Portus Apostoli Harp Composition Prize 2026: €4,000 First Prize, Worldwide Scores by 23 December

Composers and eligible works

Spain's Noia Harp Fest has opened the fifth international Portus Apostoli composition competition to writers of every nationality and age. The objective is an original score for solo concert harp and string orchestra, lasting ten to fifteen minutes and making artistic use of the interaction between harp and strings. The orchestra must consist of first and second violins, violas, cellos and double basses, with the maximum performance forces 8.6.4.3.2. Electronic or electroacoustic sounds are not allowed. Galician cultural or musical connections are welcomed but are not mandatory.

Submission materials and procedure

Every composer may enter only ONE work. It must never have been published, publicly performed, previously commissioned for remuneration or awarded a prize elsewhere. Submit the official registration form and use WeTransfer to send a compressed package to premiocomposicion@noiaharpfest.gal containing an anonymous full score PDF, a separate solo harp part PDF and a WAV or MP3 mock-up. None of the evaluation files may identify the composer. The strict deadline in the official 2026 rules is December 23, 2026 at 23:59 CET; winners will be informed by February 15, 2027.

Prizes, costs and rights

One first prize of €4,000 is advertised, gross before applicable Spanish tax withholding, with a world premiere at Noia Harp Fest 2027. A second work may receive an honourable mention without cash. Copyright remains with the author; winners must supply all performance materials without charging the festival and credit the award in later publications, recordings and programmes. The organiser does not promise compensation should the premiere be cancelled for reasons beyond its control. No entry fee is specified in the official two-page regulations, so confirm possible submission costs directly rather than assuming free entry.

Independent editorial summary of an external call. Check the organiser's current eligibility, score requirements, application deadline, fees, recording/publication permissions and copyright before submitting or paying.

Official source / 公式募集要項: https://noiaharpfest.gal/?page_id=3990