Carl Nielsen International Music Competition

Rules & repertoire

Registration & fee

deadline: 1 February 2026 (applications closed)
fee: 75 (currency conflicts between official pages: EUR on one page, USD on another)
howToApply: Online application form on the official site (applications were open 8 December 2025 to 1 February 2026); fee paid by credit card, non-refundable.

Rounds & time limits

• Pre-selection: video submission (three recordings, anonymous review)
• Round 1 (in person, Odense)
• Round 2 (in person, Odense)
• Semi-final (without conductor): free solo work of at most 6 minutes plus C.P.E. Bach concerto
• Final: Mozart Rondo KV 373 and Nielsen Flute Concerto

Repertoire

Pre-selection: Telemann Fantasia (TWV 40:4, 40:10, 40:12 or 40:13 per the Application Information page; 'No. 3, 9, 11 or 12' per the other page), Godard Valse from Suite de trois morceaux Op. 116, Karg-Elert Chaconne Op. 107 No. 3. Round 1: Koppel Capriccio or Hartmann Sonata Op. 1 (I), a commissioned piece by Louise Alenius, one Bach sonata (BWV 1031, 1034 or 1035). Round 2: Debussy Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune; one contemporary work from a list of seven; one of Schubert, Widor or Prokofiev. Semi-final: free solo work up to 6 minutes and a C.P.E. Bach flute concerto (D minor or G major). Final: Mozart Rondo KV 373 and Carl Nielsen Flute Concerto FS 119.