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International Composition Competition & Symphonic LabGenerace 2027Mezinárodní skladatelská soutěž a symfonická laboratoř

Applications to the 52nd edition of the competition are now open. 

Jury of the competition

  • Ondřej Adámek, composer, conductor, chairman of the jury
  • Markéta Dvořáková, composer, teacher, on behalf of the Ostrava Creative Center
  • Pavel Šnajdr, composer, conductor
  • Sam Wigglesworth, music publisher, Faber Music
  • Vito Žuraj, composer

Contact

Please feel free to get in touch generace@generace.net for any questions not answered below.

The competition is organized by the Janáček philharmonic Ostrava in cooperation with the Creative Center Ostrava.

'Under 30' Category

'Under 30' Category is focused on giving the young composers the chance to truly learn how to work with an orchestra – not only in the score, but also through direct contact, so that they can discover where the real strength and potential of the orchestra lies.

The Final Round

Up to five finalists selected in the first round will be invited to work with the orchestra under the guidance of the jury members during rehearsals and performance of their compositions in Ostrava on June 1–2, 2027.

Final Concert within the Leoš Janáček International Music Festival
Wednesday June 2, 2027 from 7pm
Concert Hall, City Campus (Faculty of Fine Arts and Music), Ostrava

Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava
Pavel Šnajdr – conductor

The results of the 'Under 30' Category will be announced immediately after the concert, at three levels:

  • Main Award
  • Orchestra Award
  • Audience Award

Authors of the three best compositions of the Main Award will receive a financial reward:

  • First Prize 2,000 EUR
  • Second Prize 1,000 EUR
  • Third Prize 500 EUR

Symphonic Lab

During the preparatory phase of the competition, the finalists of the 'Under 30' Category will be invited to sketch a new composition for a symphony orchestra. After the final concert of the competition, they will work on the composition at a seminar led by Ondřej Adámek, Vito Žuraj and Sam Wigglesworth in Hukvaldy on June 3–5. The seminar is open to all finalists regardless of the results of the competition.

One of the finalists, selected at the end of Symphonic Lab, will then complete the composition under further tuition by Ondřej Adámek. The composition will be performed within the Leoš Janáček International Music Festival in 2028, receiving further financial support.

'Under 30' Category rules and conditions

  1. To participate in the final round, the contestants must be available from June 1 to June 5, 2027. The festival will provide their accommodation for the entire period (in Ostrava and Hukvaldy). On top of that, each of them is entitled to reimbursement of travel costs up to EUR 250.
  2. Composers born in 1997 or later may apply for the 'Under 30' Category.
  3. The competition is non-anonymous. Each composer can submit one composition (in one of the categories).
  4. Only previously unawarded compositions are accepted.
  5. The composition must not exceed 20 minutes.
  6. 6a) The composition shall be scored for a chamber orchestra consisting of a maximum of 35 musicians: a maximum of 2 flutes, a maximum of 2 oboes, a maximum of 2 clarinets, a maximum of 2 bassoons, a maximum of 2 French horns, a maximum of 2 trumpets, a maximum of 1 timpani player and 1 percussionist, a maximum of 1 harp, and a string orchestra consisting of 6 first violins, 5 second violins, 4 violas, 3 cellos, and 2 double basses. One of each woodwind group's players may alternate the following associated instruments: piccolo, English horn, E-flat clarinet, bass clarinet, contrabassoon; other associated instruments are not eligible. Piano or other keyboard instruments are not eligible.
    It is recommended to use groups of musicians rather than individual players. Consider the group of players as an orchestra, not an ensemble specializing in contemporary music. Compositions for string orchestra are eligible as long as the parts are not structured for individual players. Concertante works (accompaniment of a solo instrument or voice) are not eligible.
  7. Scores shall be submitted in PDF format. The composer needs to provide the complete parts of the composition (ready to be performed) promptly upon request.
  8. Each composer will be charged an administrative fee of EUR 25, which is payable upon submitting the application (via the payment gateway). If for any reason the payment fails, the composer will be requested to make an additional payment. The application is fully eligible only after the payment is credited to the account of the organizing organization (Janáčkova filharmonie Ostrava, příspěvková organizace 28. října 124, 702 00 Ostrava, IČ: 00373222, DIČ: CZ00373222). The administrative fee is non-refundable.
  9. The jury reserves the right not to award any of the prizes or to divide them among several authors.
  10. The best composer from the Czech Republic (regardless of the category) will receive a special financial reward of 20,000 CZK from the AHUV.

Timeline of the 'Under 30' Category

  • October 1, 2026 – applications open
  • December 31, 2026 – application deadline
  • late February, 2027 – announcement of the compositions selected for the final round, complete parts preparation
  • June 1–2, 2027 – Final Round (in Ostrava): orchestral rehearsals with the finalists present, the final concert and the announcement of the results
  • June 3–5, 2027 – Symphonic Lab (in Hukvaldy): composition seminar for the finalists with Ondřej Adámek, Vito Žuraj and Sam Wigglesworth

'Under 21' Category

'Under 21' Category is focused on chamber music. The best compositions selected by the jury will be performed as part of the “Hudební současnost” festival in Ostrava in fall 2027. Composers will have the opportunity to participate in rehearsals and the concert and work with the performers. In addition, a composition seminar led by one of the jury members will be available for them.

The author of the best composition will receive a financial reward:

  • First Prize EUR 1,000

'Under 21' Category rules and conditions

  1. The festival will provide accommodation for the authors of the winning compositions in Ostrava during the concert and seminar (to be determined later), and each of them is entitled to reimbursement of travel expenses up to EUR 250. Participation is voluntary.
  2. Composers born in 2006 or later may apply for the 'Under 21' Category.
  3. The competition is non-anonymous. Each composer can submit one composition (in one of the categories).
  4. Only previously unawarded compositions are accepted.
  5. The composition must not exceed 20 minutes.
  6. 6b) Chamber music composition shall be written for either solo instrument without accompaniment, or solo instrument with piano accompaniment, or small chamber ensemble of 2–9 instruments in various combinations.
  7. Scores shall be submitted in PDF format. The composer needs to provide the complete parts of the composition (ready to be performed) promptly upon request.
  8. Each composer will be charged an administrative fee of EUR 25, which is payable upon submitting the application (via the payment gateway). If for any reason the payment fails, the composer will be requested to make an additional payment. The application is fully eligible only after the payment is credited to the account of the organizing organization (Janáčkova filharmonie Ostrava, příspěvková organizace 28. října 124, 702 00 Ostrava, IČ: 00373222, DIČ: CZ00373222). The administrative fee is non-refundable.
  9. The jury reserves the right not to award any of the prizes or to divide them among several authors.
  10. The best composer from the Czech Republic (regardless of the category) will receive a special financial reward of 20,000 CZK from the AHUV.

Timeline of the 'Under 21' Category

  • October 1, 2026 – applications open
  • December 31, 2026 – application deadline
  • late February, 2027 – announcement of the 'Under 21' Category results
  • fall 2027 – concert performance of the winning compositions in Ostrava with the authors present, composition seminar
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