Guide to the Concours de Genève

CONCOURS DE GENÈVE - INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION

Founded in 1939, the Concours de Genève is one of the world’s leading international music competitions. Its mission is to discover, promote and support talented young artists, providing them with the necessary tools to launch an international career.

The Concours de Genève’s multi-disciplinary approach is one of its most distinctive features. Among some forty instruments presented since its creation, a few key disciplines are offered each year in rotation: piano, flute, oboe, clarinet, cello, viola, string quartet, voice, and percussion. Composition takes place every second year.

Over the past eight decades, the Concours de Genève has revealed more than 800 artists, including world-famous names such as Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Georg Solti, Martha Argerich, Victoria de los Angeles, Maurizio Pollini, Maurice André, José van Dam, Nobuko Imai, Frans Helmerson, Christian Zacharias, Emmanuel Pahud, Tabea Zimmermann, Nelson Goerner, Annette Dasch, István Várdai, Louis Schwizgebel, Quatuor Voce, Marina Viotti...

In addition to its official prizes, the Concours de Genève offers a Career Development Programme, in partnership with Sartory Artists, which provides laureates with the support and guidance they need to develop their artistic personality and launch their careers. Its features include two years of management, as well as recordings, international tours and workshops. More information here.

VIOLA COMPETITION 2025

Applications are accepted until April 10th for the Viola Competition and May 7 for the Conducting Competition on the Concours de Genève’s website (via muvac). Applicants for the Viola Competition must submit a video recording with a choice of three different works (one baroque piece from a list, one virtuoso Etude from a list and one piece with piano at free choice). The Screening Jury meets in Geneva from 1-3 May to select the candidates (max. 40) who will take part in the Competition, which is held from 6-12 November in Geneva, Switzerland. The Competition comprises one preselection round and three official rounds (online recital, then semi-finals & final round in Geneva). Candidates who make it to the Final Round will get to perform at the Victoria Hall with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande.

JURY MEMBERS

Tabea Zimmermann, Chair
Tomoko Akasaka
Ettore Causa
Hsin-Yun Huang
Cynthia Phelps
Jean Sulem
German Tcakulov

CONDUCTING COMPETITION 2025-2026

In 2025 and 2026, the Concours de Genève is organising a conducting competition! Candidates born after 13 November 1991 will have until 7 May to register for the competition, which will take place over two years; the first two rounds will be held from 31 October to 3 November 2025, and the semi-finals and finals will be held from 7 to 13 November 2026. Candidates will have the opportunity to conduct the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Orchestre de Chambre de Genève, the Ensemble Contrechamps and the Orchestre de la HEM. Full programme and rules to be published shortly.

JURY MEMBERS 

(To be announced shortly)