Mediterranean International Conducting Competition - I ed.

Dove si svolgerà

Regolamento

Art. 1 – ELIGIBILITY

The competition is open to conductors of all nationalities aged between 18 and 38 years old as of 9 November 2026.

 Art. 2 – COMPETITION STRUCTURE

The competition will consist of the following stages:

Video Preliminary Round: from 4 June 2026 to 20 September 2026;
Eliminatory Round: from 9 to 13 November 2026;
Semi-final Round: 14 November 2026;
Final Round: 15 November 2026.
The eliminatory rounds and semi-final will take place at the Auditorium Madonna della Rosa in Molfetta (BA), Italy.

The final round, open to the public, will be held at Teatro Garibaldi in Bisceglie.

Art. 3 – APPLICATION PROCEDURE

To participate in the preliminary round, candidates must submit:

- a YouTube link containing a front-view video of the candidate conducting;
- minimum video duration: 12 minutes;
- maximum video duration: 30 minutes;
- the video must feature the candidate conducting an ensemble composed of at least 8 instruments;
- videos from concerts, performances or rehearsals will be accepted;
- edited videos, partial rehearsals or montage recordings will not be accepted;
- updated artistic résumé/CV;
- artistic headshot photograph;
- copy of a valid identity document or passport;
- proof of payment of the application fee of €90.00.

The preliminary application fee must be paid by all candidates upon submission of the application.

Art. 4 – ADMISSION TO THE ELIMINATORY ROUND

Only candidates admitted to the eliminatory round will receive official confirmation by email by 23 September, including detailed instructions regarding participation in the live rounds..

Only candidates admitted to the eliminatory round will be required to pay an additional participation fee of €290.00.

The results of the semi-final and final rounds will be published on the official website of the Associazione Musicale Arturo Toscanini and on the official Facebook and Instagram pages of the competition.

Art. 5 – REHEARSAL TIMES AND COMPETITION PROCEDURES

During the first round, each candidate will have 12 minutes of podium time with orchestra.

During the semi-final round, each candidate will have 20 minutes of podium time.

The final round will take place as a public concert. On the morning of the final, each finalist will be granted 40 minutes of rehearsal time with orchestra, while the final concert will take place in the evening at Teatro Garibaldi in Bisceglie.

The jury reserves the right to interrupt candidates at any point during the competition.

All decisions made by the Jury are final and non-appealable.

Candidates admitted to the final round will be informed of their assigned symphony at the conclusion of the semi-final round.

The winner of the competition will be announced following the final concert.

Art. 6 – REPERTOIRE

ELIMINATORY ROUND

Edward Elgar – Serenade for Strings in E minor op. 20 (Breitkopf & Härtel edition);
Edvard Grieg – Holberg Suite (Peters edition).
SEMI-FINAL

Igor Stravinsky – Histoire du soldat (Chester Music edition).
FINAL

Ludwig van Beethoven – Symphony No. 5 (Bärenreiter edition);
Ludwig van Beethoven – Symphony No. 7 (Bärenreiter edition);
Felix Mendelssohn – Symphony No. 4 (Breitkopf & Härtel edition);
Franz Schubert – Symphony No. 4 (Breitkopf & Härtel edition).

Art. 7 – FONDAZIONE ORCHESTRA SINFONICA FEDERICIANA

The Federiciana Symphony Orchestra Foundation, based in Puglia, specifically in the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani, was established through the initiative of six local patrons who entrusted the presidency to General Pasquale Preziosa, former Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force.

Founded in November 2024 and already officially recognized as a Third Sector Organization, the Foundation’s primary mission is to promote and support emerging talents from the Puglian territory, particularly within the sixth province of Puglia, an area lacking conservatories, opera institutions and traditional theatres, through the creation of a symphony orchestra established in response to the needs of young local musicians.

Its principal objective is to provide talented young professionals with a stimulating artistic environment in which they may fully develop their abilities alongside already established musicians. This ambitious project is supported by a group of patrons united by their passion for music and their desire to invest in the future of musical culture in Italy.

The artistic direction of the Foundation is entrusted to Prof. Sara Allegretta, an acclaimed soprano and Professor of Chamber Vocal Music, whose distinguished career combines artistic excellence, academic commitment and extensive experience in cultural and institutional management.

The Musical Director is Maestro Benedetto Grillo, whose commitment and experience are shaping a highly ambitious and prestigious artistic project.

The year 2025 marked a fundamental milestone for the young institution: beginning on 1 May, Maestro Riccardo Muti accepted the honorary presidency of the Foundation, lending prestige and authority to a project aimed at combining musical excellence, cultural vision and artistic development.

Art. 8 – JURY

Marco Guidarini – Italy
President of the Jury

Sara Allegretta – Italy
Artistic Director of the Fondazione Orchestra Sinfonica Federiciana

Facundo Agudin – Swiss-Argentine
Founder, Artistic and Music Director of Musique des Lumières
Music Director with Basler Gesangverein
Music Director with National Radio TV Orchestra of Albania

Savitri de Rochefort – France
Artistic Director of the Ensemble Zoroastre

Ayyub Guliyev – Azerbaijan
Principal Conductor of the Azerbaijan State Opera and Ballet Theatre
Chief Conductor of the Azerbaijan State Chamber Orchestra
Associate Professor at the Baku Music Academy

Pavel Ionescu – Ambrosie – Romania
Artistic Director of the Syrinx Concert Association

Kalle Kanttila – Finland
Founder & CEO of Kanttila Management

Christian Knapp – United States
Conductor of the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg

Andrea Sanguineti –  Italy-Germany
Music Director of the Aalto-Musiktheater Essen
Music Director of the Essen Philharmonic Orchestra

Jan Mi?osz Zarzycki – Poland
Managing and Artistic Director of the Witold Lutos?awski Chamber Philharmonic in ?om?a
Professor at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw

Art. 9 – RELATIONSHIPS WITH JURY MEMBERS

Candidates who have any kind of relationship with a jury member (students, former students, relatives, employees, or collaborators) must declare this condition at the time of application by indicating it in the online registration form, in the “ADDITIONAL NOTES” field provided at the bottom of the application form.

Any jury member having a relationship with a candidate will abstain from voting regarding that candidate.

Art. 10 – PRIZES

- A concert with the Fondazione Orchestra Sinfonica Federiciana during the 2027/2028 season;
- A concert with the Filarmonica”Mihail Jora” in Bac?u during the 2027–2028 season;
- A concert with the Azerbaijan State Chamber Orchestra during the 2027/2028 season;
- Artistic representation within Kanttila Management;
- A concert with the ?om?a Chamber Philharmonic during the 2027/2028 symphonic season;
- Two professional collaboration opportunities, as Conductor or Assistant to Maestro Christian Knapp, within operatic and/or symphonic productions conducted by him during the 2028/2029 artistic seasons;
- Two professional engagements, either as Conductor or as Assistant to Maestro Andrea Sanguineti, in one of his future opera or symphonic productions scheduled for the 2027/2028 or 2028/2029 seasons;
- A concert with the Ensemble Zoroastre (France) during the 2027–2028 season.

SPECIAL PRIZE

- €500.00, together with a plaque, offered by the family of Maestro Mariano Patti;
- Opportunity to collaborate as Assistant Conductor in an opera/symphonic production led by Maestro Marco Guidarini;
- Possibility of benefiting from personal mentorship. Juror Facundo Agudin will introduce the laureate to the Artistic Directors of the RTSH Albania National Radio TV Orchestra, the National Opera of Tirana, the National Symphony Orchestra of Argentina, and the Orchestre Musique des Lumières in Switzerland.
The prizes and special prizes shall be awarded, at the sole and final discretion of the Jury, to the First Prize Winner, the Second Prize Winner, and the Third Prize Winner.

The Jury reserves the right, at its sole discretion, not to award one or more prizes.

The vote of the Jury President shall carry double weight compared to that of each other member of the Jury.

Art. 11 – VIDEO RECORDINGS

During the eliminatory round, semi-final and final rounds, the organization will provide the opportunity for professional front-view video recordings of the candidates through its own professional videographer.

Technical and organizational details regarding the recordings will be communicated exclusively to candidates admitted to the live eliminatory round.

Art. 12 – APPLICATION DEADLINE

Applications open: 4 June 2026;
Application deadline: 20 September 2026.
For any further information or clarification, please contact: mediterraneancompetition@associazionearturotoscanini.it

Art. 13 – PARTICIPATION FEES AND PAYMENT INFORMATION

Payments must be made by bank transfer to the following account:

Associazione Arturo Toscanini
Bank: Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. – Piazza Paolo Ferrari 10 Branch, 20121 Milan, Italy
IBAN: IT03F0306909606100000180679

Payment reference:
Name Surname – Mediterranean International Conducting Competition Application

The preliminary application fee is set at €90.00 and must be paid by all applicants at the time of application.

Only candidates admitted to the eliminatory round will subsequently be required to pay the participation fee of €290.00.

Participation fees are non-refundable under any circumstances, including:

– non-admission
– withdrawal by the candidate
– exclusion from the competition

Art. 14 – AUDIO AND VIDEO RELEASE

By registering, the participant authorizes the Association to carry out photographic, video, and audio recordings and to use them, including publication on websites, social media, press, radio, and television, exclusively for informational and promotional purposes related to the Association’s activities.

Art. 15 – PERSONAL DATA PROCESSING

Personal data will be processed in compliance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) exclusively for purposes related to the organization and management of the competition. Any additional use shall be carried out only in cases and according to the procedures provided for by applicable law.

Art. 16 – ACCEPTANCE OF THE RULES AND LIABILITY

By registering, the participant accepts the rules of the competition. The Organizing Committee accepts no responsibility for any damage to persons or property that may occur during the course of the competition and reserves the right to make organizational or artistic changes where necessary.

Premi

PRIZES

- A concert with the Fondazione Orchestra Sinfonica Federiciana during the 2027/2028 season;
- A concert with the Filarmonica”Mihail Jora” in Bac?u during the 2027–2028 season;
- A concert with the Azerbaijan State Chamber Orchestra during the 2027/2028 season;
Artistic representation within Kanttila Management;
- A concert with the ?om?a Chamber Philharmonic during the 2027/2028 symphonic season;
- Two professional collaboration opportunities, as Conductor or Assistant to Maestro Christian Knapp, within operatic and/or symphonic productions conducted by him during the 2028/2029 artistic seasons;
- Two professional engagements, either as Conductor or as Assistant to Maestro Andrea Sanguineti, in one of his future opera or symphonic productions scheduled for the 2027/2028 or 2028/2029 seasons;
- A concert with the Ensemble Zoroastre (France) during the 2027–2028 season.

SPECIAL PRIZE

- €500.00, together with a plaque, offered by the family of Maestro Mariano Patti;
- Opportunity to collaborate as Assistant Conductor in an opera/symphonic production led by Maestro Marco Guidarini;
- Possibility of benefiting from personal mentorship. Juror Facundo Agudin will introduce the laureate to the Artistic Directors of the RTSH Albania National Radio TV Orchestra, the National Opera of Tirana, the National Symphony Orchestra of Argentina, and the Orchestre Musique des Lumières in Switzerland.
The prizes and special prizes shall be awarded, at the sole and final discretion of the Jury, to the First Prize Winner, the Second Prize Winner, and the Third Prize Winner.

The Jury reserves the right, at its sole discretion, not to award one or more prizes.

The vote of the Jury President shall carry double weight compared to that of each other member of the Jury.