Competitions › WASBE International Conductors Competition
WASBE International Conductors Competition
Next edition
No future edition is announced on the official pages we could check.
Overview
International competition for wind-band and wind-ensemble conductors, first held in 2026 as part of the biennial WASBE International Conference (2026 in Rio de Janeiro). Open internationally to young conductors who pass a video preselection.
- Organiser
- World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE)
- Instruments
- Conducting (wind ensemble)
- Category
- Wind band conducting, Wind & brass ensembles
- Age limits
- 2026: born after 25 July 1990
Rules & repertoire
Registration & fee
Online submission of CV, motivation letter (English) and video; candidates pay own travel to the conference.
Rounds & time limits
- Round 1: video (15–25 minutes, rehearsal and performance excerpts incl. an original wind-ensemble work), CV and motivation letter
- Round 2: 25-minute rehearsals with chamber winds and with full band
- Round 3 (final): 35-minute rehearsal and public concert with full wind ensemble
Repertoire
2026: Round 2 with chamber winds (Mozart Serenade in C minor, Stravinsky Octet) and symphonic band (Ticheli, Ellerby, Hernandis); final with full wind ensemble (Blackshaw, Nelson Jesus, Purrington).
Jury & prizes
Jury
- Jason Fettig (USA)
- Mark Heron (UK)
- Glenn Price (Canada)
- Abel Rocha (Brazil)
- Alberto Roque (Portugal)
- Courtney Snyder (USA)
- Patricia Vanegas (Colombia)
Prizes
- Winner: conducting residencies/workshops at partner institutions (incl. Strasbourg Conservatory, RNCM, University of New Mexico), guest conducting with SIUE and with the World Youth Wind Orchestra at the 2028 conference, 5-year WASBE membership
- Finalists and semifinalists: feedback, mentorship, certificate, membership
Past editions
- 2026 — Rio de Janeiro, 21–25 July 2026 source
Winner (Jury, Audience and Orchestra prizes): David Hernandez Tovar (Germany); Finalists: Antonia Dehmer, Michael Gabriel
Summarised from official sources, last checked 11 Nov 2026. Main source