Website: http://www.concoursmontreal.ca

Category: Voice
Date: May 28 to June 8, 2012
Country: Canada

Founded in 2002, the Montreal International Musical Competition has been an important platform to showcase young music talents. As a member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions since 2004, it has aimed to keep the spirit of classical music as well as to discover and reward young performers. Voice, violin and piano are featured in turns over a three-year basis.

The 2012 edition is dedicated to voice. Presided by MIMC president and co-founder André Bourbeau, the jury panels also include Sir Thomas Allen, Dmitry Vdvovin, Renata Scotto and many more important vocal figures in the opera world. Winner of the First Prize will engage in a Career Development Programme atop cash prizes.

Website: http://cncomp.odensesymfoni.dk/

Category: Violin
Date: May 31 to June 9, 2012
Country: Denmark

Named after the prominent Danish composer, conductor and violinist, the competition is regarded as one of the most authoritative and prestigious music contest in the world. Under the patronage of Margarathe II, Queen of Denmark, the event was founded in the late 1970′s by Odense Symphony Orchestra’s then Chief Conductor, Karol Stryja and leader Peder Elbæk as well as by the City’s Mayor Mr Verner Dalskov. Comprising of the violin, the clarinet, the flute and the organ disciplines, the competition is held annually with a rotating category each year. Atop cash sponsorships, winners will be offered a contract under famous artist management companies in Europe.

The 2012 edition feature the violin discipline. Since its first edition in 1980, the violin competition has been held every four years – plus an extraordinary edition in 1999 in New York City. Jury members this year include Milan Vitek, Leon Spierer, Cho-Liang Lin, Lina Yu and more authoritative figures. The winner will be invited to perform in the Copenhagen Summer Festival as well as the opening concert of the 5th Carl Nielsen International Clarinet Competition next year.

Website: http://www.gezaanda.ch/index.php?lang=eng&site=

Category: Piano
Date: June 2 to 12, 2012
Country: Switzerland

Founded in memeory of the late Hungarian pianist Géza Anda by his widow Hortense Anda-Bührle, the Concours Géza Anda is a triennial international piano competition taking place in Zürich, Switzerland. With the purpose of promoting new talents, laureates are awarded to pass on the musical spirit of Géza Anda with a three-year free concert management which can include up to 200 engagements. Past winners include Konstanze Eickhorst (1988), Alexei Volodin (2003) and Jinsang Lee (2009).

The 12th edition will feature a jury panel including Jonathan Nott, Professor Wolfgang Rathert, Andrea Bonatta, winner of the 2003 edition Alexei Volodin and more. Finalists will be invited to perform with the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra.

Website: http://www.operaliacompetition.org/

Category: Voice
Date: June 4 to 10, 2012
Country: China


Founded by the renowned tenor Plácido Domingo in 1993, The Operalia aims to discover and to help launch the careers of the most promising young opera singers of today. Held in different cities every year, the event attracts singers of all voice tessituras around the world ranging from 18 to 32 years of age. Winners are selected by a jury panel of ten distinguished international opera personalities presided by Domingo as a non-voting member. Instead, the famous tenor will give artistic and career advice to all of the participants himself- which makes the event one of the most prestigious and competitive showcase in the world. Throughout its inception, the competition has helped launch the careers of several important artists, such as Brian Asawa, José Cura, Joyce DiDonato, Elizabeth Futral, Inva Mula and Ana María Martínez.

The 2012 edition will be held in Beijing, China. In honour of Domingo’s parents who had contributed actively in the Spanish operetta, contestants are encouraged to prepare several Zarzuela repertoires. Two Zarzuela Prizes will be granted to promote the Spanish art form. The awarding ceremony will be broadcast online.

Website: http://www.stenhammarcompetition.se/

Category: Voice
Date: June 5 to 14, 2012
Country: Sweden

Named after the Swedish composer, conductor and pianist Willhelm Stenhammar, the competition is held biennially since 2006 in De Geerhallen, Norrköping. Contestants are required to prepare two obligatory repertoires, which include one piece by Willhelm Stenhammar and one by a selected contemporary Swedish composer. The First Prize winner will be invited to perform with the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra as well as at various concert engagements. Past winners include Ekaterina Godovanets (2006), Iulia Elena Surdu (2008) and Jaesig Lee (2010).

The 2012 edition will feature a singing competition. Atop the First, Second, Third, Fourth Prizes, a Contemporary Swedish Music Prize will be granted to the best interpretation of a set repertoire by selected Swedish composer.

Website: http://www.schumannzwickau.de/

Category: Piano, Voice
Date: June 7 to 17, 2012
Country: Germany

Originated in 1956 on the 100th anniversary of Schumann’s death, the competition is one of the most authoritative platform in the world that promotes prominent interpreters of Schumann’s works. Located at various venues in the city of Zwickau where Schumann was born, the competition invites guests to stroll in the composer’s footprints and to encounter his music in concerts and other events. Held every four years featuring the disciplines of singing and the piano, the stage Robert Schumann contest has nurtured many important pianists and singers of our generation: Pavel Egorov, Mikhail Mordvinov, Mitsuko Shirai, Annette Dasch, Siegfried Lorenz, Matthias Görne are amongst the names of proud former laureates.

In the 2012 edition, the competition’s jury panels will include Konstanze Eickhorst (piano), Pavel Gililov (piano), Mitsuko Shirai (singing) together with other musician authorities who were past winners. Gold medalists will be invited to perform at some of the most famous music festivals in Germany and France.

Website: http://www.naumburg.org/

Category: Violin
Date: June 7 to 13, 2012
Country: United States

Founded in 1925 by American Wall Street banker Walter Wehle Naumburg, the competition originally serves as a generous platform to give practical assistance to musical talent by offering public hearings of deserving music students. At its earliest inceptions, the event includes only four categories. It expands throughout the years to feature a great variety of disciplines rotating annually today: solo piano, violin, viola, cello, flute, clarinet, voice, composition, chamber music ensemble as well as award for outstanding recordings. Amongst the past laureates’ list are some of the most celebrated musicians of our time, including Nathaniel Rosen (1977), Paul Neubauer (1982), Gunther Schuller (1982), Steven Osborne (1997), Li Wei Qin (2001) and Emerson String Quartet (1978).

The 2012 edition will focus on the violin category. Atop cash prizes, the winner will also be awarded two fully-subsidized orchestral and recital appearances in New York.

Website: http://www.horowitzv.org/

Category: Piano
Date: June 8 to 23, 2012
Country: Ukraine

Founded in 1995 after the legendary Ukrainian pianist Vladimir Horowitz, the competition has aimed to actively assist promising young musicians’ entrance onto the international musical stage. Held biennially in the city of Kiev, the competition divides contestants by age into three groups- the junior, intermediate and senior categories. Due to the event’s prestigious reputation and high artistic demand, prize winners are almost labelled as performers of high rank.

The year 2012 continues the ninth competition running, featuring the remaining two categories: the intermediate and senior groups. Winners of each group will be offered performance opportunities in Ukrainian music festivals.

Website: http://www.worldmonacomusic.com/

Category: Piano
Date: June 11 to 16, 2012
Country: Monaco

Founded in 1989 by Jean-Marie Fournier, the owner of Salle Gaveau in Paris, the competition is famous for its strict awarding criteria. First held in Nice, the event later moved to Monaco in 1992. Featuring three categories, piano, violin and voice, competition rounds are held rapidly in succession with only one single prize awarded- namely the Prince Rainier III Prize. Contestants must have the history of being finalists of at least one international competition previously, hence making the Monte-Carlo competition an assembly of the world’s best musicians competing for the first place. Amongst the jury panel which normally consists of musicians, festival directors and critics, there also sits one non-professional voter representing the public- thus contributing to the event’s uniquessness. Past laureates include Giovanni Bellucci, Maurizio Baglini, Vardan Mamikonian and many more notable names of our time.

The 2012 edition will feature the piano discipline. The winner is also offered the chance to embark on a concert tour in France and around the world.

Website: http://www.ibla.org/

Category: Various instruments
Date: July 1 to 10, 2012
Country: Italy

First launched in 1998 by the Artistic Director Salvatore Moltisanti, the competition is held in every summer at the ancient UNESCO World Heritage Baroque quarters of Ragusa Ibla located in the southernmost tip of Sicily. It is organized for passionate musicians including pianists, singers, composers and instrumentalists to perform. Participants are free to choose any genre of music, ranging from baroque to contemporary pieces, or even unpublished works. Top winners rated by the international jury will have the opportunities to offer their debut in renowned venues such as the Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center in New York and the Tchaikovsky Bolshoi Hall in Moscow. Masterclasses by jury members and public concerts by all contestants are also presented during the week of the competition.