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20th Anniversary George Enescu International Competition Opens Applications Worldwide
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Katy Salomon | Primo Artists | VP, Public Relations
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Sonia Kanigel | Primo Artists | Public Relations Manager
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20th Anniversary George Enescu International Competition
Opens Applications Worldwide
August 23 – September 19, 2026 | Bucharest, Romania
Part of Romania’s Foremost Cultural Initiative, the Biennial Competition
Provides Launchpad for International Rising Stars
Division Juries Helmed by Lylia Zilberstein (Piano), Arto Noras (Cello),
Mihaela Martin (Violin), and Zygmunt Krauze (Composition),
With Notables Including GRAMMY®-Winning Composer Gabriela Ortiz
Concerts by Jury Members and Competition Laureates,
Well-Being Sessions for the Participants, and Masterclasses
Led by Artistic Director Cristian Macelaru
Application Deadlines:
Cello, Violin, and Piano Divisions – May 10, 2026
Composition Division and Masterclasses – June 30, 2026
“a global artistic exchange” – The New York Times
Bucharest, Romania (March 23, 2026) – The 2026 edition of the biennial George Enescu International Competition will be held from August 23 to September 19, 2026, in Bucharest, Romania, with four divisions for entrants in Composition, Cello, Violin, and Piano. Now marking its 20th anniversary edition, this year’s competition will be held under the theme “In Pursuit of Excellence.” This worldwide showcase of young talent is open to participants of all nationalities born after August 1, 1991, with application deadlines of May 10, 2026 for the Cello, Violin, and Piano divisions, and June 30, 2026 for Composition entries. In addition to cash prizes, winners will have the opportunity to perform at future editions of the George Enescu International Festival, Romania’s foremost cultural event and one of the world’s single largest meetings of international orchestras. The application form is now open.
“The 20th edition of the George Enescu International Competition marks an important milestone for Romania’s cultural life,” said Cristina Uruc, Executive Director of the Enescu Competition and Manager of ARTEXIM. “The Competition offers a global platform for young musicians ready to step into the spotlight and dedicate their lives to music. Through opportunities such as performances with orchestras and collaborations with leading institutions, we support the next generation of artists while strengthening Romania’s presence on the international classical music stage.”
Cristian Macelaru, Artistic Director of the George Enescu International Festival and Competition, returns for the third competition of his tenure, where he conducts the Romanian Radio National Orchestra in the competition’s opening concert on August 23, 2026 and leads multiple masterclasses from August 24-28, 2026.
“At the heart of the George Enescu International Competition lies the extraordinary musical legacy of George Enescu,” Macelaru commented. “The Competition invites young musicians to engage deeply with his music and artistic vision, discovering through study and interpretation the richness of a tradition that continues to inspire generations. In doing so, we aim to give young artists not only a platform, but also a clear goal and a path toward pursuing excellence, encouraging them to carry Enescu’s spirit forward and share it with audiences around the world.”
Among several distinguished guests for this year’s competition will be Marin Alsop, who makes her first appearance in Romania as she conducts the Romanian Radio National Orchestra in a concert of works by leading composers among the competition’s jury members.
This year’s panel of esteemed jurors is led by divisional Jury Presidents Arto Noras (Cello), Mihaela Martin (Violin), Lylia Zilberstein (Piano), and Zygmunt Krauze (Composition). They will be joined on their respective juries by notables including Nigel Boon and Didier de Cottignies (piano jury), Inbal Segev and Elena Dubinets (cello jury), and Ida Kavafian and Nemanja Radulovic – a former winner of the competition (violin jury). Additional jury members include multiple GRAMMY®–winning composer and educator Gabriela Ortiz, along with composers Steven Mackey, and Sarah Kirkland Snider. Complete jury membership is listed below.
Jury members, former competition laureates, and special guests will be featured in six symphonic concerts and six chamber recitals during the competition.
Masterclasses will be held in composition and conducting (open to musicians born after August 1, 1991) as well as instrumental performance (open to musicians born after August 1, 2001). Top honorees in the conducting masterclass will conduct portions of the competition’s Closing Concert by the Romanian Youth Orchestra, led by Macelaru.
Up to 50 participants will be selected for each instrumental division of the competition. The first two rounds for each division will be held at the National University of Music in Bucharest, while the semifinals and finals will take place at the iconic Romanian Athenaeum. Semifinal rounds for the instrumental divisions will be held in a play-conduct format with the Radio Chamber Orchestra. For the final rounds of the three instrumental divisions, the competition will welcome internationally renowned conductors: Case Scaglione conducts the Cello Final, with the National Radio Orchestra; Harry Ogg conducts the Violin Final with the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra; and Daniela Candillari conducts the Piano Final, also with the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra. Marin Alsop conducts the concert presented in honor of the Composition division, leading the Romanian Radio National Orchestra in a performance of works by jury members Doina Rotaru, Steven Mackey, Sarah Kirkland Snider, and Zygmunt Krauze, with Krauze performing his own piano concerto.
The George Enescu International Competition is held in alternating years with the George Enescu International Festival, representing two halves of a key initiative of the Romanian Ministry of Culture. Held for the first time in 1958, the competition has since gained a reputation as a launchpad for exceptional next-generation classical artists. Past winners have included the renowned Romanian pianist Radu Lupu, multi-award-winning composer Sebastian Androne-Nakanishi, rising-star cellist Zlatomir Fung and violinist Nemanja Radulovic, an in-demand international soloist. Since 2002, the event has been part of the World Federation of International Music Competitions.
To enter the competition, musicians should fill out the entry form on the official website of the George Enescu International Competition. The competition’s pre-selection jury will take place online, based on performance videos submitted by competitors. Following pre-selections, selected participants will proceed to the competition’s four stages held in Bucharest.
The prize value to be awarded across the competition’s four divisions totals €150000. In addition to cash prizes, winners will benefit from national and international promotion and artistic launch through partnerships established by ARTEXIM with artistic management agencies and orchestras from Romania and abroad. First-place winners in each division will have the opportunity to perform alongside world-class orchestras in the 2027 edition of the George Enescu International Festival.
Carrying on a resource successfully introduced for the competition’s 19th edition in 2024, this year’s competition will again offer masterclasses in conducting, instrumental performance, and advanced music studies led by Macelaru – with the new addition of a course in composition, reflecting George Enescu’s legacy as a composer, violinist, pianist, conductor, and teacher. Masterclasses will be held at the Radio Hall in Bucharest, offering participants in-depth musical training, professional guidance, and the opportunity to develop their artistry across multiple disciplines.
In addition, the competition will continue to offer well-being and professional development programs for its participants. “Mindful on Stage,” led by Dr. Angelica Postu, will focus on the physical, emotional, and psychological practices that help musicians and conductors maintain balance, resilience, and expressive freedom. For semifinalists and finalists, TV producer Valentina Bain?an will lead the “Art of Presence” workshops geared to building self-confidence, public communication skills, and authentic artistic presence, helping young performers connect meaningfully with audiences both on stage and in media.
2026 George Enescu International Competition Information
August 23 – September 19, 2026
National University of Music & Romanian Athenaeum | Bucharest, Romania
Application Deadlines:
Cello, Violin and Piano Divisions: May 10, 2026
Composition Division: June 30, 2026
Masterclasses Registration Deadlines:
Instrumental performance and conducting masterclasses: May 10, 2026
Composition and other masterclasses: June 30, 2026
Entry Form: https://form.festivalenescu.ro/en/
Rules: Download PDF
Jury:
Cello: Arto Noras (President), Enrico Dindo, Marin Cazacu, Valentin Radu?iu, Dan Prelipcean, Frans Helmerson, Claudio Bohórquez – joined in the semi-final and final rounds by Inbal Segev and Elena Dubinets
Violin: Mihaela Martin (President), Liviu Prunaru, Vladimir Nem?anu, Bujor Prelipcean, Alissa Margulis, Kathleen Winkler, Ida Kavafian – joined in the semi-final and final rounds by Nemanja Radulovic and Nora Pötter
Piano: Lilya Zilberstein (President), Marie-Ange Nguci, Dana Bor?an, Raluca ?tirba?, Nigel Boon, Rena Shereshevskaya, Vovka Ashkenazy – joined in the semi-final and final rounds by Didier de Cottignies and Nelson Goerner
Composition: Zygmunt Krauze (President), Gabriela Ortiz, Dan Dediu, Adrian Pop, Adrian Iorgulescu, Doina Rotaru, Elsa Vautrain, Sarah Snider, Steven Mackey, Mark Simpson
Competition Schedule:
Cello Division
First Round: August 29-31, 2026
Second Round: September 2-3, 2026
Semifinal: September 5, 2026
Final: September 7, 2026
Violin Division
First Round: September 4-6, 2026
Second Round: September 8-9, 2026
Semifinal: September 11, 2026
Final: September 13, 2026
Piano Division
First Round: September 10-12, 2026
Second Round: September 14-15, 2026
Semifinal: September 17, 2026
Final: September 19, 2026
Composition Division
Jury to deliberate in advance of the competition, announcing winners at the Opening Concert on August 23, 2026
Cash Prizes:
Composition
Prize for the symphonic music division – €10000 net
Prize for the chamber music division – €7000 net
Special prize for originality – €5000 net
Top finishers in each of the Cello, Violin and Piano Divisions receive:
First prize – €15000 net
Second prize – €10000 net
Third prize – €5000 net
Additional Prizes:
Piano
Radu Lupu Prize for the best interpretation of a work by George Enescu – €3000 net
Prize for the best interpretation of the imposed work – €2000 net
Audience Award – €1000 net
Violin
?tefan and Valentin Gheorghiu Prize for the best performance of a Sonata by George Enescu – €3000 net
Prize for the best performance of the imposed work – €2000 net
Audience Award – €1000 net
Cello
Serafim Antropov-Manu Prize for the best performance of George Enescu’s Cello Sonata No. 2 in C major Op. 26 – €3000 net
Prize for the best interpretation of the imposed work – €2000 net
Audience Award – €1000 net
About the George Enescu International Competition
Organized for the first time in 1958, simultaneously with the George Enescu International Festival, the Enescu Competition operates as an international launching platform for future world-renowned musicians. Additionally, the Competition promotes the compositions of the great Romanian musician and composer among the new generation of artists worldwide, thus being a natural complement to the George Enescu International Festival, Romania’s most important international cultural event.
Since 2002, the Enescu Competition has been a member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions, being the only classical music competition in Romania organized in accordance with the standards and status of the Federation. Starting in 2014, the Enescu Competition became a distinct event from the Festival and is organized every two years (alternatively with the years in which the Festival is organized).
The producer of the Competition is the Government of Romania, through the Ministry of Culture. The organizer is ARTEXIM, an institution under the Ministry of Culture. The George Enescu International Competition takes place under the High Patronage of the President of Romania. Organizing each edition is supported by institutional partners and sponsors from the private, artistic, and academic environments.
*Photo Credit: 2024 Competition image courtesy of the George Enescu International Festival and Competition.
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