CLARINITALY COMPOSITION COMPETITION 3000 € Prize Fund

CLARINITALY INTERNATIONAL COMPOSITION COMPETITION

SHE LIVES, the leading European musical association in the dissemination of contemporary music, is honored to announce the third edition of the CLARINITALY International Composition Competition, in collaboration with Eufonia ETS, an association active for 20 years in Rome in the field of musical promotion, and with the important patronage of the Accademia Italiana del Clarinetto ETS, and the European Clarinet Association.

The Competition is related to ClarinItaly, one of the major Italian festivals dedicated to the clarinet. It features top instrument and accessory companies and renowned international artists who hold masterclasses, concerts, and conferences. Notable clarinetists like Paolo Beltramini (First Clarinet of the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana), Gabriele Mirabassi (soloist of international fame), Valeria Serangeli (First Clarinet of the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa), Luigi Picatto (First Clarinet of the Teatro Regio in Turin), Borislav Yotzov (Bulgarian clarinetist and conductor), and many others have participated over the years.

About SHE LIVES
SHE LIVES is a non-for-profit organisation. Since its establishment it has had the privilege of working with internationally acclaimed artists such as Peter Eötvös, Lasse Thoresen and Sidney Corbett, as well globally renowned institutions, including the Solisti della Scala di Milano, the Roma Opera House, the Accademia Chigiana di Siena, the Accademia Filarmonica Romana, the Fondazione Scelsi, the Royal Embassy of Norway, the Swiss Institute in Rome, the UMZE (the historic ensemble founded by Bartók), the Budapest Music Center, the LAC – Lugano Arte e Cultura, the Festival Oggimusica, the Yamaha Concert Hall Wien, the Pro Helvetia, the Contemporary Art Festival Budapest, Warner Classics, and Naxos.

COMPETITION REGULATION

1. The competition is open to composers of all ages and nationalities, without restrictions of gender, ideas, religious affiliation, etc.

2. The competition theme is the composition of a piece that has the clarinet as a soloist or in any case in a primary role. The piece must necessarily include:
Clarinet/s (in Bb, in A, in C; also Piccolo Clarinet in Eb and Bass Clarinet in Bb) – up to 4 performers.
From solo clarinet to clarinet quartet (and the possible intermediate formations: duo and trio), also in association with one or more of the following instruments:

Additional instruments (not mandatory)
• Piano – one player
• 2 Violins
• 1 Viola
• 1 Cello

If the applicant decides to use the clarinet or clarinets in association with other instruments, all combinatorial possibilities are possible: Clarinet(s) and piano, Clarinet(s) and one or more string instruments, Clarinet(s) and string quartet, Clarinet(s) and complete ensemble (piano, string quartet).

3. Prepared piano, the use of electronics, and fixed media are allowed.

4. Live electronics are not allowed.

5. The duration of the piece must not exceed 15 minutes. There are no minimum duration limits.

6. The pieces may have already been performed, published, and awarded in competitions other than those organized by the She Lives association.

7. There are no style limitations. The jury will evaluate the musical quality and originality of the writing.
8. The piece can be written with a notational programme (Sibelius, Finale, Dorico, etc.) as well as handwritten as long as it is clearly legible.

AWARDS
Prize fund: 3000 Euros

DEADLINE
November 22, 2026 (23:59 Rome time)

PARTICIPATION FEE
The competition participation fee is of 55 euros for the first piece submitted.
Each composer can participate in the competition with a maximum of 5 pieces (first piece + 4 others). A sum of 25 Euros will be paid for each additional piece.

For clarity, the following are the participation fees in relation to the number of compositions sent.

1 piece: 55 Euros
2 pieces: 80 Euros
3 pieces: 105 Euros
4 pieces: 130 Euros
5 pieces: 155 Euros

The participation fee can be paid either via PayPal or by bank transfer.

JURY
Sidney Corbett, composer (USA / Germany) - President of the Jury
Alessio Elia, composer (Italy / Hungary)
Snežana Nešić, composer and conductor (Serbia / Germany)

For further information, application instructions, and application form:
https://www.shelivesmusic.it/clarinitaly-competition.html