The Bucharest Conducting Competition

Application deadline: July 1, 2025, 23:59, EET

Location

Sala Gloria – Strada Bucovina 6, București, Sector 3, Romania. The hall is located in near the Titan Park.

Competitor Admission
The final number of candidates admitted to the rounds may be adjusted—either increased or decreased—based on the number of invited applicants, as determined by the Jury.

Winners’ Award Gala Concert
The dress rehearsals and Competition’s Awards Gala Concert have the top three winning conductors leading the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra at the Romanian Athenaeum, located at Strada Benjamin Franklin 1, București, Romania.

Application

Schedule


Welcome Ceremony, July 16, 09:30am @ Sala Gloria. Competitor timing per round and / or schedule are subject to modifications and future announcements.


July 16, 2025

⁠09:30-10:30 – Bucharest International Conducting Competition Opening Ceremony

Round 1

  • 11:00-15:00 – First session
  • 16:00-20:00 – Second session
  • 21:00 – Announcement

July 17, 2025

The Semi-finalup to 15 candidates

  • 10:30-14:30 – Semi-final Round
  • 15:00 – Announcement

The Final – up to 6 candidates

  • 18:00-21:00 – The final Round
  • 22:00 – Announcement

July 18, 2025

Romanian Athenaeum

  • 11:00-14:00 – Dress Rehearsal
  • 19:30 – Winners Awards Gala Concert

Competition repertoire

The Competition repertoire will be divided by rounds, accordingly:

  • Johannes Brahms Academic Festival Overture, Op.80 – Editor Hans Gál (1890-1987) Publisher Info. Sämtliche Werke, Band 3: Overtüren und Variationen für Orchester Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1926-27. Plate J.B. 5. – Download from IMSLP
  • Johannes Brahms Tragic Overture, Op.81 – Editor Hans Gál (1890-1987) Publisher Info. Sämtliche Werke, Band 3: Overtüren und Variationen für Orchester (pp.37-62) Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1926-27. Plate J.B. 6.- Download from IMSLP
  • Sergei RachmaninovPiano Concerto No.2, Op.18 Editor Pavel Lamm (1882–1951) Publisher Info. Moscow: Muzgiz, 1947-48. Reissue (offprint) – Moscow: Muzyka, n.d.(1965). Plate 1106 – Download from IMSLP
  • Johannes BrahmsSymphony No.4, Op.98 – Editor Hans Gál (1890–1987) Publisher Info. Sämtliche Werke, Band 4 Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1926-27. Plate J.B. 4. – Download from IMSLP
  • All movements

The participants must provide their own scores according to the edition specified.

Winners Awards Gala Concert Program

  • Johannes BrahmsAcademic Festival Overture, Op.80 – Awarded to 3rd prize
  • Sergei RachmaninovPiano Concerto No. 2, Op.18 – Soloist: Ashot KhachatourianAwarded to 2nd prize
    Pause
  • Johannes BrahmsSymphony No. 4, Op.98 Awarded to 1st prize