Competitions › Concours de Genève (Composition Competition)
Concours de Genève (Composition Competition)
Next edition
No future edition is announced on the official pages we could check.
Overview
Composition competition at the Concours de Genève (80th edition, 2026). Candidates submit an original orchestral work of 12-16 minutes, scored for a symphony orchestra of at least 40 musicians and composed after March 2024. Finalists work with six semi-finalist conductors and the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. First prize is CHF 15,000.
- Organiser
- Concours de Genève
- Instruments
- Composition
- Category
- Chamber & solo composition
- Age limits
- Composers born after 11 November 1986 (2026 rules). No upper age limit stated.
Rules & repertoire
Registration & fee
Deadline 12 Feb 2026; fee CHF 100 (non-refundable), registration via muvac.com/concours-de-geneve; submit anonymous score, ID copy, CV, bio, photos, programme note and a short text or video. Questions: application@concoursgeneve.ch.
Rounds & time limits
- Application deadline: 12 Feb 2026
- Jury selection, 12-14 March 2026: up to 3 finalists
- Finalist announcement, 15 March 2026
- Collaboration with semi-finalist conductors from May 2026
- Rehearsals with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, 10 Nov 2026; dress rehearsal and final round at Victoria Hall (11 or 13 Nov 2026; dates conflict in the rules)
Repertoire
One original orchestral work for symphony orchestra (no electronics), 12-16 minutes, composed after March 2024; reworked earlier pieces accepted. Percussion and up to two special instruments to be proposed and approved in advance.
Jury & prizes
Jury
- Unsuk Chin (Chair)
- Katharina Rosenberger
- Augusta Reed Thomas
- Toshio Hosokawa
- Magnus Lindberg
Prizes
- 1st CHF 15,000; 2nd CHF 10,000; 3rd CHF 5,000. Special prizes: Audience CHF 1,500; Young Audience CHF 1,000; Students CHF 1,000; Nicati-De Luze CHF 3,000 plus a commissioned piece. Also two years of services from Sartory Artists and access to a prizewinner's workshop.
Past editions
- 2026 — Geneva, Switzerland (Victoria Hall; final 7-13 Nov 2026 per the Concours page; rules give 11 Nov for the final, with dates in conflict) source
Summarised from official sources, last checked 10 Nov 2026. Main source