Competition Rules

Competition Rules – Choir Conducting section

1. National Music Academy “Gheorghe Dima” of Cluj-Napoca is organizing on 22-26 October 2026, the XXI edition of the Gheorghe Dima International Music Competition – Choir Conducting section.

2. The competition is open to conductors of all nationalities born after 1991, who have not turned 36 by the 22 of October 2026.

3. The language used during competition and courses will be English.

4. Application Period – August 1 to September 15, 2026, at midnight (Romania time). On September 20, the selection panel will announce the 32 candidates invited to participate in the competition. The names of the selected conductors will be published on the competition’s website and Facebook page

5. The application is ONLINE. Requirements for application:

• Application form completely filled
• Copy of an identity document
• Good resolution photo recently taken
• Complete resume and a short BIO of maximum 800 characters
• Video of maximum 20 minutes
• A copy of these Regulations dated and signed by the candidate with the mention “read and approved”
• Proof of payment of the registration fee by bank transfer

The video of maximum 20 minutes must be a YouTube link, public or private with contrasting pieces, preferably. The repertoire can be choral a cappella or with accompaniment (piano, organ, orchestra etc). The ensemble must be at least a vocal quintet.

6. The jury is formed by international panel:

President of the jury

• Cornel Groza, PhD Proffessor and Permanent conductor of the Transylvania State Philharmonic Choir

Jury members

• Patrick Russill – Emeritus Head of Choral Conducting, Royal Academy of Music, London, Director of Music, The London Oratory
•  Alois Glaßner– Head of Choral Conducting University of Music in Vienna, Artistic Director of the Salzburg Bach Choir. 
• Nils Schweckendiek -Professor of Choral Conducting at the Sibelius Academy, Helsinki, Artistic Director of the Helsinki Chamber Choir
• Jonas Rasmussen  Lecturer in classical choral conducting at the Royal Academy of Music Aarhus, Conductor of Academic Choir Aarhus
• Cristian Bence-Muk – composer, Professor, PhD, President of the Senate of the National Academy of Music “Gheorghe Dima” from Cluj-Napoca, Vice-President of the Union of Composers and Musicologists from Romania;
• Ciprian Para – Permanent conductor of the Ave Musica Student Choir, PhD Assoc. Proffesor in Choir Conducting at the Gheorghe Dima National Music Academy, Cluj-Napoca
• Mihaela Cesa-Goje – Conductor and director of the Composition and Conducting Department at the Gheorghe Dima National Music Academy, Cluj-Napoca, Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, London

7. The following prizes will be awarded:

• 1st Prize – 10.000 RON (̴ 2000 EUR)* and the invitation of performing a public concert with the Transylvania State Philharmonic Choir during 2027 – 2028 season
• 2nd Prize – 7500 RON (̴ 1500 EUR)*
• 3rd Prize -50000 RON (̴ 1000 EUR0)*
• Special Prize Gheorghe Dima 1500 RON (̴ 300 EUR)*
• Special Prize of the choir – 1500 RON (̴ 300 EUR)*

8. The application fee is 50 EUR net, – nonrefundable, paid by Bank transfer to:

Asociatia Academiei de Muzica Gheorghe Dima
Address: Str I.C Bratianu 25, Cluj Napoca
Name of the Bank: Banca Transilvania
Bank address: B-dul Eroilor, nr 36, 400027, Cluj Napoca
IBAN: RO19BTRLRONCRT0374277501
SWIFT/BIC: BTRLRO22

Please mention your name and the message for DIMA COMPETITION 2026 – CHOIR CONDUCTING.

9. The 32 finalists chosen to take part in the competition are required to pay 90 Euro by 22 September 2026

10. There are two Rounds of the competition, the Semifinal and the final concert.

32 conductors will be selected to enter Round 1, with 16 of those selected for Round 2. 8 conductors will be chosen for the Semifinal. Up to 5 participants will conduct the Final Concert, at the end of which prizes are awarded.

The repertoire and details about the rounds of the competition

• The First Round (32 candidates) has one compulsory piece. The time for the first round is 7 minutes.
  
  

Compulsory piece:

Giaches de Wert: Vezzosi augelli

Candidates are expected to show their interpretation of the piece working efficiently with the double quintet. The piece can be run through but it is not a condition.

The ensembles for this round will be two alternating double quintets, members of Transylvania State Philharmonic Choir

• The Second Round (16 candidates) has two compulsory pieces and a list of 4 pieces from which one will be allocated to each candidate by drawing by lot.

Compulsory pieces:

Luca Marenzio : Zefiro torna

Valentin Timaru: Rugă

Repertoire:

Felicia Donceanu: Între păsări

Paul Hindemith: 6 chansons – n.1& 6, La Biche &Verger

Benjamin Britten : Five Flower song – n.5, Ballad of Green Broum

Francis Poulenc: Un soir de neige – n. 1&2, De grande cuilleurs de neige&La bonne neige

Candidates are expected to run through the compulsory pieces and to rehearse the piece drawn from the repertoire list. Time allowed: max 17 minutes

The ensemble for this round will be Transylvania State Philharmonic Choir

The Semi-final (8 candidates) includes one compulsory work: the First Prize–winning composition from the Composition Section of the Gheorghe Dima International Competition. This piece will receive its world premiere during the competition.

All 32 candidates selected to participate in the competition will receive the score of this work on September 25, 2026.

The second piece to be conducted in the Semi-final will be assigned to each candidate by drawing lots from a list of four works.

Compulsory piece: the First Prize–winning work from the Composition Section of the Gheorghe Dima International Competition

Repertoire:

Einojuhani Rautavaara: Lorca-Sarja, n. 3&4 La luna& Malaguena 

John Taverner – The lamb

Jaakko Mantijarvi: Come away, Death

Benjamin Britten: A.M.D.G – Prayer II

For the Semifinal the time allowed is max 20 minutes. Candidates are expected to rehearse the compulsory piece and the piece drawn from the list of repertoire. The ensemble for this round will be the Transylvania State Philharmonic Choir.

In the Final Concert ( max 5 candidates) the finalists will perform the pieces rehearsed in the semifinal. Prizes will be announced after the performances in front of the public. The ensemble for this round will be the Transylvania State Philharmonic Choir.

1. There are two days of 8 free masterclasses.

1. On the 24 of October 2026 –4 sessions of free masterclasses offered by the members of the jury to the competitors who did not progress to the second round.
2. On the 26 of October 2026 – 4 sessions of free masterclasses offered by the members of the Jury to the competitors who entered second round.

The masterclasses will be held by:

• Patrick Russill – Emeritus Head of Choral Conducting, Royal Academy of Music, London, Director of Music, The London Oratory
•  Alois Glaßner – Head of Choral Conducting University of Music in Vienna, Artistic Director of the Salzburg Bach Choir. 
• Nils Schweckendiek -Professor of Choral Conducting at the Sibelius Academy, Helsinki, Artistic Director of the Helsinki Chamber Choir
• Jonas Rasmussen  Lecturer in classical choral conducting at the Royal Academy of Music Aarhus, Conductor of Academic Choir Aarhus

12. All rounds of the competition and the masterclasses are open to the public and the entrance is free. From the first round, the competition will be streamed live on the Internet

13. All Romanian repertoire of the competition is available for download from the competition website.

Participants are asked to prepare all repertoire.

14. The order of the entrance in the competition will be made by drawing lots with the ocassion of the opening ceremony on 22 October 2026. All candidates are required to be present.

15. The decision of the Jury is definitive and without right of appeal.

16. All candidates will receive diplomas of participation and certificates of active participants in the masterclasses signed by the members of the Jury. The prizes will be offered by the President and the members of the Jury.

17. All expenses: travel, meals and accommodation are the responsability of the candidate.

18. Contestants requiring a Visa to take part in the Competition are requested to contact the Competition Office if an invitation letter is necessary.

19. The organisers reserve the right to make photos, audio and video recordings and to broadcast on Radio, TV and on the Internet all competition rounds and the Final concert.