Carl Nielsen International
Chamber Music Competition 2027
for String Quartet & Wind Quintet
Copenhagen 20th - 24th October
Welcome
“Music is life and like it inextinguishable”, Carl Nielsen writes in the introduction to his Fourth Symphony. His brilliant compositions have since affirmed this idea, and his symphonic works have become an integral part of the repertoire of symphony orchestras around the world.
In addition to his symphonic works, Carl Nielsen composed instrumental concertos, chamber music, piano works, operas, choral works and numerous popular songs. Among his chamber music works, the string quartets and the wind quintet form the core – the latter being a central part of the international core repertoire for wind quintets.
The Carl Nielsen International Chamber Music Competition for String Quartet & Wind Quintet is established to bring greater attention to Carl Nielsen’s remarkable chamber music works by having it interpreted and performed by the best young musicians from all over the world. We are looking forward to welcoming young, talented ensembles to Denmark in 2027 for the 4td edition of the Carl Nielsen International Chamber Music Competition.
Rules
- 1 Participants age
The competition is open to string quartets and wind quintets of all nationalities.
By the beginning of the competition (20th October 2027):
The combined ages of the string quartet must not exceed 120 years.
The combined ages of the wind quintet must not exceed 150 years.
The age of any individual ensemble member must not exceed 35 years.- 2 Application
Application is open on carlnielseninternational.dk from the 1st March 2027 and applications must be received by 15th April, 2027.
Registration is definitive only when the online form is duly filled in. The following is required in the online formular:- Application fee of €100 paid by credit card during the online application procedure. The application fee is non-refundable.
- High res photo of the ensemble.
- Proof of age (identity card/passport of all members of the ensemble).
- Short biography of the ensemble (career, education, principal teachers, 100-150 words in English).
- An unedited video-recording with the ensemble (of at least 8 min.) Link to youtube or vimeo in the online application. Free repertoire choice.
- 3 Application response
Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application ultimo May 2027.
Max. 20 ensembles will be selected by the pre jury.
The pre jury’s decision is final and cannot be appealed.- 4 Rounds
The competition has three rounds plus one preliminary round consisting of online video screening.
All three rounds are open to the public.
A maximum of 6 ensembles in each category will be admitted to the second round.
A maximum of 3 ensembles in each category will be admitted to the final round.- 6 Media rights
All competition rounds may be:
- Recorded, broadcast and streamed or made available for podcast
- Photographed
- Published on Social Media channels and on carlnielseninternational.dk a.o.
In these cases, competitors disclaim all rights and fees.
- 7 Jury
The jury and pre jury consist of prominent musicians who have solid experience performing in a string quartet or wind quintet.
- 8 Prize reservations
The jury reserves the right:
A) to not award one or more prizes
B) to divide a prize between two competitors.
The jury’s decision is final and cannot be appealed.- 9 Travelling expenses
Travelling and hotel expenses must be borne by the ensembles.
- 10 Disclaimer
These rules were originally written in Danish. Any point of dispute will be settled within accordance with the Danish version of the rules. Subject to changes. errors and omissions excepted.
Jury
String Quartet
Gerhard Schulz, Chairman
Professor of Violin at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, Austria. Member of the Alban Berg Quartet (1978-2008).
Isabel Charisius
Professor of Viola and Chamber Music at the Lucerne University of Music, Switzerland. Member of the Alban Berg Quartet (2005-2008) and Principal Viola of the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra and Munich Philharmonic.
Clive Greensmith
Professor of Cello at the Colburn School, Los Angeles, USA, and Professor of Chamber Music at the Accademia Chigiana, Siena, Italy. Member of the Tokyo String Quartet (1999-2013) and Principal Cello of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Corina Belcea
Professor of Violin at the Bern University of the Arts, Switzerland. Founder and First Violinist of the Belcea Quartet.
Wind Quintet
Andreas Sundén, Chairman
Principal Clarinet of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Clarinet Professor at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and Ingesund School of Music, Sweden.
Gustavo Núñez
Principal Bassoon of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Netherlands. Professor of Bassoon at the Robert Schumann Hochschule in Düsseldorf, Germany, and the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía in Madrid, Spain.
Stefan Dohr
Principal Horn of the Berlin Philharmonic. Member of Ensemble Wien-Berlin and the Philharmonisches Oktett Berlin, Germany.
Silvia Careddu
Principal Flute of the Orchestre National de France and Professor of Flute at the Zurich University of the Arts, Switzerland. Founding member of the Alban Berg Ensemble Wien.
Prizes
String Quartet
1st prize €13,000
2nd prize €8,000
3rd prize €3,000
Wind Quintet
1st prize €13,000
2nd prize €8,000
3rd prize €3,000