Music competitions provide career-launching opportunities, offering wide visibility, cash prizes, management services, and performance debuts. Success requires disciplined preparation while showcasing originality, technical precision, and emotional connection—at the same time adhering strictly to application deadlines and processes.

We sort through it all to bring you the crucial details for 90 top competitions around the world so you can make your best decisions.

COVER PHOTO: (left to right) Jungrae Noah Kim, 2nd prize; Chelsea Marilyn Zurflüh, 1st prize; Barbara Skora, 3rd prize, at the Concours de Genève - 2024 Voice Competition awards ceremony, Genève, Switzerland
PHOTO: © Anne-Laure Lechat

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Created in 2014 by Dr. Sharon Azrieli CQ for the Azrieli Foundation, the Azrieli Music Prizes celebrate excellence in composition through three prizes, each valued at CAD $250,000: the Azrieli Commission for Canadian Music, the Azrieli Commission for Jewish Music, and the Azrieli Commission for International Music.

Intended as a natural extension of the George Enescu Festival, the most important international cultural event organized by Romania and a true national cultural brand, George Enescu International Competition recognizes, supports, and promotes young talents worldwide, endorsing in this way the future golden generations of the universal classical music.

Hailed by musicians, media, and critics as one of the world's most important competitions for launching a professional career in violin, The Indianapolis will celebrate its 12th Quadrennial Competition in 2026, searching the globe for the finest young talents and propelling them onto the concert scene.

The Schmidt Vocal Competition is a program of Schmidt Vocal Arts held at regional locations across the country. The day-long competition affords singers an opportunity to perform live in front of an audience for the chance to win cash awards/scholarships and offers master class training with premier artists.

Founded in 1977 in memory of the famous Hungarian-Swiss pianist Géza Anda (1921-1976), the Concours Géza Anda is one of the world's most respected piano competitions. The Géza Anda-Foundation offers all of its laureates free management services, mentorship and involvement in other projects for three years.

One of the most renowned and large-scale competitions of its kind takes place every year in four varying categories. The invitation to participate in this competition is extended to young musicians, who are ready to launch an international career.

Entrants will submit a videotaped performance of contrasting movements of a J.S. Bach work written for unaccompanied string instrument (sonatas, partitas, or suites). Finalists will play complete work at the finals on October 15, 2026. Grand prize is $10,000 and five performing engagements; second place is $2,500.

Founded in 1949, the Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition is rich in both tradition and innovation and is regarded as one of the most successful institutions of its kind. Its biennial structure includes the Glocal Piano Project and final stages that are both intensively followed by audiences worldwide.

The William C. Byrd Young Artist Competition was started by the late William C. Byrd, conductor of the Flint Symphony Orchestra, for the purpose of helping launch careers for young musicians. Following his untimely death, the St. Cecilia Society of Flint, MI, has continued to sponsor the annual classical music competition. The Competition in the coming years will focus on winds and brass (2026), voice (2027), piano (2028), and strings (2029).

The 53rd Annual Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition takes place May 8-10, 2026, in South Bend, IN, at the University of Notre Dame. The competition is open to ensembles with three to six members and includes senior and junior divisions. More than $60,000 in prize money and performance opportunities will be awarded.

The mission of the Hilton Head International Piano Competition is to encourage and support excellence in the performance of classical piano music by showcasing the talents of young pianists on the threshold of their careers in competitions adjudicated by internationally acclaimed judges, and to offer additional performance opportunities.

The Elizabeth Huang Competition will be held on November 14, 2026, at the University of Louisville. The competition is open to pianists age 14 to 18 who are not currently enrolled in college. The live round repertoire has a maximum 15 minutes of music from at least two different styles; cash prizes are $3,500.

Since 1982 the International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition has been one of the world's best networked singing competitions with qualifying rounds in more than 50 cities world-wide each year. The singers are judged by a jury consisting of artistic and casting directors from the world's most prestigious opera houses.

Open to high school students ages 13 to 18. Finalists will perform a solo recital and a concerto with the International MostArts Festival Orchestra during the MostArts Festival week, July 12-18, 2026. There are $20,000 in cash prizes including a $10,000 grand prize plus a return concert in 2027.

The MTNA Competitions are the most successful and prestigious student competitions in the country. The purpose of the Music Teachers National Association competitions is to provide educational experiences for students and to recognize exceptionally talented young artists and their teachers in their pursuit of musical excellence.

The National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC) offers awards in several categories for ages 5 and older—more than $750,000 in competition and award prizes on the local, state, and national level. The Biennial Young Artist and Ellis Duo-Pianists competitions award a total of $92,000 and two years of performance bookings. Additional competitions are sponsored by the Federation in a wide range of categories. NFMC also sponsors more than 38 annual and biennial awards for students aspiring to attend the 20 sponsored Summer Music Centers.

The Walter W. Naumburg Competition is the oldest classical music competition in the world. In 2026, our 100th anniversary year, we will be holding our international violin competition.

For over three decades The Parkhouse Award has been selecting outstanding emerging ensembles of piano with strings, presenting them in London and across the United Kingdom. Support and advice is offered over a two-year period with continuing support thereafter. For 2027, the Award is open to piano trios only.

The Redlands Bowl Young Artists Competition celebrates exceptional young instrumentalists and vocalists. Contestants gain auditioning and performance experience through a three-tiered process: video submissions, a semifinal round, and the Grand Finals at the Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival featuring a full orchestra and cash prizes.

Begun in 1997 following a bequest to the Allentown Symphony Association from Edwin H. and Leigh W. Schadt, the Schadt National Competition alternates biennially between violin and cello. First prize is $12,000 and a solo concerto with the ASO; second prize is $5,000 and a solo recital engagement; third prize is $2,500.