European Classical music has long relied on music competitions to provide a public forum that identifies the strongest players and contributes to the establishment of their professional careers. This is a list of current competitions in classical music, with each competition and reference link given only once. Many offer competitions across a range of categories and in these cases they are listed under "General/mixed". Competitions with age restrictions are listed under "Young musicians".
Chamber music
- Asia-Pacific Chamber Music Competition for piano trios and string quartets (Melbourne, Australia)
- Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition (Maryland, USA)
- Duo Entendre Composition Competition for French horn and piano (Newcastle, Australia)
- Henri Tomasi International Woodwind Quintet Competition (Marseille, France)
- International Maria Yudina Competition of Young Pianists, Duo Pianists and Chamber Ensembles (St. Petersburg, Russia)
- International Chamber Music Competition Hamburg for piano trios and string quartets (Hamburg, Germany)
- International Chamber Music Ensemble Competition of New England (Boston, MA)
- International Contestâ€"Festival of Chamber Ensemble Performance (Magnitogorsk, Russia)
- International Shostakovich Chamber Music Competition (Moscow, Russia)
- International String Quartet Competition Radom Chamber Orchestra (Radom, Poland)
- Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition (Melbourne, Australia)
- ON STAGE International Classical Music Competition (Online Competition)
- Plovdiv International Chamber Music Competition (Plovdiv, Bulgaria)
- Premio Paolo Borciani, International String Quartet Competition (Reggio Emilia, Italy)
- Quebec Music Competition (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) Live and Online
- St Martin's Chamber Music Competition (London, UK)
- "Salieri - Zinetti" International Chamber Music Competition (Verona/ Mantova, Italy)
- Sydney Eisteddfod Musica Viva Chamber Music Award (Sydney, Australia)
- Terem Crossover International Music Competition instrumental ensembles (Saint-Petersburg, Russia)
- Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition (Trondheim, Norway)
Choral/voice
- Vancouver International Music Competition (Vancouver, Canada)
- International Early Music Vocal Competition "Canticum Gaudium", Poznan, Poland
- American Protege International Vocal Competition (USA)
- Australian Concerto and Vocal Competition (Townsville, Australia)
- Barry Alexander International Vocal Competition (USA)
- BBC Singer of the World competition (Cardiff, Wales)
- Concurs Internacional de cant Jaume Aragall (Barcelona, Spain)
- Concours International Nei Stemmen (Luxemburg City, Luxemburg)
- Elizabeth Connell Prize International Singing Competition for Sopranos
- European Grand Prix for Choral Singing
- International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition (Leipzig, Germany)
- International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition (Vienna, Austria)
- International Stasys Å imkus choir competition (KlaipÄ—da, Lithuania)
- International Tchaikovsky Competition (Moscow, Russia)
- International Vocal Competition ´s-Hertogenbosch ('s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands)
- International Voice Competition - Gerda Lissner Foundation (New York, USA)
- Jan, Edward, Józefina Reszke Vocal Competition
- Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award
- The Klaudia Taev International Competition for Young Opera Singers (Pärnu, Estonia).
- Lotte Lehman League Art Song Contest
- The Mirjam Helin International Singing Competition (Helsinki, Finland)
- Montserrat Caballe International Singing Competition (Zaragoza, Spain)
- National Anthem Bicentennial (Fort McHenry, USA)
- Operalia, The World Opera Competition (Paris, France)
- Prague Christmas (Prague, Czech Republic)
- Quebec Music Competition (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) Live and Online
- Queen Elisabeth Music Competition (Brussels, Belgium)
- Queen Sonja International Music Competition (Oslo, Norway)
Composition
- Alexander Zemlinsky Prize for Composition (Cincinnati, USA)
- ARBORETUM Krzysztof Penderecki International Composers' Competition (Radom, Poland)
- "Città di Udine" International Composition Competition (Udine, Italy)
- Competition for Young Composers dedicated to Maestro Gian Carlo Menotti (Spoleto, Italy)
- Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame (New York City, USA)
- Gardner Composition Competition (American Viola Society, USA)
- Gaudeamus International Composers Award (Netherlands)
- George Enescu International Composition Contest (Bucharest, Romania)
- Henryk Mikołaj Górecki International Composers Competition (Cracow, Poland)
- International AntonÃn Dvořák Composition Competition (Prague, Czech Republic)
- International Uuno Klami Composition Competition (Kotka/Kouvola, Finland)
- Isla Verde Bronces International Brass Composition Contest (Córdoba, Argentina)
- Kazimierz Serocki International Composers' Competition (Warsaw, Poland)
- Lake George Music Festival Composition Competition (New York,USA)
- Midi & MP3 Composition Music Contest for Composers
- Northwest Indiana Symphony Composition Competition (Indiana, USA)
- PARMA Student Composer Competition (North Hampton, USA)
- Project Trio Composition Competition (Brooklyn, USA)
- Queen Elisabeth Music Competition (Brussels, Belgium)
- 60x60 - International (New York, USA)
- RED NOTE New Music Festival Composition Competition (Illinois, USA)
- Reveille Trumpet Collective Composition Prize
- SAMADIS International Composition Competition (New York City, USA)
- SAYAT NOVA International AGBU Composition Competition (Paris, France)
- TÅru Takemitsu Composition Award (Tokyo, Japan)
- TONALi Composition Award (Hamburg, Germany)
- Zvi Zeitlin Memorial International Composer's Competition
Conducting
- Audite International Conducting Competition (Poland)
- Cadaqués Orchestra International Conducting Competition (Spain)
- Donatella Flick Conducting Competition (UK)
- Guido Cantelli Conducting Competition (Italy)
- Gustav Mahler Conducting Competition (Germany)
- International Besançon Competition for Young Conductors (France)
- Jorma Panula Conducting Competition (Finland)
- Leeds Conductors Competition (UK)
- International Conducting Competition Jeunesses Musicales Bucharest (Romania)
General/ mixed
- Vancouver International Music Competition (Vancouver, Canada)
- The American Prize (Connecticut, USA)
- The American Protege Showcase at Stern Competition (New York, USA)
- Cleveland Aradhana - South Indian Classical Music Competition (Cleveland, USA)
- E-Gré National Music Competition (Brandon, Canada)
- EUROPAfest (Bucharest, Romania)
- Franz Schubert and Modern Music International Music Competition, Graz
- Geneva International Music Competition
- International Crescendo Music Awards Competition (Tulsa, USA)
- Long-Thibaud-Crespin Competition (previously International Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud Competition; Paris, France)
- ON STAGE International Classical Music Competition (Online Competition)
- Quebec Music Competition (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) Live and Online
- Rising Stars Grand Prix - International Music Competition (Berlin, Germany)
- SVIRÉL International Music Competition and Festival for Soloists and Chamber Groups (Slovenia)
- Naumburg Competition (New York, USA)
- Washington International Competition (Washington, USA)
- The World Competition (entirely online; New York & Bologna)
Instrumental
- Vancouver International Music Competition (Vancouver, Canada)
- "Arrasate Hiria" International Accordion Competition (Arrasate, Spain)
- ARD International Music Competition (Munich, Germany)
- Australian Concerto and Vocal Competition (Townsville, Australia)
- Budapest International Guitar Competition (BIGC; Budapest, Hungary)
- Classica Nova International Music Competition (Hannover, Germany)
- Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Conservatory Competition (Berlin, Germany)
- The 1st International IMMA Records Classical Music Competition
- Gaudeamus Competition (Netherlands)
- International Guitar Competition & Festival (Berlin, Germany)
- International Performers Competition Brno (Brno, Czech Republic)
- Italy Percussion Competition (Montesilvano Pescara)
- Leos Janacek International Competition (Brno, Czech Republic)
- Montreal International Music Competition (Montreal, Canada)
- Matosinhos International Competition (Online)
- Quebec Music Competition (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) Live and Online
- Queen Elisabeth Music Competition (Brussels, Belgium)
- TROMP international music competition & Festival (Eindhoven, Netherlands)
- TONALi Music Competition (Hamburg, Germany)
Musicology
- Annual Musicology Competition (Worldwide)
Piano/keyboard
- Vancouver International Music Competition (Vancouver, Canada)
- Aarhus International Piano Competition (Aarhus, Denmark)
- Ambitus Orgelconcours (The Netherlands)
- American Paderewski Piano Competition (Los Angeles, USA)
- American Protege International Piano and Strings Competition (USA)
- Anton Rubinstein Competition (Dresden, Germany)
- Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition (Tel Aviv, Israel)
- Astral National Auditions (Philadelphia, USA)
- BNDES International Piano Competition (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
- Bradshaw and Buono International Piano Competition (New York, USA)
- César Franck International Piano Competition (Brussels, Belgium)
- Ciutat de Carlet International Piano Competition (Valencia, Spain)
- Clara Haskil International Piano Competition (Vevey, Switzerland)
- Cleveland International Piano Competition (Cleveland, USA)
- Concours Géza Anda (Zurich, Switzerland)
- Dallas Chamber Symphony International Piano Competition (Dallas, USA)
- The Dranoff International Two Piano Foundation (Dallas, USA)
- Dublin International Piano Competition (Dublin, Ireland)
- EPTA - International Piano Competition Svetislav StanÄić (Zagreb, Croatia)
- Eugen d'Albert International Music Competition (Giubiasco, Switzerland)
- Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition (Bolzano, Italy)
- Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition (Salt Lake City, USA)
- Hamamatsu International Piano Competition (Hamamatsu, JP)
- Hilton Head International Piano Competition (Hilton Head Island, SC, USA)
- Holland International Piano Competition (The Hague, Netherlands)
- Honens International Piano Competition (Calgary, Canada)
- International Piano Competition "Johann Sebastian Bach" Würzburg / Germany
- International Beethoven Piano Competition Vienna (Internationaler Beethoven Klavierwettbewerb Wien; Vienna, Austria)
- International Chopin Piano Competition (Poland)
- International Cochran Piano Competition (Poland/Australia)
- International Ettore Pozzoli Piano Competition (Seregno, Italy)
- International Franz Liszt Piano Competition (Utrecht, Netherlands)
- International Geelvinck Fortepiano Concours (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
- International Goedicke Organ Competition (Moscow, Russia)
- International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition (organ; Leipzig, Germany)
- International Mozart Piano Competition (Frascati (Rome), Italy)
- International Mozart Piano Competition (Salzburg, Austria)
- International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs (Paris, France)
- International Tchaikovsky Competition (Russia)
- ISANGYUN Competition (Seoul, South Korea)
- José Iturbi International Piano Competition (Los Angeles, USA)
- Karlovac International Piano Competition (Karlovac, Croatia)
- Lagny-sur-Marne International Piano Competition (Lagny, France)
- Kerikeri National Piano Competition (Kerikeri, New Zealand)
- Leeds International Pianoforte Competition (Leeds, UK)
- Maria Canals International Music Competition (Barcelona, Spain)
- Olga Kern International Piano Competition (Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA)
- ON STAGE International Classical Music Competition (Online Competition)
- Paloma O'Shea International Piano Competition (Madrid, Spain)
- Panama International Piano Competition (Panama City, Panama)
- Peabody Mason International Piano Competition (Boston, USA)
- Petr Eben International Organ Competition (Opava, Czech Republic)
- Pilar Bayona Piano Competition (Spain)
- Quebec Music Competition (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) Live and Online
- Queen Elisabeth Music Competition (Belgium)
- San Antonio International Piano Competition, (San Antonio Texas, USA)
- Seattle Symphony Piano Competition (Seattle, Washington, USA)
- Sendai International Music Competition (Sendai, Japan)
- The Shean Piano Competition (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)
- St Albans International Organ Competition (St Albans, UK)
- Sussex International Piano Competition (Worthing, UK)
- Sydney International Piano Competition (Sydney, Australia)
- US New Star Piano Competition (San Jose, USA)
- Valencia International Piano Competition Prize Iturbi (Valencia, Spain)
- Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (Fort Worth, USA)
- Young Pianist of the North International competition (Newcastle upon Tyne, UK)
- World International Piano Competition (Santa Fe, USA)
String instruments
- Vancouver International Music Competition (Vancouver, Canada)
- Klaipeda International Cello Competition (Klaipeda, Lithuania)
- American Protege International Piano and Strings Competition (USA)
- Animato International Violin Competition (Brisbane, Australia)
- Città di Brescia International Violin Competition (Brescia, Italy)
- Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition (Poznań, Poland)
- International Arthur Grumiaux Competition for Young Violinists (Namur, Belgium)
- International Brahms Competition (Pörtschach am Wörthersee, Austria)
- International Fritz Kreisler Competition (Vienna, Austria)
- International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition (Helsinki, Finland)
- International Tchaikovsky Competition (Moscow, Russia)
- International Violin Competition Henri Marteau (Lichtenberg and Hof, Germany)
- International Violin Competition of Indianapolis (Indianapolis, USA)
- ISANGYUN Competition (Tongyeong, South Korea)
- Klein Competition (San Francisco, USA)
- Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition (Isle of Man, UK)
- Maurice Vieux International Viola Competition (France)
- Michael Hill International Violin Competition (New Zealand)
- Menuhin Competition (Switzerland in 2018)
- Moscow International David Oistrakh Violin Competition (Moscow, Russia)
- Paganini International Competition (Genoa, Italy)
- Primrose International Viola Competition (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
- Quebec Music Competition] (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) Live and Online
- Queen Elisabeth Music Competition (Belgium)
- Mstislav Rostropovich International Cello Competition(Paris, France)
- Sendai International Music Competition (Sendai, Japan)
- Schoenfeld International String Competition (Harbin, China)
- The Shean Strings Competition (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)
- STREICHWERK International String Competition (Berlin, Germany)
- Washington International Competition for Strings (Washington, DC, USA)
- Windsor International String Competition (Windsor, UK)
Woodwind instruments
- American Protege International Woodwinds and Brass Competition (USA)
- Austral National Auditions (Philadelphia, USA)
- International Crescendo Music Awards Competition (Tulsa USA)
- International Flute Competition Camerata Strumentale (TimiÅŸoara, Romania)
- Henri Tomasi International Woodwind Quintet Competition (Marseille, France)
- Quebec Music Competition (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) Live and Online Competition
- American Protege International Music Talent Competition (USA)
- Australian Youth Classical Music Competition (Geelong, Australia)
- Antonio Janigro International Cello Competition (Croatia)
- Balys Dvarionas International Competition for Young Pianists and Violinists (Lithuania)
- Boris Christoff International Competition for Young Singers (Sofia, Bulgaria)
- Brisbane Youth Music Festival (Brisbane, Australia)
- Città di Barletta Young Musician International Competition (Barletta, Italy)
- Jeunesses Musicales International (Various)
- Gregynog Young Musicians Competition (Wales, UK)
- International Competition for Young Classical Guitarists (Siracusa, Italy)
- BBC Young Musician of the Year (UK)
- Chetham's Flute Competition (Manchester, UK)
- Città di Barletta Young Musician International Competition (Barletta, Italy)
- Cologne International Piano Festival and competition for young Pianists (Cologne, Germany)
- Concours de Genève Prix international d'interprétation & de composition (Geneva, Switzerland)
- Concours International de Musique et des Beaux Arts (Quebec, Canada)
- Elena Obraztsova International Competition for young opera singers (St. Petersburg, Russia)
- Festival for Creative Pianists (USA)
- Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition (Indiana, USA)
- Gillet-Hugo Fox Competition - Bassoon and Oboe competition (USA)
- Forte International Music Competition and Festivals
- Hugo Kauder Society-International Music Competition (New Haven, USA)
- International Arthur Grumiaux Competition for Young Violinists (Namur, Belgium)
- International Carl Bechstein Piano Competition (various, Europe)
- International Chamber Music Competition for ensembles 20-30yrs (Wollongong, Australia)
- International Russian Rotary Children Music Competition (Russia)
- International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians (Moscow, Russia)
- International Independent Music Competition "Individualis" (Ukraine)
- International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition (Leipzig, Germany)
- Johansen International Competition for Young String Players (Washington DC, USA)
- Midwest Young Artists Discover National Chamber Music Competition (Illinois, USA)
- National Young Artist Competition (Charleston, USA)
- National Arts Centre Orchestra Bursary Competition (Ottawa, Canada)
- Olympic Challenge Competition (children; Montclair, USA)
- New York International Piano Competition (New York, USA)
- PianoArts North American Piano Competition for High School and College Students (USA)
- Prague Spring International Music Competition (Prague, Czech Republic)
- Quebec Music Competition (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
- RESEO Award (Brussels, Belgium)
- The Respighi Prize Music Competition for Young Composers & Soloists (New York, USA)
- Russian Music Competition (USA)
- Saint Paul String Quartet Competition (USA)
- Stulberg International String Competition (USA)
- Sydney Eisteddfod (Sydney, Australia)
- Tartini Music Competition for violin (Piran, Slovenia)
- Vandoren Emerging Artist Competition - Saxophone and Clarinet (USA)
- VSA International Young Soloists Competition (Washington, DC, USA)
- Wideman Piano Competition (Shreveport, USA)
- William C. Byrd Young Artist Competition (Flint, USA)
- Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists (London and Beijing)
- Young Talents with Orchestra, competition for violin and piano with orchestra (Milan, Italy)
See also
- European Union of Music Competitions for Youth
- List of Recipients of the Terence Judd Award
- World Federation of International Music Competitions
- Category:Classical music awards
References
External links
- List of Classical Music Competitions at MusicaNeo
- Directory of International Piano Competitions
- Musicalchairs.info List of Competitions
- ClassicalNet: Festivals, Competitions, Concerts & Concert Venues
- Classical music competitions at DMOZ
- World Federation of International Music Competitions