CONCERT MEDIA and the Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra Szeged proudly present the first edition of the International Ferenc Fricsay Conducting Competition (IFFCC) that will be held in the beautiful city of Szeged (Hungary) and will consist of 2 phases:
The ELIMINATION PHASE: evaluation of the candidates' video and CVs by the jury committee. DEADLINE: JUNE 20, 2023. 100 participants will be chosen and announced on JULY 1, 2023.
The LIVE PHASE will consist of 4 competition rounds and each participant will conduct the Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra Szeged in front of the distinguished jury members. The duration of the LIVE PHASE will be eight days.
Prize Winners will receive guest conducting engagements with outstanding orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra London, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonisches Kammerorchester Berlin, Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra (Szeged), Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Mainz and Craiova “Oltenia” Philharmonic Orchestra. The IFFCC offers great career opportunities and guarantees an impressive media focus to each participant.
MEET OUR
JURY MEMBERS

Music Director, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra London

Music Director, Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra Szeged & the Szeged National Theatre

Winner, ECHO KLASSIK 2017

Music Director & Principal Conductor, Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra

Chief Conductor, Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Mainz
COMPETITION SCHEDULE

Sunday, 03.09.2023
1st day: 1st round
1st orchestra session: 10:00 - 13:00
2nd orchestra session: 19:00 - 22:00

Monday, 04.09.2023
2nd day: 1st round
1st orchestra session: 10:00 - 13:00
2nd orchestra session: 19:00 - 22:00

Tuesday, 05.09.2023
3rd day: 1st round
1st orchestra session: 10:00 - 13:00
2nd orchestra session: 19:00 - 22:00

Wednesday, 06.09.2023
4th day: 1st round
1st orchestra session: 10:00 - 13:00
2nd orchestra session: 19:00 - 22:00

Thursday, 07.09.2023
5th day: 1st round
1st orchestra session: 10:00 - 13:00
2nd orchestra session: 19:00 - 22:00

Friday, 08.09.2023
6th day: 2nd round
1st orchestra session: 10:00 - 13:00
2nd orchestra session: 19:00 - 22:00

Saturday, 09.09.2023
7th day: SEMI FINAL
1st orchestra session: 09:00 - 11:30
2nd orchestra session: 12:30 - 15:00

Sunday, 10.09.2023
8th day: FINAL
Orchestra session: 19:30 - 22:30
Announcement of the winners: 23:00

REPERTOIRE
FREE CHOICE OF REPERTOIRE
TIMING
- 1st round: max. 16 minutes per participant (1 piece)*
- 2nd round: max. 20 minutes per participant (1 piece)*
- 3rd round (semi final): max. 32 minutes per participant (1 piece)*
- 4th round (final): max. 40 minutes per participant (1 piece)*
L.V. BEETHOVEN
Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21 (1st movement) (9’)
OR
Symphony No. 3 in E♭major, Op. 55 „Eroica“ (1st movement) (15’)
OR
Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 (1st movement) (7’)
OR
Egmont, Op. 84 (overture) (9’)
OR
Overture to Coriolan, Op. 62 (8’)
F.J. HAYDN
Symphony No. 104 in D major (H. 1/104) (1st movement) (8')
W.A. MOZART
Symphony No. 35 in D major, K. 385 (1st movement) (5’)
OR
Symphony No. 39 in E♭ major, K. 543 (1st movement) (10’)
G. ROSSINI
Il barbiere di Siviglia (overture) (7’)
C.M.V. WEBER
Der Freischütz (J. 277, Op. 77) (overture) (10’)
C. DEBUSSY
Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, L. 86 (10’)
J. BRAHMS
Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68 (4th movement) (17')
OR
Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90 (1st movement) (10’)
OR
Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98 (1st movement) (12’)
A. BRUCKNER
Symphony No. 3 in D minor, WAB 103 (1st movement) (24’)
B. BARTÓK
Concerto for Orchestra, Sz. 116, BB123 (1st / 4th movement) (10’)
P. TSCHAIKOVSKY
Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64 (1st movement) (14’)
1st PRIZE
Official diploma
- Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (London)
- Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
- Philharmonisches Kammerorchester Berlin
- Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra Szeged
- Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra
- Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Mainz
Guest conducting:
2nd PRIZE
Official diploma
Guest conducting:
- Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra Szeged
- Craiova "Oltenia" Philharmonic Orchestra
3rd PRIZE
Official diploma
Guest conducting:
- Craiova "Oltenia" Philharmonic Orchestra

Conducting competition

1.1. The IFFCC is open to all applicants of both sexes without any age restriction.
1.2. The IFFCC will consist of two phases: the ELIMINATION PHASE and the LIVE PHASE.
1.3. The ELIMINATION PHASE will include the examination of videos and CVs of all applicants and will end on June 20, 2023 (THE APPLICATION DEADLINE IS JUNE 1, 2023).
Participants chosen during the ELIMINATION PHASE will be announced (published on the website and all social media sources of the IFFCC) on JULY 1, 2023 (THE APPLICATION DEADLINE IS THE JUNE 20, 2023).
1.4. The LIVE PHASE will take place from September 3rd to 10th, 2023 in Szeged (Hungary) with participation of the Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra.
1.5. In order to apply to the IFFCC, applicants must complete an online application form via MUVAC platform HERE and attach required videos and CV.
2.1. The LIVE PHASE consists of the following rounds:
FIRST ROUND |
SECOND ROUND |
THIRD ROUND (SEMI FINAL) |
FOURTH ROUND (FINAL) |
2.2. During each round the candidates will conduct the Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra Szeged (with full instrumentation) in front of the jury and in accordance with the schedule below.
2.3. Each candidate will choose 1 work (from the attached list of repertoire) in advance of every round of the IFFCC.
2.4. In every round, the participants will have a limited amount of minutes to perform in front of the jury:
FIRST ROUND |
podium time: maximum 16 minutes per participant (1 piece) |
SECOND ROUND |
podium time: maximum 20 minutes per participant (1 piece) |
THIRD ROUND (SEMI FINAL) |
podium time: maximum 32 minutes per participant (1 piece, incl. rehearsal with the orchestra) |
FOURTH ROUND (FINAL) |
podium time: maximum 40 minutes per participant (1 piece, incl. rehearsal with the orchestra) |
2.5. All candidates admitted to the LIVE PHASE will receive diplomas in recognition of their achievement and participation in the LIVE PHASE of the IFFCC.
3.1. FIRST ROUND (Korzó Music Hall, Szeged, Hungary; September 3rd - 7th, 2023)
Number of participants: 100. Podium time per participant: 16 minutes.
Day 1 |
Sun, September 3rd, 2023 |
1st orchestra session: 10:00 - 13:00 2nd orchestra session: 19:00 - 22:00 |
Day 2 |
Mon, September 4th, 2023 |
1st orchestra session: 10:00 - 13:00 2nd orchestra session: 19:00 - 22:00 |
Day 3 |
Tue, September 5th, 2023 |
1st orchestra session: 10:00 - 13:00 2nd orchestra session: 19:00 - 22:00 |
Day 4 |
Wed, September 6th, 2023 |
1st orchestra session: 10:00 - 13:00 2nd orchestra session: 19:00 - 22:00 |
Day 5 |
Thu, September 7th, 2023 |
1st orchestra session: 10:00 - 13:00 2nd orchestra session: 19:00 - 22:00 |
3.2. SECOND ROUND (Korzó Music Hall, Szeged, Hungary; September 8th, 2023)
Number of participants: 16. Podium time per participant: 20 minutes.
Day 6 |
Fri, September 8th, 2023 |
1st orchestra session: 10:00 - 13:00 2nd orchestra session: 19:00 - 22:00 |
3.3. THIRD ROUND (SEMI FINAL) (Korzó Music Hall, Szeged, Hungary; September 9th, 2023)
Number of participants: 8. Podium time per participant: 32 minutes.
Day 7 |
Sat, September 9th, 2023 |
1st orchestra session: 09:00 - 11:30 2nd orchestra session: 12:30 - 15:00 |
3.4. FOURTH ROUND (FINAL) (Korzó Music Hall, Szeged, Hungary; September 10th, 2023)
Number of participants: 4. Podium time per participant: 40 minutes.
Day 8 |
Sun, September 10th, 2023 |
Orchestra session: 09:00 - 11:30 Announcement of winners: 23:00 |
4.1. The jury members of the IFFCC:
Mr. Vasily Petrenko (United Kingdom) - PRESIDENT OF THE JURY
Music Director - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra London
Music Director - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Mr. Sándor Gyüdi (Hungary)
Music Director - Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra
Mr. Thomas Sanderling (United Kingdom)
Winner - ECHO KLASSIK 2017
Mr. Mark Kadin (Bulgaria)
Music Director - Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra
Mr. Hermann Bäumer (Germany)
Chief Conductor - Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Mainz.
5.1. The prizes include guest conducting engagements with professional orchestras.
5.2. The FIRST PRIZE of the IFFCC includes guest conducting engagements with the following orchestras:
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra London,
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra ,
Philharmonisches Kammerorchester Berlinr,
Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra,
Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra,
Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Mainz
5.3. The SECOND PRIZE of the IFFCC includes guest conducting engagements with the following orchestras:
Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra,
Craiova "Oltenia" Philharmonic Orchestra.
5.4. The THIRD PRIZE of the IFFCC includes guest conducting engagements with the following orchestras:
Craiova "Oltenia" Philharmonic Orchestra.
6.1. Each participant may choose their own repertoire in advance of each round, and not more than one work (from the list below) for each round of the IFFCC.
6.2. The repertoire of the IFFCC is:
L.V. BEETHOVEN |
Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21 (1st movement) (9') OR Symphony No. 3 in E♭major, Op. 55 „Eroica“ (1st movement) (15') OR Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 (1st movement) (7') OR Egmont, Op. 84 (overture) (9') OR Overture to Coriolan, Op. 62 (8') |
F.J. HAYDN |
Symphony No. 3 in D minor, WAB 103 (1st movement) (24') OR Symphony No. 104 in D major (H. 1/104) (1st movement) (8') |
W.A. MOZART |
Symphony No. 35 in D major, K. 385 (1st movement) (5') OR Symphony No. 39 in E♭ major, K. 543 (1st movement) (10') |
G. ROSSINI |
Il barbiere di Siviglia (overture) (7') |
C.M.V. WEBER |
Der Freischütz (J. 277, Op. 77) (overture) (10') |
C. DEBUSSY |
Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, L. 86 (10') |
J. BRAHMS |
Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68 (4th movement) (17') OR Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90 (1st movement) (10') OR Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98 (1st movement) (12') |
A. BRUCKNER |
Symphony No. 3 in D minor, WAB 103 (1st movement) (24') |
B. BARTÓK |
Concerto for Orchestra, Sz. 116, BB123 (1st / 4th movement) (10') |
P. TSCHAIKOVSKY |
Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64 (1st movement) (14') |
7.1. In order to apply to the IFFCC you must complete the application form, attach your CV and upload the videos of your performance using the MUVAC platform HERE.
7.2. The IFFCC application fee is 100,00 EUR to be paid via the MUVAC platform HERE
7.3. The application fee will not be reimbursed (even if the applicant is accepted but unable to participate in the IFFCC) except, in the case of the cancellation of the IFFCC.
REQUIREMENTS FOR VIDEOS OF THE APPLICANTS
The videos of the applicants must:
a) include performances of musical pieces from any historical period (both instrumental and vocal ensembles are acceptable),
b) be playable in streaming mode and downloadable,
c) be at least 5 minutes long.
-
Recordings of piano rehearsals are acceptable.
-
Two movements / parts of the same work are allowed.
-
No more than two videos will be judged: the jury will evaluate only the first two videos in case the applicant sends more than 2 videos.
-
The jury will watch all videos with no obligation to watch in their entirely.
8.1. Applicants chosen to participate in the LIVE PHASE will be required to pay the participation fee in the amount of 400,00 EUR.
8.2. The participation fee will not be refunded for any reason except in the case of cancellation of the IFFCC.
9.1. The IFFCC will be completely recorded and broadcast through various media sources and at the discretion of the organizers in order to promote this competition.
9.2. All competition rounds will be streamed live. The video recordings will also be made available to all participants.
9.3. By submitting applications, candidates authorize the organizers of the IFFCC to use their name, surname and image in printed publications with photographs, audio or video that can be broadcast via radio, TV or other media sources (internet, etc.) relating to the IFFCC.
10.1. The decisions of the jury are final and cannot be appealed.
10.2. The IFFCC is open to the public, sharing comments and images via social media is very much welcome.