Participate in the 2027 Orford Music Award
The competition rewards classical music artists who innovate and explore their creativity through artistic proposals and quality of stage presence.
2027 Edition: Violin
Application deadline: February 4, 2027
Semi-finals: July 27–28, 2027
Final: July 31, 2027
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The Future is Bright
The Orford Music Award, whose objective is to showcase up-and-coming classical music artists and jump-start their careers, will be celebrating its ninth edition in 2027!
In recent years, the Orford Music Award has crowned several notable winners: violinist Mai Tategami (2016), pianist Dong-Wan Ha (2017), cellist Gabriel Martins (2018), pianist Saeyoon Chon (2019) pianist Poom Prommachart (2020), violinist Isabella D’Éloize Perron (2021), pianist Henry From (2022) and pianist Mariya Orlenko (2024).
It’s your moment to shine, stand out and showcase your unique artistic voice, kickstart your career and bring home great prizes!
The 2026 Orford Music Award is presented by the municipality of Orford.
Next Editions
2027 – Violin
2028 – Piano
2029 – Cello
2030 – Flute
Quick Links
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Eligibility
- Open to violinists aged 18 to 30 participating in at least one week of the 2027 Academy, taking place from June 6 to July 31, 2027.
- The competition is not open to previous first-prize winners of the Orford Music Award.
Prizes
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1st Prize (public’s vote)
Value: $15,000
- $8,000 cash prize — Presented by the Municipality of Orford
- Invitation to perform at the prestigious 2028 Orford Music Festival
- Full scholarship for a two-week stay at the Orford Music Academy or Orford Music Artist Residencies in 2028
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2nd Prize
Value: $5,000
- $4,000 cash prize — Presented by Claude Omann
- Full scholarship for a two-week stay at the Orford Music Academy or Orford Music Artist Residencies in 2028
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Competition Stages and Important Dates
- February 4, 2027: Application deadline
- February 10–20, 2027: Virtual auditions and application review
- March 1, 2027: Announcement of the six semi-finalists
- March 31, 2027: Deadline to submit a request for piano accompaniment, repertoire, artistic statement, biography, photo, and introductory video
- July 27–28, 2027: Two public semi-final rounds in front of a jury, at the conclusion of which two finalists will be selected for the Final
- July 31, 2027: Orford Music Award Final, held before a live audience, at the conclusion of which the First Prize winner will be chosen by the audience
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Semi-final Round (July 27–28)
- Performance Order: The performance order of the six semi-finalists will be determined by random draw.
- Two Semi-final Rounds: The six semi-finalists will be divided between two evenings, with three performers competing each night. Each semi-finalist will have the opportunity to perform before a live audience.
- Repertoire Selection and Performance: During the semi-final round, each semi-finalist may choose one work from the repertoire submitted with their application. The jury may then request any work or movement from the submitted repertoire, in the order of its choosing. The jury also reserves the right to stop a performance at any time.
- Performance Duration: Each semi-finalist will have a maximum of 20 minutes for their performance.
- Jury Evaluation: A jury will be present for both semi-final rounds. It will evaluate the performances and select the two finalists.
- Announcement of the Finalists: The finalists will be announced on July 29 through the Orford Music newsletter and social media channels.
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Final Round (July 31)
- Performance Order: The performance order of the two finalists will be determined by random draw.
- Performance Duration: Each finalist will have up to 40 minutes for their presentation: 35 minutes for the musical performance and 5 minutes to introduce themselves, present their artistic vision, and provide context for their performance.
- Audience Vote: At the conclusion of the final performance, audience members will be invited to vote for their favourite finalist using an online voting platform.
- Selection of the First Prize Winner: The finalist receiving the highest number of audience votes will be declared the First Prize winner of the Orford Music Award.
- Announcement of the Winner: The First Prize winner will be announced at the end of the evening, following the tabulation and verification of the votes.
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General Terms and Conditions
- A collaborative pianist will be available at no cost for both the Semi-finals and the Final. Candidates may instead choose to perform with their own pianist at their own expense.
- By submitting an application, candidates agree to abide by all competition rules and to accept the decisions of the Orford Music Award committee and jury, which shall be final and binding.
- Any candidate who fails to comply with the rules of the Orford Music Award may be disqualified. All disqualification decisions are final.
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Participant Commitments
- Candidates must be available and free of all other commitments from July 27 to 31, 2027. Accommodation and meals will be provided during this period.
- Semi-finalists are responsible for their own travel expenses.
- The First Prize recipient must acknowledge the award in their promotional materials for a period of five years.
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Application Process
- Complete the Orford Music Academy Application Form by February 4, 2027. Applications received after this date will not be considered for the Orford Music Award. Complete the section dedicated to the Orford Music Award, confirm your eligibility, review the competition rules, provide your consent, and submit your application.
- Submit your audition materials. This step is completed directly within the application form. Your audition materials will be used to determine your eligibility for the Orford Music Academy and to select the semi-finalists for the Orford Music Award. To enable the jury to fully assess your application, please submit high-quality, high-resolution recordings with clear, faithful sound, free from distortion and background noise. These recordings are the jury’s sole basis for evaluating your talent, musicality, and artistry. Repertoire selection is equally important: choose works that best showcase your talent, musicality, and interpretive abilities.
- Pay the application fee. To be eligible for the Orford Music Award, the application fee must be paid at the time your application is submitted. Applications for which payment has not been received will not be considered.
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Repertoire and Application Materials
- Request for Collaborative Piano for the Semi-finals and the Final, if required.
- Final Repertoire
Select four works for a total of approximately 35 minutes of musical performance for the Final. No repertoire changes will be permitted after submission. Repertoire selection is an important component of the competition and should reflect thoughtful artistic planning. The selected works should form a cohesive musical program that showcases the candidate’s artistic personality, sensitivity, and interpretive strengths. - Artistic Statement
Submit a brief presentation of your program explaining your artistic vision, the reasons behind your repertoire choices, and the connections between the selected works. Finalists will present this artistic statement to the audience during the Final. - Short Biography
- Professional Headshot
- Brief Introduction Video
The video will be used to introduce the semi-finalists to the audience before the Semi-finals. It will also be shown in the concert hall immediately before each semi-finalist takes the stage. A video recorded with an iPhone or Android smartphone is acceptable, provided the image and sound quality are clear. Detailed instructions will be provided to the selected semi-finalists.
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Transfer of Rights
- Candidates grant Orford Music the rights to record, broadcast, reproduce, and otherwise use their performances presented as part of the Orford Music Award for a period of fifty years from the date of the performance.
- By submitting their application, candidates consent to the use of the video recordings submitted as part of their Orford Music Award application.
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Promotion
- Candidates authorize Orford Music to use, in whole or in part, their biographies, photographs, and any other materials required for the promotion of the Orford Music Award and Orford Music.
- Candidates agree to be available to meet with the Orford Music Award’s partners and sponsors throughout the competition.
- Candidates agree to be available for media and promotional activities before and during the Orford Music Award.
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Orford Music Award Administration
- Management Committee: Responsible for artistic decisions, competition planning and administration, and the enforcement of the competition rules.
- Admissions Team: Responsible for managing applications and overseeing the administrative aspects of the Orford Music Award.
- Orford Music Academy Jury: Responsible for evaluating applications as part of the Academy admissions process.
- Selection Committee: Responsible for selecting the semi-finalists based on the Academy Jury’s evaluations.
- Orford Music Award Jury: Responsible for evaluating the semi-finalists during the Semi-finals and selecting the finalists.
- Communications Team: Responsible for communications, promotion of the Orford Music Award, and management of the audience vote during the Final.
- Artistic Team: Responsible for technical coordination, rehearsal scheduling, and cultural mediation activities.
- Audience: Responsible for selecting the First Prize winner during the Final.
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Cancellation Policy
Orford Music reserves the right to cancel the competition in its entirety under any of the following circumstances:
- Force majeure or other exceptional circumstances
- An insufficient number of applications
- The withdrawal of a significant number of candidates, making it impossible to hold the competition
- Insufficient ticket sales, making the event financially unviable
In the event of cancellation, Orford Music will notify participants and all affected parties as soon as possible. Whenever circumstances permit, at least 30 days’ notice will be provided.
No prizes, compensation, or reimbursement will be awarded to participants in the event of the competition’s cancellation.