The Alstair Hulett Memorial Fund
Australia

Deadline: 5 March 2012

he competition is open to songwriters and musicians based in Australia and will focus on songs promoting equality and social justice.  For full details go to website.

Opera Foundation Australia

Deadline: 12 March 2012

Opera Scholarships for young Australians to New York, Cologne, Berlin, Graz & Vienna.  Brochures can be downloaded by clicking here.
Enquiries - contact Alison Cole on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 0414 383848.

15 July - 4 August 2012
Sydney Eisteddfod
Sydney,  NSW  Australia

Entry deadline: 25 June 2012

The Musica Viva Chamber Music Award is open to 3-8 players of any age, on any combination of acoustic or amplified instruments, with or without piano and including period instruments and percussion and percussion.

Tennessee, USA

Deadline: 5 March 2012

Unsigned Only is a unique international music competition designed for solo artists, bands, and singers all over the world who are not signed to a major label record company or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, or imprints. The goal of Unsigned Only is to find an outstanding, talented performer: a band, singer, or solo artist...a newcomer or veteran...raw or polished - the “gem” that needs to be discovered. Unsigned Only is looking for the total package.  Full detail on website.

20-27 October 2012
Vercelli,  Italy

Entry deadline: 20 Juy 2012

The 63rd Gian Battista Viotti International Music Competition 2012 is open to singers of all nationalities who reach the age of 18 to 35 in the course of 2012.  Full details from website

7-16 September 2012
Asociaciòn Cultural “Maestro Rodolfo Lipizer” ONLUS
Gorizia,  Italy

Entry deadline:15 May 2012

Competition is open to violinists of all nationalities who were born after 16th September 1980. 
For full details download brochure by clicking here
Entry forms can be downloaded by clicking here together with coversheet required download here.
website

Barlow Endowment for Music Composition
Utah  USA

Deadline: 1 June 2012

The winning composer will receive a $12,000 commission from the Barlow Endowment to compose a major new work for A Cappella Choir.  The winning composer’s work will be premiered in 2014 by a consortium of three choirs:  BBC Singers (London), LATVIAN RADIO CHOIR (Latvia) and VOLTI (San Francisco). Open to all nationalities in all genre.  Full details on website.

Magistralia Foundation
Oviedo  Spain

Deadline: 30 June 2012

The competition is open to all women composers of all nationalities and ages. Symphonic works with or without solo instrument.  Details on website.

The USA International Harp Competition
Indiana  USA

Deadline: 30 October 2012

The Composition Contest of the USA International Harp Competition takes place prior to the triennial performance competition. The Contest was established as a part of its mission "to encourage composers to write new works for the harp and to promote the harp and harp music". Composers are invited to submit new works for solo harp.
Full details on website.

Vanguard Voices
Michigan  USA

Deadline: 13 April 2012

Composers with a unique creative voice and clear compositional ability are invited to participate in a choral composition contest with two $1000 prizes. Winning compositions will be premiered by Vanguard Voices, a 70-voice, mixed adult community choir based in Dearborn, Michigan, U.S.A.

The duration of the composition should be approximately 4-12 minutes. The composition should be written for mixed chorus SATB; divisi is allowed and a limited amount of solo work is acceptable. Accompaniment options include: none (a cappella) or accompaniment by any combination of the following: piano or organ, brass quintet (2 trumpets, French horn, trombone, tuba), percussion (up to two players including tympani).

Please refer to the Vanguard Voices website (www.vanguardvoices.org) for additional contest guidelines, the contest entry form, information about previous contest winners and general information about the choir. There is a $25 application fee for each composition submitted.

National Association of Teachers of Singing (USA)
Preliminary Rounds in New York, Los Angeles,& Chicago. (15 May - 2 June 2012)
Finals in Orlando, Florida, USA (28-30 June 2012)

Deadline: 1 March 2012

Competition for music theater soloists. Open to all singers 20-28 years. Full details on website.

Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien
Vienna  Austria

Deadline: 1 September 2012

The competition is open to all composers born after September 1st, 1972. The score should be for one piano, and may include all of its facets and possibilities (solo, four-hands, utilizing the interior of the piano, prepared piano, expansion of the instrument through tape,…)   For details go to WEBSITE

National Opera Association
Texas,  USA

Deadline: 1 May 2012

The NOA inaugurated its Chamber Opera Competition to encourage the composition and performance of short operas especially useful in opera workshops and other training venues. The competition runs in two-year cycles. In the first year, composers submit scores for preliminary judging. Three finalists are chosen and excerpts from those operas are presented at the annual convention for competition. The winning opera, chosen from among the three finalists, is produced in its entirety at the NOA convention the following year.  Open to composers of all nationalities.  For details go to WEBSITE.

Left Coast Chamber Ensemble
California  USA

Deadline: 20 April 2012

spacer     Left Coast is delighted to announce the opening of the ensemble’s Annual Composition Contest. The winner of the 2012 Composition Contest will receive a US $1250 cash award, a performance by the Left Coast Chamber Ensemble during the 2012-2013 concert season, and a compact disc recording of the live performance. For details go to WEBSITE.

24-29 September 2012
Città di Alessandria
Alessandria,  Italy

Entry deadline: 31 August 2012

Guitar Competition for both ancient and modern works for 6 strings classical gui- tar. Soloists of all nationalities are admitted to the competition, provided that they were not born before 1st January 1979 (33 years old).  For details go to WEBSITE

Concours lnternational de Guitare Classique "Michele Pittaluga"
Alessandria  Italy

Deadline:31 March 2012

The composition competition for the year 2012 will require a solo work for guitar not shorter than three (3) minutes and not longer than four (4). The work has to be composed for the event and it could become the leitmotiv (theme) of the competition, and, in this case, could be per- formed in all the activities of the International Guitar con- test Michele Pittaluga.  For details go to WEBSITE

6-19 August 2012
Opéra Royal de Wallonie
Liege,  Belgium

Entry deadline: 29 February 2012

The competition is open to candidates from all nationalities born after 1 January 1976.  For full details go to WEBSITE

Matching Arts & Utrechts Conservatorium
The Netherlands

Deadline: 27 April 2012

Composers are invited to enter a newly written piece for saxophone and piano, which includes cross-over elements. 6 - 8 mins. Can include electronics. Should include cross-over (eg classical contemp with popular music - jazz, pop, rock etc.)  To download information click here.

Australia Council for the Arts
Australia

Deadline: 2 March 2012

The Kirk Robson Awards recognise leadership among young community arts and cultural development practitioners. Named in memory of community cultural leader Kirk Robson, whose life was cut short tragically in 2005, the Kirk Robson Awards acknowledge leadership in community arts and cultural development in the areas of inclusiveness, consensus, self-determination, reconciliation and social justice.

The award is worth $10,000 per recipient with up to three nominations being awarded.
For full details go to WEBSITE

Taukay Edizioni Musicali
Remanzacco,  Italy

Deadline: 31 March 2012

Full details on website.

Queensland Music Awards
Qld,  Australia

Deadline:30 April 2012  (Entries open 1 March 2012)

Proudly supported by Q Music, The Courier-Mail, 612 ABC Brisbane and ABC Local Radio Queensland, the Queensland Music Awards is a state-wide search for Queensland’s best and most innovative songwriters and musicians.  Full details on website.

Svanholm Singers
Stockholm  Sweden

Deadline: 15 June 2012 (entry opens 1 April 2012)

We are very proud and happy to present the Svanholm Singers Composition Award – International competition for male choir a cappella music! With prize money totalling € 9,500, we hope to receive numerous contributions of contemporary compositions for male voices. The winning piece will be premiered at Lund International Choral Festival in October, and all awarded compositions will be published by Ghermans Musikförlag. The competition is supported by the Crafoord Foundation. Please see the WEBSITE for more information

Boston University
Mass,  USA

Deadline: 15 March 2012

The ALEA III International Composition Prize was established at Boston University to promote and encourage the creation of new music by young professional composers of all nationalities under 40 years old. Unperformed and unpublished works of all styles and esthetic directions are eligible and may be scored for any combination of single orchestral instruments, guitar, voice and/or electronics utilizing from 1-15 musicians. Compositions range between 6 and 15 minutes in duration and are submitted by March 15 of each year.
Details on website

USA International Harp Competition
Indiana  USA

Deadline: 30 October 2012

The Composition Contest of the USA International Harp Competition takes place prior to the triennial performance competition. The Contest was established as a part of its mission "to encourage composers to write new works for the harp and to promote the harp and harp music". Composers are invited to submit new works for solo harp.
Full details on website

Matching Arts in collaboration with Utrecht Conservatorium
The Netherlands

Deadline: 27 April 2012

Newly written piece for saxophone and piano, which includes cross-over elements. 6 - 8 mins. Can include electronics. Should include cross-over (eg classical contemp with popular music - jazz, pop, rock etc.)
Download details by clicking here.

Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien
Vienna   Austria

Deadline: 1 September 2012

For scores for piano.  The competition is open to all composers born after September 1st, 1972. Winners of the 2010 edition are no longer eligible to enter.
website

9-12 August 2012
Adelaide International Guitar Festival
Adelaide  SA  Australia

Deadline: 29 February 2012

The 2012 Adelaide International Guitar Festival will run over four days from 9 – 12 and after its tremendous success in 2010 the International Classical Guitar Competition returns and is open for applications from 2 January, 2012.  Emerging players compete for a share of total prizes to the value of $31,000, making it one of the most prestigious guitar competitions in the world.

Oare String Orchestra
Kent,  UK

Deadline:7 April 2012

Oare String Orchestra is pleased to invite entries for its fourth Composing Competition. On this occasion we are asking composers to write a work for solo viola and string orchestra. The viola soloist in the final concert will be Martin Outram.
Full details on WEBSITE

Taukay Edizioni Musicali and Delta Produzioni Associazione Culturale
Italy

Deadline: 31 March 2012

Competition for Chamber Music and for eclectro-acousitc music. Open to musicians of any age and any nationality.
Full details on WEBSITE

Atelier La Voce dell’Arte
Verbania,  Italy

Deadline: 1 March 2012

The Fedora Prize was instigated in 2007 by the “Atelier La Voce dell’Arte” association. Today it is a major international competition for composers of chamber operas.
Starting from 2011, the competition will undergo a further development with the opening of two sections, which will alternate: one will continue to be devoted to chamber opera, while a new section will be devoted to dance.
Full details on WEBSITE

Oare String Orchestra
Kent,  UK

Deadline: 7 April 2012

Entries are invited from composers of all ages and nationalities. Submissions should not exceed the level of difficulty of such works as the String Serenades of Dvorak or Tchaikovsky, or the Frank Bridge Variations of Benjamin Britten. Entrants should bear in mind that rehearsal time will be limited both for the orchestra and the soloist.
For full details go to WEBSITE

5-13 May 2012
City of Filadelfia, Italy

Entry Deadline: 5 April 2012

Open to young musician of any nationality.  Opera Singing Pianoforte Strings Woodwind Guitar Accordion Percussion Chamber Music. Lower Secondary school instrument classes Choirs Jazz Combo Brass Band Bands/Windbands
Full details on WEBSITE

12-19 May 2012
Bucharest, Romania

Entry Deadline: 1 March 2012

Three age categories up to 14, 18 and 30 years old
For full details go to WEBSITE

21-30 September 2012
Hamburg,  Germany

Entry Closes: 30 April 2012

The second International Chamber Music Competition Hamburg for String Quartet and Piano Trio
Full details on WEBSITE

2-12 June 2012
Zurich, Switzerland

Deadline: 29 February 2012

For competitors born after 1st June 1980.
Full details on WEBSITE

4 - 14 July 2012
Leipzig, Germany

Deadline: 5 March 2012

For organ, singing and cello.  Open to artists 16-32 years of age.
For full details go to WEBSITE

30 July - 5 August 2012
Salzburg,  Austria

Entries close: 30 May 2012

Open to any nationalities with no age limit. WEBSITE

11-23 October 2012
Beijing  China

Entries close: 4 July 2012

The competition is open to applicants of all nationalities and races are under the age of 32 (born on or after October 10th, 1980).  WEBSITE

Town of Harelbeke (Belgium)

Deadline: 20 April 2012

For full details go to WEBSITE

13-27 September 2012
Helsinki,  Finland

Entries close: 15 May 2012

Full details on WEBSITE

Cantate Domino
Kaunas, Lithuania

Deadline: 21 September 2011

We invite You to take part in XIX international sacred music festival and VIi international choir competition CANTATE DOMINO 2011 which is held on 27-30th of October, 2011 in Kaunas, Lithuania.

Full details on WEBSITE

Bucharest,  Romania
12 - 19 May 2012

Deadline: 1 March 2012

Age categories: three age categories - up to 14, 18 and 30 years old
Prizes: In a total amount of 10,000 Euro, consisting in money, instruments or scholarships
Full details on WEBSITE

Organisation: University of Oldenburg

A piece for percussion ensemble, 2-5 players. Can have variable instrumentation and variable number of players. Must be unpublished and unperformed. Max. duration 10 mins. Should be easy to fairly difficult (eg suitable for students at music college). For full details go to website or download details.

Deadline: 2011-10-30

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Organisation: Royal Academy of Music Aarhus, Denmark
Location: Aarhus, DENMARK

Deadline: 15 December 2011

1st Bang & Olufsen PianoRAMA-Competition will take place in Aarhus, Denmark, March 19-26, 2011.