The International Ferenc Fricsay Conducting Competition, with its world-renowned jury members and prestigious prizes such as invitations to conduct outstanding orchestras, offers participants excellent prospects.
LIVE STREAM
Winners of the 1st IFFCC 2023
Sebastiaan van Yperen
SECOND PRIZE
Noris Borgogelli
THIRD PRIZE
Gabriel Hollander
SPECIAL ORCHESTRA PRIZE
Jorge Vázquez
Performance with the BAKERSFIELD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
GET TO KNOW OUR
JURY MEMBERS
Music Director: Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra Szeged & National Theatre of Szeged
Music Director and Principal Conductor: New York City Opera
Chief Conductor: Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra
Four-time GRAMMY®️ Award nominated conductor
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
PATRONESS
Artistic Director: International Ferenc Fricsay Conducting Competition
COMPETITION SCHEDULE
Sunday, 31.08.2025
ROUND ONE — Day 1 — Korzó Music Hall (Korzó zeneház) — Széchenyi tér 9, 6720 Szeged
1st orchestra session: 10:00 - 13:00
2nd orchestra session: 19:00 - 22:00
Monday, 01.09.2025
ROUND ONE — Day 2 —Korzó Music Hall (Korzó zeneház) — Széchenyi tér 9, 6720 Szeged
1st orchestra session: 10:00 - 13:00
2nd orchestra session: 19:00 - 22:00
Tuesday, 02.09.2025
ROUND ONE — Day 3 — Korzó Music Hall (Korzó zeneház) — Széchenyi tér 9, 6720 Szeged
1st orchestra session: 10:00 - 13:00
2nd orchestra session: 19:00 - 22:00
Wednesday, 03.09.2025
ROUND ONE — Day 4 — Korzó Music Hall (Korzó zeneház) — Széchenyi tér 9, 6720 Szeged
1st orchestra session: 10:00 - 13:00
2nd orchestra session: 19:00 - 22:00
Thursday, 04.09.2025
ROUND TWO — Korzó Music Hall (Korzó zeneház) — Széchenyi tér 9, 6720 Szeged
1st orchestra session: 10:00 - 13:00
2nd orchestra session: 19:00 - 22:00
Friday, 05.09.2025
SEMI-FINAL — Korzó Music Hall (Korzó zeneház) — Széchenyi tér 9, 6720 Szeged
1st orchestra session: 10:00 - 13:00
2nd orchestra session: 19:00 - 22:00
Sunday, 07.09.2025
FINAL — Szeged National Theatre (Szegedi Nemzeti Színház) — Vaszy Viktor tér 1, 6720 Szeged
Orchestra session: 19:30 - 22:30
Winner announcement: 23:00
COMPETITION REPERTOIRE
CHOOSE YOUR PIECES FREELY
TIME LIMIT PER ROUND
- ROUND ONE: 16 minutes / 1 piece maximum
- ROUND TWO: 20 minutes / 1 piece maximum
- SEMI-FINAL: 32 minutes / 1 piece maximum
- FINAL: 40 minutes / 1 piece maximum
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21 — 1st mvt — 9’
OR
Symphony No. 3 in E♭major, Op. 55 „Eroica“ — 1st mvt — 15’
OR
Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 — 1st mvt — 7’
OR
Egmont, Op. 84 (overture) — 9’
OR
Coriolan (overture), Op. 62 — 8’
FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN
Symphony No. 104 in D major (H. 1/104) — 1st mvt — 8’
EDITION: Breitkopf & HärtelWOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
Symphony No. 35 in D major, K. 385 — 1st mvt — 5’
OR
Symphony No. 39 in E♭ major, K. 543 — 1st mvt — 10’ EDITION: Breitkopf & Härtel
GIOACHINO ROSSINI
Il barbiere di Siviglia (overture) — 7’
EDITION: RicordiCARL MARIA VON WEBER
Der Freischütz (J. 277, Op. 77) (overture) — 10’
EDITION: Breitkopf & HärtelCLAUDE DEBUSSY
Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, L. 86 — 10’
EDITION: FromontJOHANNES BRAHMS
Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68 — 4th mvt — 17'
OR
Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90 — 1st mvt — 10’
OR
Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98 — 1st mvt — 12’
ANTON BRUCKNER
Symphony No. 3 in D minor, WAB 103 — 1st mvt — 24’
EDITION: Musikwissenschaftlicher Verlag WienBÉLA BARTÓK
Concerto for Orchestra, Sz. 116, BB123 — 1st mvt or 4th mvt — 10’
EDITION: Boosey & HawkesPYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64 — 1st mvt — 14’
EDITION: Russian / Soviet editorFIRST PRIZE
GOLD MEDAL AND DIPLOMA
- Leipzig Symphony Orchestra
- Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra Szeged
- Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra
- Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Mainz
ENGAGEMENTS AS A GUEST CONDUCTOR:
SECOND PRIZE
SILVER MEDAL AND DIPLOMA
ENGAGEMENTS AS A GUEST CONDUCTOR:
- Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra Szeged
- Craiova "Oltenia" Philharmonic Orchestra
THIRD PRIZE
BRONZE MEDAL AND DIPLOMA
ENGAGEMENTS AS A GUEST CONDUCTOR:
- Craiova "Oltenia" Philharmonic Orchestra
2ND IFFCC
1.1. The International Ferenc Fricsay Conducting Competition (hereinafter "IFFCC") is open to all applicants without age restrictions.
1.2. The IFFCC will consist of two phases: the Elimination Phase and the Live Phase.
1.3. The Elimination Phase will include the review of videos and resumes of all applicants.
1.4. Participants selected during the Elimination Phase will be posted on the IFFCC website.
1.5. The live phase will take place in Szeged from August 31 to September 7, 2025 with the participation of the Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra Szeged.
1.6. To apply to the IFFCC, applicants are asked to complete the application form through the MUVAC platform and attach their videos and resumes.
2.1. The Live Phase consists of the following rounds:
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ROUND ONE |
|
ROUND TWO |
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SEMI-FINAL |
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FINAL |
2.2. During each round the participants will conduct the Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra Szeged (with full instrumentation) in front of the jury in accordance with the following schedule.
2.3. Prior to each round of the IFFCC, each participant will choose 1 piece from the enclosed repertoire list.
2.4. In each round, the participants have a limited time to perform in front of the jury:
|
ROUND ONE |
Maximum stage time: 16 minutes |
|
ROUND TWO |
Maximum stage time: 20 minutes |
|
SEMI-FINAL |
Maximum stage time: 32 minutes including rehearsal with orchestra |
|
FINAL |
Maximum stage time: 40 minutes including rehearsal with orchestra |
2.5. All applicants who are admitted to the live phase will receive a diploma in recognition of their achievement and participation in the IFFCC.
3.1. ROUND ONE (Korzó Music Hall, Szeged — August 31st - September 3rd, 2025)
Number of participants: TBA; maximum stage time per participant: 16 minutes
|
Day 1 |
Sunday, August 31st, 2025 |
1st orchestra session: 10:00 - 13:00 2nd orchestra session: 19:00 - 22:00 |
|
Day 2 |
Monday, September 1st, 2025 |
1st orchestra session: 10:00 - 13:00 2nd orchestra session: 19:00 - 22:00 |
|
Day 3 |
Tuesday, September 2nd, 2025 |
1st orchestra session: 10:00 - 13:00 2nd orchestra session: 19:00 - 22:00 |
|
Day 4 |
Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025 |
1st orchestra session: 10:00 - 13:00 2nd orchestra session: 19:00 - 22:00 |
3.2. ROUND TWO (Korzó Music Hall, Szeged — September 4th, 2025)
Number of participants: TBA; maximum stage time per participant: 20 minutes
|
Day 5 |
Thursday, September 4th, 2025 |
1st orchestra session: 10:00 - 13:00 2nd orchestra session: 19:00 - 22:00 |
3.3. SEMI-FINAL (Korzó Music Hall, Szeged — September 5th, 2025)
Number of participants: TBA; maximum stage time: 32 minutes per participant including rehearsal with orchestra
|
Day 6 |
Friday, September 5th, 2025 |
1st orchestra session: 09:00 - 11:30 2nd orchestra session: 12:30 - 15:00 |
3.4. FINAL (National Theatre of Szeged — September 7th, 2025)
Number of participants: TBA; maximum stage time: 40 minutes per participant including rehearsal with orchestra
|
Day 7 |
Sunday, September 7th, 2025 |
Orchestra session: 19:30 - 22:30 Winner announcement: 23:00 |
4.1. The jury members of the IFFCC are Sándor Gyüdi (Hungary) and Constantine Orbelian (United States of America).
5.1. Prizes will be awarded in the form of guest conducting engagements with the orchestras listed in section 5.
5.2. The IFFCC First Prize includes guest conducting engagements with Leipzig Symphony Orchestra, Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra Szeged, Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Mainz.
5.3. The IFFCC Second Prize includes guest conducting engagements with Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra, Craiova "Oltenia" Philharmonic Orchestra.
5.4. The IFFCC Third Prize includes guest conducting engagements with Craiova "Oltenia" Philharmonic Orchestra.
6.1. Each participant may choose their own repertoire for each round of the competition from the list published on the IFFCC website.
7.1. To apply to the IFFCC, you will need to complete the application form, attach your resume, and upload the videos of your performances using the MUVAC platform.
7.2. The IFFCC application fee is 100 EUR, payable through the MUVAC platform.
7.3. The application fee is non-refundable and will not be refunded even if the applicant is admitted to the IFFCC but is unable to attend, except in the case of cancellation of the competition.
7.4. The videos of the applicants must (1) include performances of musical pieces from any historical period (both instrumental and vocal ensembles are acceptable), (2) be playable in streaming mode and downloadable, (3) be at least 5 minutes in length. 7.5. Piano rehearsal recordings are acceptable. 7.6. Two movements/parts of the same piece are acceptable. 7.7. No more than two videos will be reviewed: the jury will only view the first two videos submitted by the applicant. 7.8. The jury members will watch all of the videos with no obligation to watch them in their entirety.8.1. Applicants selected to participate in the live phase will be required to pay the participation fee of 400 EUR.
9.1. The IFFCC will be available for recording and broadcast through a variety of media sources for promotional purposes.
9.2. All rounds of the competition will be streamed live. The broadcast will also be made available to all participants.
9.3. By submitting an application, candidates authorize the organizers of the IFFCC to use their first and last name and likeness in printed publications with photographs, audio or video that may be broadcast on radio, television or other media sources (Internet, etc.) related to the IFFCC.
10.1. The decisions of the judges are final and not subject to appeal.
10.2. The IFFCC is open to the public, and the sharing of comments and images via social media platforms is appreciated.
