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Gaudeamus Award 2026
https://gaudeamus.nl/call/gaudeamus-award-2026/
Deadline
Restrictions
Composers/creators of any nationality or background who were born after 13 September 1990 may enter their works. Works may already have been performed but must be composed no more than 4 years ago.Participation fee
The registration fee for the competition is € 35. After you are selected, accommodation and participation in the festival are free of charge. Also, the travel costs to and from Utrecht will be reimbursed to the participant. If for any reason, the registration fee is an obstacle that is preventing you from partaking in this call, please contact us.The Gaudeamus Award is the yearly incentive prize for young composers. Ever since the first winner (Peter Schat in 1957) the Award has been a kickstart for the career of many composers. Four composers will be nominated for the Award. The nominees will be part of the Gaudeamus Festival 2026 (9-13 September) in Utrecht, The Netherlands. On the final night of the festival the winner of the Award will be chosen by an independent jury. The prize consists of a commission worth €6,000 for a new composition to be premiered at a future edition of the Gaudeamus Festival. The nominees’ main entries for the competition will be performed during the festival. They will also be commissioned to develop a new piece especially for the festival. After the festival, Gaudeamus will continue to support the nominated composers.
The formation of the jury is crucial for a broad selection of nominees. We always form the jury with composers/performers, representing the broad spectrum of contemporary music. As a rule, the jury members are all teachers as well, at a school or privately, and the jury members will coach the nominees during the preparations for the festival. For 2026, the jury consists of Peni Candra Rini, Hardi Kurda and Ash Fure, supplemented by three side readers (Bekah Simms, Hugo Morales and Robin de Raaff).
In the week before the Gaudeamus Festival (9-13 September 2026), the 4 nominated composers will work with the focus ensembles on their newly commissioned works and rehearse the selected works. The focus ensembles for 2026 will be known in October 2025.