The Concours de Genève is now accepting applications for its 2025/2026 viola and conducting competitions, offering talented musicians the opportunity to take part in one of the world’s most prestigious international music competitions.
VIOLACOMPETITION2025
- The viola competition is open to candidates born after 12 November 1995.
- The deadline for registration is 10 April 2025.
- Forty shortlisted candidates will present a video recital, which will be broadcast online from 8 to 14 September 2025. From these, eight semi-finalists will be selected to take part in the
semi-final and final rounds in Geneva from 6 to 12 November 2025.
- The three finalists will perform with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, presenting L. Albisetti’s compulsory concerto Nouvel Élan – winner of the 2024 composition competition – as well as a concerto of their choice from a set of prescribed pieces.
- Legendary violist Tabea Zimmermann, winner of the first prize at the Concours de Genève in 1982, will chair the international jury alongside Tomoko Akasaka, Ettore Causa, Hsin-Yun Huang, Cynthia Phelps, Jean Sulem and German Tcakulov.
CONDUCTINGCOMPETITION2025/2026
- The conducting competition is open to candidates born after 13 November 1991.
- The deadline for entries is 7 May 2025.
- Lasting two years, the competition will begin with the first two rounds from 31 October to 3 November 2025, followed by the semi-finals and final in November 2026.
- Participants will have the opportunity to conduct prestigious ensembles, including the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Orchestre de Chambre de Genève, the Ensemble Contrechamps and the Haute école de musique de Genève Orchestra.
- Between the 2025 and 2026 editions, the six semi-finalists will take part in masterclasses, workshops and professional meetings.
- The official jury, made up of conductors, composers and renowned experts, will be announced shortly.
PRIZESANDCAREERDEVELOPMENTPROGRAMME
- In addition to a wide range of official and special prizes, the winners will benefit from the Concours de Genève’s career development programme, which offers them performance opportunities and industry support to help launch their international careers.
- Both competitions will be broadcast live on the Concours de Genève’s website, social networks and partner platforms.
- For more information and to apply, go to concoursgeneve.ch.
APPLICATIONDEADLINES
Viola-10April2025|Conducting-7May2025
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