Competitions › Besançon International Competition for Young Conductors
Besançon International Competition for Young Conductors
Next edition
- Edition
- 2027
- Dates
- 20–25 September 2027
- Location
- Besançon, France
- Registration deadline
- Opens 14 January 2027 at 13:00 Paris time; closes when full
Source: festival-besancon.com
Overview
The 60th Besançon conducting competition holds international live auditions and September symphonic, opera, concerto and final rounds in Besançon.
- Organiser
- Besançon International Music Festival
- Instruments
- Conducting
- Category
- Orchestral conducting
- Age limits
- Born 26 September 1992–21 September 2009 (2027 edition)
Rules & repertoire
Registration & fee
- Registration opens 14 January 2027 at 13:00 Paris time and closes when the available places fill. Any nationality, born 26 September 1992–21 September 2009 according to the organizer. An orchestral conducting diploma is not required. Selection is live without a CV/video screening round. The organizer lists the 2027 form and full regulations for December release, so the fee and full document checklist remain pending.
Rounds & time limits
Live preselection · April · symphonic works on two pianos
- Conduct prescribed symphonic repertoire played by two pianists for two judges in closed session. Locations: Berlin 9–11 April, Montreal 14–15, Paris 19–21, Seoul 24–25, Besançon 28–29. Up to 20 selected; results 3–5 May.
Rounds 1 and 2 · 20 and 21 September · symphonic
- All selected candidates conduct both public rounds with Orchestre Victor Hugo. Repertoire imposed in each, and the jury may require excerpts or rehearsal work. Exact titles await the complete 2027 rules. Mandatory welcome on 19 September.
Semifinals and final · 22–25 September
- Up to eight semifinalists conduct opera with Orchestre Dijon Bourgogne and concerto with Orchestre Victor Hugo on 22 September. Up to three finalists rehearse 24 September and conduct symphonic repertoire and a world premiere on 25 September with Orchestre national de Lyon. All repertoire is imposed.
Source: Official 2027 schedule and rules releases · Federation registration information
Jury & prizes
Jury
- Michael Schønwandt (chairman, conductor)
- Cécile Agator (solo violin)
- Régis Campo (composer in residence)
- Jaewon Kim (violin concertmaster)
- Catherine Larsen-Maguire (conductor)
- Jean-Claude Picard (conductor; Montreal preselections only)
- Jean-François Verdier (conductor)
- Stephen Wright (Music & Arts Consultant)
Prizes
- No monetary amounts or currency stated on the official page. Named awards for 2025: Grand Prix (Satoshi Yoneda), Special Mention, Audience's Favorite, Orchestra's Favorite (Tianyi Xie).
Past editions
- 2025 — Final rounds in Besançon, France (22-27 Sept 2025); selection rounds in Besançon, Seoul, Paris, Berlin and Montreal source
Grand Prix: Satoshi Yoneda (Japan); Special Mention: Tianyi Xie - 2023 — Final rounds in Besançon, France (17-23 Sept 2023); preliminaries in Berlin, Paris, Tokyo, Besançon and Montreal source
Grand Prix de direction: Swann Van Rechem (France); Special Mention: Chao Dong
Summarised from official sources, last checked 14 Nov 2026. Main source