Rules

 ART. 1 – The Musical Association “Scriabin”, based in Grosseto, Via Etiopia 25, Grosseto, tax code/VAT no. 01276150537, hereby announces the Sixth Edition of the International Orchestral Conducting Competition “Sergei Kussewitzky” (hereinafter referred to as the Competition).

ART. 2 – The Competition is open to orchestral conductors of any gender and nationality, with no age limits.
The Jury will be composed of the following members:
Maestro Sergey Smbtyan (Armenia) – President
Maestro Grigor Palikharov (Bulgaria)
Maestro Roberto Gianola (Italy)
Maestro Christian Deliso (Italy)
Maestro Paolo Ponziani Ciardi (Italy)
Maestro Georgios Balatsinos (Greece/Switzerland)
Maestro Miran Vaupotic (Croatia)

ART. 3 – Applications must be submitted by completing the online application form and sending proof of bank transfer payment to competitionconducting@gmail.com, accessible via the website www.kussewitzkycompetition.com, starting from March 1, 2026, until 12:00 a.m. (midnight) on August 1, 2026.
Applications or materials submitted by methods other than those specified in this announcement will not be considered.

ART. 4 – The application fee is €170.00 (one hundred seventy/00), non-refundable, payable as follows:
› Bank transfer to the account in the name of Associazione Musicale Scriabin – Premio Kussewitzky
SWIFT Code: ICRAITRRNN0 (last character “zero”)
IBAN Code: IT37J0885114301000000316333
Reason for payment: “Premio Kussewitzky – Name and Surname”

The date considered valid will be the bank transfer execution date. The payment receipt, together with a copy of a valid ID document, must be sent to competitionconducting@gmail.com no later than 12:00 a.m. on August 1, 2026.

› Alternatively, payment may be made via PayPal to premioscriabin@gmail.com.

Travel, board, and accommodation expenses for selected candidates shall be borne by the candidates themselves.

ART. 5 – The Competition consists of the following phases:

› Preselection:
Preselection will be conducted through the evaluation of two videos, with a total maximum duration of 20 minutes, featuring performances of two contrasting works, clearly showing the candidate conducting from a frontal perspective.
The video links must be provided in the online application form.
The names of selected candidates will be published on the Competition’s Facebook page on September 1, 2026.
For the preselection phase, works from any historical period are permitted, performed by any type of instrumental ensemble. Conducting two pianists (piano four hands or two pianos) is also allowed.

› Semifinal:
The semifinal will take place at the Teatro degli Industri in Grosseto on October 17, 2026, in collaboration with the “Città di Grosseto” Orchestra.
Eight competitors will each have 30 minutes of rehearsal time on the following repertoire:
– Mozart: Divertimento for Strings K. 138
– Elgar: Serenade for Strings Op. 20
– Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings Op. 48

Three competitors, selected by the Jury, will advance to the final round.
For the semifinal, the Jury will indicate from the podium the work or works to be conducted.

› Final:
The final will take place at the Teatro degli Industri in Grosseto on October 18, 2026, in collaboration with the “Città di Grosseto” Orchestra.
The three finalists will have 60 minutes of rehearsal time with the orchestra on the following program, as determined by the Jury:
– Beethoven: Symphony No. 4, Op. 60
– Mozart: “Linz” Symphony No. 36, K. 425

The final round will take place as a public concert in the presence of the Jury.

ART. 6 – By submitting their application, candidates authorize the “Scriabin” Association, as organizer of the Kussewitzky Competition and data controller, to process personal data, make video recordings, and publish photo and video material of the participant(s) exclusively for promotional and documentation purposes.
This consent is granted pursuant to Italian Legislative Decree No. 196 of June 30, 2003 (“Personal Data Protection Code”) and the GDPR (EU Regulation 2016/679).

By registering for the Competition, selected candidates consent to recordings and any use thereof for promotion and dissemination through press, social media, advertising, and any other media or channel, without time limitations.
Selected candidates agree to sign a declaration stating that they have no objections and no claims against the “Scriabin” Association and/or radio, television broadcasters, and websites involved in the Competition regarding the dissemination of video recordings of their performances and the use of their image for promotional and advertising purposes, including but not limited to awards, sponsorships, and merchandising.

ART. 7 – The Association reserves the right to organize one or more promotional events, to be communicated in advance to the finalists, requiring their participation (including but not limited to interviews, press conferences, etc.).
Failure to participate in such events may result in exclusion from the Competition and replacement by one or more artists chosen at the sole discretion of the Jury from among the selected candidates.

ART. 8 – The prizes are as follows:
– First Prize: €3,000
– Second Prize: €2,000
– Third Prize: €1,000
– “Città di Grosseto” Orchestra Prize: €500

Prize concerts are also offered by the Città di Grosseto Symphony Orchestra, the Sanremo Symphony Orchestra, the Brutia Orchestra, and the Campania Philharmonic Orchestra.

ART. 9 – The “Scriabin” Association, based in Grosseto, Via Etiopia 25, as data controller, informs pursuant to EU Regulation 2016/679 that personal data will be processed in both paper and electronic formats for institutional purposes related to the management of this announcement in all its phases.

Artistic Director
Maestro Antonio Di Cristofano

Organizational Director
Maestro Massimo Merone

FILL OUT THE REGISTRATION FORM THAT YOU FIND IN THE LINK BELOW

https://forms.gle/wnsbso6vhvxV67q59 (ITA)

https://forms.gle/yPka4j5GeWZSZ9aq7 (ENG)

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