Rules

Istituto Globale di Alta Formazione announces the first edition of the international composition competition Aeonis – Como International Composition Award 2026The Artistic Direction of the award is entrusted to the composer Vittorio Zago.

Participation in the competition is open to composers of any nationality, born after January 1, 1991.

Submitted compositions must have a duration between 5 and 12 minutes. The ensemble may consist of a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 performers, chosen from the following list of instruments: flute (also piccolo, alto flute, and bass flute: one performer); clarinet in B-flat (also clarinet in A, E-flat piccolo clarinet, bass clarinet: one performer); violin; viola; cello; piano. Any special preparations or additional instruments beyond the specified ensemble must be provided by the composer if selected for the final.

The use of electronic media or amplification is not permitted.

Scores, which must never have been performed, awarded a prize, or published, must be submitted anonymously, marked only with the title of the composition, which must appear on the cover; scores will be evaluated anonymously. The duration of the score must also be indicated on the cover, and this will be verified during the eventual performance; the score must not contain any element that could reveal the identity of the composer, under penalty of exclusion from the competition.

Performance notes and any other indications in the score may be written in English, French, German, or Italian.

Only scores submitted in PDF format sent to the email address info@aeonisaward.it⁢ will be accepted. Scores submitted in paper format or in any format other than PDF will not be accepted.

It is necessary to send another email to the same address, with the same title of the submitted composition in the subject line, containing the following attachments:

• application form duly completed;
• a declaration by the composer stating that the submitted composition has never been performed in public concerts; has never been recorded for commercial use or broadcast on radio; has never received any awards, even under different titles; and has never been published;
• artistic curriculum vitae (in Italian or English);
• a description of the composition (no more than 1,000 characters including spaces, in Italian or English);
• consent for the recording of the performance and the radio broadcast of said recording;
• a photograph of the composer;
• copy of ID document;
• a declaration accepting the rules and conditions set forth in this call;
• Receipt of payment of the non-refundable competition entry fee of €80.00 made by bank transfer from Italy or from foreign banks that have a Euro agreement with BANCO BPM
  • Payable to: Istituto globale di alta formazione srl
    IBAN: IT42J0503432900000000008385
    BIC/SWIFT: BAPPIT21135
    Bank address: Via Roma 72, angolo Via Milano – 20090 Cesano Boscone (MI)

Note: If the transfer is made from abroad through a bank that does not have a Euro agreement with BANCO BPM, ensure that the amount credited to the beneficiary is €80.00 by including the clause “free of charges for the beneficiary”.

Composers may participate in the Competition with multiple works, each with a different title and a separate application for each composition submitted, along with the payment of the fee for each entry.

Application emails with the relevant attachments and the submission of scores must be sent by July 10, 2026.

The composer Beat Furrer, as sole judge, will be responsible for evaluating the submitted scores, selecting the 3 finalist works, and awarding the related prizes specified in Article 7 of these Regulations.

The decisions made by the sole judge are final and incontestable. The judge, at their sole discretion, reserves the right not to award some of the prizes or to highlight additional compositions beyond those selected for the final.

The Artistic Direction of the competition, due to force majeure, reserves the right to replace the sole judge for reasons arising after the publication of this call.

The 3 finalist scores will be performed by mdi ensemble during a public concert as part of the Camera con musica 2026/27 season at the Teatro Sociale in Como; this concert will take place by the end of 2026 in the Sala Bianca of the Theatre. At the end of the concert, the prizes to be awarded to the finalist composers will be determined.

The following awards are foreseen:

1. Cash prizes:
   • 1st prize: €4,000.00 – AEONIS – Como International Composition Award
   • 2nd prize: €2,000.00
   • 3rd prize: €1,000.00
2. La partitura vincitrice verrà pubblicata dalle edizioni Casa Ricordi. If the composer is already bound by contract with another publisher, that publisher must authorize the publication as stipulated in this call.
3. The composer who wins the 1st prize will receive a commission for a new composition for a chamber ensemble, which mdi ensemble will perform in 2027 during the final of the second edition of Aeonis. Casa Ricordi, at its discretion, will evaluate the commissioned score for potential further publication.
4. The competition organization reserves the right to arrange for the radio broadcast of the finalists' concert on Italian national broadcaster or other radio broadcasters.

Each finalist will be reimbursed up to €500 as financial assistance to attend the concert at the Teatro Sociale in Como. Reimbursement is conditional upon the presentation of suitable supporting documents (airplane or train ticket, accommodation for a maximum of two nights, etc.).

Prizes must be collected in person by the authors, otherwise they will be forfeited.

Finalists must send the instrumental parts to the email address info@aeonisaward.it within 20 days of the date of notification of the results of the first phase of the competition. Finalists will be notified by email and through publication on the website www.aeonisaward.it , where only the finalist scores and the names of the respective composers will appear.

The public concert of the scores selected for the final will not be anonymous; the names of the finalist composers will be disclosed.

In case of disputes, the Italian version of the text of this call shall serve as the official reference. The court of Como shall have jurisdiction over any controversy.