Académie de composition Maurice Ravel 2026 - Call for applications

Call for applications - Deadline 15 February 2026  

Académie de composition Maurice Ravel 2026
17 - 30 August 2026
Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France

Festival & Académie Ravel is launching a call for applications to select five emerging composers to participate in the 5th edition of its Composition Academy, as part of the 2026 session of the Académie Ravel. 

PRESENTATION
Rooted in Maurice Ravel’s native region and an integral part of the Festival Ravel, whose artistic direction is led by pianist Bertrand Chamayou, the Académie Ravel has been nurturing the great musicians of tomorrow for nearly 50 years (https://festivalravel.fr/).
Marked by the legacy of French composers and with a special focus on contemporary music, the Maurice Ravel Composition Academy was created in 2022, with its first edition presided over by Philippe Manoury. Subsequent editions (2023–2025) were presided by Michael Jarrell, featuring renowned guest artists such as Helmut Lachenmann, Ramon Lazkano, and George Benjamin.
In 2026, the 5th edition of the Composition Academy will be led by Spanish composer Hèctor Parra, as part of the 2026 session of the Académie Ravel. Selected composers will have the opportunity to be mentored by an outstanding teaching team, engage with students from around the world, collaborate closely with high-level young performers from leading institutions, and have their works performed publicly and presented to a prestigious jury during the composition competition concluding the Ravel Academy.
A composition prize will be awarded at the end of the Academy. It will consist of a commissioned work for the 2027 Festival Ravel, with remuneration and publication through Durand-Salabert-Eschig.

TEACHING STAFF
The 2026 session will be led by Hèctor Parra, who will work in collaboration with a conductor for the direction of the ensembles.
Guest composers invited by the Festival will also give sessions during the Academy.
Other faculty members of the Academy will participate in working with the instrumentalists through individual or group lessons, including Bertrand Chamayou, Nicolas Baldeyrou, and others leading artists.

Hèctor Parra
A major figure on the contemporary music scene, Hèctor Parra has composed over a hundred works commissioned by institutions such as the Philharmonie de Paris, IRCAM, the Vienna Konzerthaus, and the Guggenheim Museum in New York, performed by leading orchestras and ensembles including the Ensemble Intercontemporain, WDR Cologne, and the Tokyo Philharmonic. He has received numerous awards, including the Ernst von Siemens Composition Prize (2011), the National Culture Prize of Catalonia (2017), and the SACD Music Prize (2025), and was a resident at the Villa Médicis (2021–22). He is the author of eight operas premiered in Europe and the United States. His works are published by Durand / UMPG.

SESSION PROGRAM

Five emerging composers will be selected at the end of February 2026

Description of the work to be composed

•    Selected composers will choose an ensemble ranging from duo to septet from five different options, including the following instruments: piano, violin, viola, cello, voice, flute, clarinet, and percussion.
•    The duration of the work should be between 7 and 10 minutes.
•    The work must be a world premiere and specifically composed for this occasion.
•    The work must be purely acoustic, with no electronic elements or amplification.

Schedule

Ahead of the Academy (March to mid-July 2026)
•    Submission of the first part of the work: mid-May 2026
•    Submission of the completed score: mid-July 2026

During the Academy (August 17–30, 2026, in Saint-Jean-de-Luz)
•    Interpretation of the work by high-level young performers from the 2026 cohort of the Ravel Academy, under the direction of a conductor.
•    Adjustments and finalization of the works.
•    Lectures and meetings.
•    Premiere of the works during the composition competition on 30 August 2026, in the presence of a jury.

FEES / CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION

Tuition fees
Selected composers will be exempt from tuition fees, which will be fully covered by the Académie Ravel.

Accommodation and Meals
Accommodation for selected composers will be provided by the Académie Ravel.
Breakfasts and dinners will be included.
Transportation costs and lunches are not covered by the Academy.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Profiles sought
The call for applications is open to emerging composers under the age of 35, of all nationalities, who are either currently studying or hold a degree from a higher education institution in music composition, in France or abroad.

Application requirements
Applications must be submitted by email to academie@festivalravel.fr and must include : 
-    A detailed CV
-    A cover letter
-    Two works (scores required; audio or video recordings optional)

Application deadline
Sunday 15 February 2026