Notes from the Past, Sounds of the Future - International Composition Competition

Official call/opportunity page URL: https://www.musicalchairs.info/pdf/cp/6068

Deadline: 30 October 2026.

Entry fee / cost: No registration fee is required.

Eligibility: Open to composers of any nationality who have not reached the age of 35 on 31 December 2026. Applications may be individual or collective. The rules state that students and independent composers may participate, and no specific academic qualification is required.

Opportunity / submission requirements: Works must be original and unpublished, not commercially released, and not already awarded or commended in another competition by the closing date. The work must be freely and creatively inspired by the 18th-century Neapolitan school. The available instruments are piano, string quartet, snare drum, 3 timpani, 1 ride cymbal, 1 crash cymbal, and bass drum. Duration must be between 7 and 15 minutes. Scores must be submitted as PDF files, with optional reference audio, and the submitted materials must be anonymous.

Prize / benefit: The rules state that prizes include public performance of selected works within the Festival Note dal Passato, Suoni del Futuro, production of dedicated multimedia materials, and dissemination through the project’s official channels. The absolute first prize, awarded with a score of 100/100, receives a €1,000 scholarship.

Application method: Register through the dedicated Competition Registration page of the official website and upload the required PDF score and, where applicable, demo audio files. Postal submissions and other channels are not accepted.