex International Piano Competition. 10 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130407042704/http://www.sussexipc.co.uk/. 7 April 2013. dead.
68. Web site: Sipca | Outdoor Lounge Setting. www.sipca.com.au.
69. Web site: Piano Iturbi. 4 July 2021. 19 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211219225125/https://pianoiturbi.dival.es/. dead.
70. Web site: Welcome – The Cliburn International Piano Competition. The Cliburn.
71. Web site: World International Piano Competition - The Premiere Online Piano e-Competition. www.internationalpianoinstitute.com.
72. Encyclopedia: Boris . Schwarz . Revised by Margaret Campbell . Flesch, Carl . 2001 . . . 10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.09814.
73. Web site: Home. www.concoursgrumiaux.be. 4 July 2021. 9 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185324/https://www.concoursgrumiaux.be/index.php/en/. dead.
74. Web site: Johannes Brahms Competition 2017 – Poertschach, Austria.
75. Web site: International Violin Competition Henri Marteau: Home. www.violinwettbewerb-marteau.de.
76. Web site: Klein Competition. https://web.archive.org/web/20160121182757/http://www.californiamusiccenter.org/klein_about_competition.php. dead. 21 January 2016.
77. Web site: Welcome to civp.com. www.civp.com.
78. Web site: Windsor Festival International String Competition – Welcome. 1 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110930190434/http://wfinternationalstringcompetition.com/. 30 September 2011. dead.
79. Web site: The world's leading international competition for young violinists. Menuhin Competition.
80. Web site: Gregynog Young Musician – Cerddor Ifanc Gregynog. Web. Seren.
81. Web site: International Russian Rotary Children Music Competition. https://web.archive.org/web/20130616075741/http://rcmc-moscow.com/. 16 June 2013. dead.
82. Web site: IX Международный юношеский конкурс им. П.И.Чайковского. https://web.archive.org/web/20160131015255/http://tchaikovsky-competition.net/?lang=en. 31 January 2016. dead. 5 February 2016.
83. Web site: International Music Competition. https://web.archive.org/web/20141216023214/http://jmevents.ro/events/jeunesses-international-music-competition. dead. 16 December 2014.
84. Web site: Competition | The New York International Piano Competition. thenyipc.org.
85. Web site: Competition info. 8 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170922083846/http://www.wfimc.org/Webnodes/en/Web/Public/Competitions/Competition%20info?org=16653. 22 September 2017. dead.
86. Web site: ABC Young Performers Awards - Discovering Talent. ABC Young Performers Awards.