The International Composition Competition is a call for a new work for symphony orchestra, run by Eurochestries International, a French federation of youth classical-music festivals based in Saint-Germain de Lusignan, Charente-Maritime. Composers enter in one of two age categories and are judged over two rounds: first on a short musical excerpt with a written statement of intent, then on the complete score. Composers who reach the final are invited to a four- to five-day residency with the European Youth Symphony Orchestra Eurochestries International, which rehearses, performs and records the finalist works.
Prizes total €20,500. This edition is set on a theme: entries must be inspired by water in all its forms, which the organisers open up to symbolic, figurative and metaphorical readings. Within that theme any musical style is accepted, as long as the piece can be played by a high-level youth orchestra.
Benefits & funding
- Prize pool of €20,500 in total.
- In each of the two categories: first prize €5,000, second prize €3,000, third prize €2,000.
- One audience prize of €500, shared across both categories.
- Finalists take part in a four- to five-day residency with the European Youth Symphony Orchestra Eurochestries International.
- The final performance of each finalist work is recorded live.
- Media coverage and promotion across the Eurochestries network, a federation active in 49 countries that has run 113 festivals and hosted more than 30,000 young musicians.
- Entry costs €50, non-refundable. Travel and other personal costs are not addressed on the competition page.
Eligibility
- Category 1: composers under 30, born after 31 March 1997; the work must last 6 to 8 minutes.
- Category 2: composers aged 30 or over, born before 31 March 1997; the work must last 8 to 10 minutes.
- No nationality or residency restriction is stated, so composers based in any country may enter.
- No degree, diploma or professional status is required.
- The piece must be written for symphony orchestra and be playable by a high-level youth orchestra.
- The work must be inspired by the edition theme, water in all its forms.
- Within that theme, all styles and aesthetic approaches are accepted.
Can you apply?
Open to all applicants
No nationality, residency, education, or experience limits are listed.
Appears to have an age limit “under 30”
confirm in the requirements
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Application process
- 1Work out the category from the date of birth; the category also fixes how long the piece must be.
- 2Prepare a musical excerpt of 2 to 3 minutes from the intended work.
- 3Write a statement of 10 to 15 lines describing the concept of the complete piece.
- 4Register through the competition page on the Eurochestries site and pay the €50 non-refundable entry fee; the organisers answer registration problems at composition@eurochestries.org.
- 5Send the excerpt and the statement by 31 August 2026 for the first round.
- 6Composers selected after the first round submit the complete score by 31 March 2027.
- 7Finalists join the residency with the European Youth Symphony Orchestra Eurochestries International, where the work is rehearsed, performed and recorded.
Program timeline
First-round deadline — musical excerpt of 2 to 3 minutes plus a 10 to 15 line statement of intent.
31 August 2026
Second-round deadline — complete score from the composers selected in round one.
31 March 2027
After round two
finalists take part in a four- to five-day residency with the European Youth Symphony Orchestra Eurochestries International; the finalist works are performed and recorded live, and the audience prize is decided at the public final. The organisers have not published the dates or the venue of the final on the competition page.