Composition Competition DANTE MORO 2026

Dove si svolgerà

Regolamento

I – Contestants

The contest is open to composers from all over the world, without age limits, including students from academies, conservatoires, public and private schools.

II – Sections

The competitors are invited to submit one composition of their own, according to the following criteria:

- Section A (New for 2026): a composition for solo piano, or for piano and violin duo, piano and cello duo, or piano trio (violin, cello, and piano), which – on the occasion of the competition’s tenth anniversary – serves as the soundtrack for the video presentation available here (duration: 5 minutes and 21 seconds): https://youtu.be/tQ5eIOc5OyA . At the awards ceremony, the winning composition will be performed live during the screening of the video.

- Section B: Piano with string orchestra. One piece for solo piano and string orchestra, no longer than 8 minutes. The orchestral setting is: 5 first violins, 4 second violins, 3 violas, 2 cellos, 1 double bass (‘divisi’ are allowed. The piece should be composed as a sort of short ‘piano concerto’ movement, with a dialogue between the soloist and the orchestra). The submitted piece has to be inspired by and titled after a sculpture or drawing by Dante Moro, chosen freely by the composer. Images of the artworks can be found at http://www.dantemoro.it.

The competitors can enter one or both sections.

All musical styles and genres are welcome. However, compositions requiring a prepared piano will not be accepted.

III – Application procedure and registration

Please submit the score(s), together with the other required documents listed below, according to the following procedure (please do not hesitate to write to the Artistic Direction for any questions or requests):

- Score in PDF format attached to an e-mail message to be sent to silvia.tessari1@scuola.istruzione.it and to orchdolom.bl@virgilio.it (maximum 10 MB, otherwise please use transfer services like wetransfer.com).

Please indicate on the score that the piece has been composed for the Composition Competition “Dante Moro”, edition 2026. The scores will be sent to the judges anonymously, so please do not write your name on the scores, but a motto or pseudonym.

The candidates are invited to attach also a MIDI file of their composition (this file will be useful for practicing the piece, and NOT for the evaluation by the jury. The final selection will be based solely on the submitted score).

Together with the score(s), the competitor must send a self-certification containing the following data:

- Full name, place and date of birth, nationality, address, e-mail address, telephone number.

- [For minors, a consensus form, signed by a parent or guardian].

- Section(s): A, B, or both.

- The same motto/pseudonym which appears on the score.

- Duration of the composition.

- Declaration of acceptance of the competition rules.

- Declaration by the author attesting that the submitted composition is unpublished and never publicly performed.

- Declaration of consent that the competitor waives all rights of remuneration for the broadcasting, televising or recording of the performance of his/her work at the final public concert (December 29, 2026).

- Declaration of consent to the processing of the participant’s personal data for competition purposes (EU Regulation 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016).

Please attach also:

- Artistic bio.

- Recent artistic photo.

- Photocopy of a valid ID.

The application deadline is November 1, 2026. A downloadable application form template will be available on the competition website.

IV – Application fees

Early bird: complete application and score by September 1, 2026: 20 euros.

After September 1: 40 euros.

Please pay with Paypal (silvia.tessari1@scuola.istruzione.it) or with an international wire transfer. In this case the receipt should be attached to the application form.

Account Name: Silvia Tessari;

Name of the Bank: FPB Cassa di Fassa, Primiero e Belluno.

IBAN: IT14 S081 4061 0900 0000 3039 457

Address of the Bank: Corso Roma 8, 32020 Falcade (BL), Italy

Please identify the purpose of transfer as: 10th edition Composition Competition Dante Moro 2026.

For information on other accepted payment’s methods, please write an email to the artistic director: silvia.tessari1@scuola.istruzione.it

V – Jury

The names of the adjudicators will be announced in summer. Jurors of the previous editions: Paolo Troncon, Dušan Bavdek (Ljubljana), Mario Pagotto, Claudio Scannavini, Nicola Straffelini, (composers and teachers at Italian and Slovenian conservatories and academies); Delio Cassetta (conductor). Artistic director Silvia Tessari (pianist and musicologist).

VI – Competition procedures

The decisions of the jury are final. The jury will meet to declare the winners by December 6, 2026. Up to two pieces among sections A and B will be selected as winning pieces to be performed. More prizes and honorary mentions may be awarded. The selection will be made according to the following criteria: correctness and originality of the composition, coherence with the technical possibilities of the instruments, ideal connection with the chosen sculpture/drawing by Dante Moro. The results will be published on the website of the competition and on the Facebook page, and sent to each participant by e-mail.

VII – Award ceremony

The public concert and award ceremony will take place in Falcade (Belluno, Italy) on December 29, 2026, featuring the Dolomiti Symphonia Orchestra, Silvia Tessari (piano), Delio Cassetta (conductor), and the ensemble’s principal violinist and cellist (for chamber works).

VIII – Prizes

The winners, in addition to the first public performance of their piece, will receive a plate or medal, a diploma, an overnight stay at the expense of the organization in the Falcade area on December 29, 2026 (only if the competitors are present at the concert) and a cash prize defined by the jury from a total prize pool of 1500 euros. Names and curricula of the winners will be disseminated through the media. All the competitors will receive a certificate of participation.

IX – Cancellation

The organization reserves the right to cancel the Competition, for any event that is outside the organization’s will. In this case, the application fee will be refunded.

X - Recordings and Performance

The competitors waive all rights of remuneration for the possible broadcasting, televising or recording of their performance at the final public concert (December 29, 2026).

XI – Contacts

Silvia Tessari

Via Agostino Murer 3

32020 Falcade (BL), Italy

silvia.tessari1@scuola.istruzione.it

Website: https://silviatessari.altervista.org

Facebook page: Composition Competition Dante Moro

The present announcement is in Italian and in English. For any disputes, the Italian text is valid.

XII – Previous winners

2017/2018: first prize: Alessio Domini (IT); special mentions: Alessio Venier (IT), Attilio Foresta Martin (IT)

2018/2019: first prize: Fabio Crosera (IT); special mention: Marino Baldissera (IT).

2019/2020: first prize not awarded. Second prizes e.a. Maria Beatrice Orlando (IT) / Gabriele Caselli (IT). Special mention Micheal Romio (IT).

2020: first prize: David John Roche (U.K.); second prizes e.a. Cosimo Bombardieri (IT)/ Rodolfo Saraco (IT); special mentions: Alessandro Manara (IT), Paolo Quilichini (IT), Christian Paterniti (IT).

2021: first prize: Robin Haigh (U.K.); second prize not awarded; third prize Nathan Graham Harris (U.K.); special mention: Elena Cattini (IT).

2022: section A third prize Federico Agnello, special mention Rodolfo Saraco; section B second prize Eddy Serafini, third prize Alessandro Manara (the pieces by Federico Agnello and Eddy Serafini were performed)

2023 section A third prize Luca Rizzo, special mentions Sebastiano Burelli and Cesare Pozzo

section B: second prize Antonio Moreno Pozo (Spain), special mentions Luca Fialdini and Alvise Zambon (the pieces by Antonio Moreno Pozo and Luca Rizzo were performed)

2024 section A: third prize Elia Palazzi (Italia); section B: third prize Michele Allegro (Italia), special mentions Alessandro Manara (Italia), Samustcha Mokchai (Thailand). The pieces by Allegro and Palazzi were performed.

2025 section A: second prize Daahoud Salim (Spain); third prize Stefano Cascioli (Italy)

section B: third prize Daniele Bisi (Italy), special mention Francesco Gasperin (Italia). The prieces by Salim and Bisi were performed.

PARTNERS OF THE COMPETITION

Competition organized by DOLOMITI SYMPHONIA ORCHESTRA.

Main institutional partners: VENETO REGION, BELLUNO PROVINCE, MUNICIPALITY OF FALCADE.  

Main sponsors: FPB Cassa BANK– COOPERATIVA DI CONSUMO FALCADE/CAVIOLA – B.I.M. PIAVE CONSORTIUM – VANNINI FAMILY – FAGGION FAMILY – PAOLO CASTELLARI

Sezioni

- Section A (New for 2026): a composition for solo piano, or for piano and violin duo, piano and cello duo, or piano trio (violin, cello, and piano), which – on the occasion of the competition’s tenth anniversary – serves as the soundtrack for the video presentation available here (duration: 5 minutes and 21 seconds): https://youtu.be/tQ5eIOc5OyA

At the awards ceremony, the winning composition will be performed live during the screening of the video.

- Section B: Piano with string orchestra. One piece for solo piano and string orchestra, no longer than 8 minutes. The orchestral setting is: 5 first violins, 4 second violins, 3 violas, 2 cellos, 1 double bass (‘divisi’ are allowed. The piece should be composed as a sort of short ‘piano concerto’ movement, with a dialogue between the soloist and the orchestra). The submitted piece has to be inspired by and titled after a sculpture or drawing by Dante Moro, chosen freely by the composer. Images of the artworks can be found at http://www.dantemoro.it.

The competitors can enter one or both sections.

All musical styles and genres are welcome. However, compositions requiring a prepared piano will not be accepted.

Premi

The winners, in addition to the first public performance of their piece, will receive a plate or medal, a diploma, an overnight stay at the expense of the organization in the Falcade area on December 29, 2026 (only if the competitors are present at the concert) and a cash prize defined by the jury from a total prize pool of 1500 euros. Names and curricula of the winners will be disseminated through the media. All the competitors will receive a certificate of participation.