1. GENERAL CONDITIONS

  1. The 4th ROMANO GANDOLFI International Choral Conducting Competition (the Competition) is organized with the aim of spreading choral culture, helping the talented conductors of the next generation to start an international career, bridging the gap between training and professional activity.
  2. The Competition is organised by AERCO, Associazione Emiliano-Romagnola Cori, in collaboration with the Fondazione Arturo Toscanini of Parma, the Parma Municipal Administration, the Parma Conservatory, the Favorita Association of the Re-Centro Studi Romano Gandolfi, with the patronage of FENIARCO, ANDCI, the MIC, and the Emilia- Romagna Region.
  3. The Competition will take place from 28 to 30 November 2025 at the Parma Conservatory and the ‘Paganini’ Auditorium of the Paganini Foundation in Parma.
  4. The official language of the competition is English.

2. PARTICIPANTS

  1.  The competition is open to choral conductors, students or graduates in Italy and abroad, born between January 1, 1985 and November 27, 2007.

3. REGISTRATION

  1. To register, you need to fill in an online form, available at https://bit.ly/2EMoqbl.
  2. The competition entry form must be accompanied by:
    a) A current passport photo in digital format.
    b) A scan of an identity document showing the date of birth of the competitor.
    c) Curriculum Vitae of the candidate indicating the artistic activity undertaken and the studies achieved.
    d) Receipt of the payment of the registration fee of 30 Euros (non-refundable)
  3. If still a student, a letter of introduction of the candidate from the Director of the music institution attended is appreciated.
  4. Transmission of the completed Contest entry form is considered acceptance of these Contest rules.
  5. The deadline for submission of entry forms for the Competition is August 10, 2025.

4. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

  1. Applicants will be selected by a committee composed of members of AERCO’s Artistic Committee, based on the applications received for the Competition, including all documents required by the Competition Rules. The submitted resume will be the determining factor for selection.
  2. A maximum of 16 candidates will be admitted to the first phase of the competition.
  3. The committee may establish a list of candidates ‘on the waiting list’.
  4. The list of candidates admitted to the first phase of the Competition will be published on the websites www.choralconductorcompetition.eu and www.aerco.it  by September 1, 2025. Admitted candidates will receive written notification from the Organisation by September 10, 2025.

V. COSTS

1.Applicants admitted to the Competition will be required to pay an entry fee of 100 euros (non-refundable) by 30 September 2025.
Payment to be made by:
Bank transfer
Intesa Sanpaolo Bank
IBAN: IT61G0306902520100000005066
SWIFT / BIC: BCITITMM
Reason for payment: Registration for the Romano Gandolfi International Conducting Competition – ‘your name’.
PayPal

AERCO’s PayPal account: ufficio@aerco.emr.it
Reason for payment: Registration for the Romano Gandolfi – ‘Your Name’ International Conducting Competition.

2.Failure to pay the registration fee by 30 September 2025 will be considered as the candidate’s decision not to participate in the Competition.

3.The Organization will not reimburse participants’ travel and lodging expenses but will provide the name of an affiliated hotel.

VI. PHASES OF THE COMPETITION

The Competition will be composed of three phases, during which the participants will be evaluated on the basis of their work.

Phase I

28 November 2025 – ELIMINATORY

16 competitors

A. concertation, for a maximum duration of 7 minutes of a piece drawn at random, on the evening of Thursday 27 November, from among eight available. The final performance of the piece itself is not compulsory.

B. performance, without the possibility of concertation, of one piece among six available drawn at random at the time.

The order in which the conductors will perform will be drawn on the evening of Thursday 27 November.

The eight participants with the highest score in Stage I will be admitted to Phase II.

Phase II

29 November 2025  – SEMIFINALS
8 competitors

A. concertation and performance of a piece drawn at random, on the evening of Friday 28 November, from among eight available. The candidate will have a maximum time limit of 15 minutes.

B. concertation and performance of one piece drawn at random, on the evening of Friday, November 28, from eight available. The candidate will have a maximum time limit of 10 minutes.
The order in which the directors will perform will be drawn on the evening of Friday, November 28.

The 5 participants with the highest score in Phase II (sum of points from Phases I and II) will be admitted to Phase III.

Phase III

30 November 2025 – FINALS
5 competitors (A and B); 3 competitors (C)

A. concertation and performance of two pieces of Gregorian Chant drawn by lot, on the spot, from 5 proposed. The candidate will be given a maximum time of 15 minutes.
B. concertation and performance of a piece drawn at random, on the evening of Nov. 29, from 5 proposed and non-repeatable pieces. The candidate will be given a maximum time of 20 minutes.
C. Public concert performance of a piece drawn by lot from 3 proposed and non-repeatable pieces.
The directors’ performance order for rehearsal A and B will be drawn on the evening of Saturday, November 29. The performance order of the directors and the song for rehearsal C will be drawn on Sunday, November 30, immediately after the end of rehearsal B.
The 3 participants with the highest score at the end of Phase III B (sum of points from Phases I, II, III A and III B) will be admitted to Phase III C.

VII. AWARDS

1.The international jury of the competition may award the following prizes:

1st Prize

  • A scholarship of 2,000 euros
  • A place as a jury member at the fifth Romano Gandolfi International Choral Conducting Competition, November 2027.
  • One concert in Italy. Travel expenses to be borne by the contestant.
  • Diploma.

2nd Prize

  • A scholarship of EUR 1,500
  • Diploma.

3rd Prize

  • A scholarship of EUR 1,000
  • Diploma.

Special Awards

  • 500 euro scholarship for the Director with the most similar artistic characteristics to M° Romano Gandolfi (prize awarded by a special jury)

2. The scholarships awarded will be subject to taxation according to current Italian regulations.
3. According to the Contest rules, other special prizes may also be awarded.
4. All participants in the Competition will receive a certificate of participation.
5. The decisions of the jury are final.

VIII. COMPETITION PROGRAMME

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2025

4:30 pm: Meeting of jurors and participants with city authorities.
Council Chamber of the City of Parma, Strada della Repubblica, 1, Parma
5:30 p.m.: Aperitif with jurors and participants, draw to determine the order of performance for Phases I-A and I-B and the musical pieces for Phase I-A.
Mb Matti’s Bar, Strada del Conservatorio, 10, Parma

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2025

Arrigo Boito Conservatory of Music in Parma:
9:00 Official opening of the Competition. Presentation of jurors and participants.
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Auditions Phase I-A (8 participants)
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Auditions Phase I-A (8 participants)
15:00 – 16:30 Stage I-B Auditions (8 participants)
17:00 – 18:30 Stage I-B Auditions (8 participants)
Around 7:15 p.m. Announcement of Phase I results.
Drawing to determine the order of performance and songs for Phases II-A and II-B.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2025

Arrigo Boito Conservatory of Music in Parma:
9:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Stage II-A Auditions (4 participants)
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Auditions Phase II-A (4 participants)
15:00 – 16:15 Stage II-B Auditions (4 participants)
16:30 – 17:45 Stage II-B Auditions (4 participants)
Around 6:45 p.m. Announcement of the results of Phase II.
Drawing to determine the order of performance for Phases III-A and III-B and the songs in Phase III-B

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2025

‘Paganini’ Auditorium of the Arturo Toscanini Foundation, Parma:

Stage III-A Auditions
Hours:
10:00 – 10:15 a.m. (1 candidate)
10:20 – 10:35 (1 candidate)
10:40 – 10:55 a.m. (1 candidate)
11:00 – 11:15 a.m. (1 candidate)
11:20 – 11:35 (1 candidate)

Stage III-B Auditions
Hours:
15:00 – 15:20 (1 candidate)
15:25 – 15:45 (1 candidate)
15:50 – 16:10 (1 candidate)
16:15 – 16:35 (1 candidate)
16:40 – 17:00 (1 candidate)
6:15 p.m. – Announcement of the results of the first two stages and drawing of the performance order of the 3 finalists and their assigned song.

Stage III-C Auditions
Hours:
21:00 – Concert of the finalists
21:10 (1 candidate)
21:20 (1 candidate)
21:30 (1 candidate)
9:40 p.m. (Concert by the Enjoy Choir, Italy, winner of the Grand Prix at the Giuseppe Savani National Competition in Carpi, 2025 edition)
22:15 – Awards Ceremony
22:45 – Official closing of the Competition.

IX. JURY OF THE COMPETITION

The competition jury will consist of 7 distinguished masters

X. MUSICAL PROGRAMME OF THE COMPETITION

PHASE I

PHASE I-A – Odhecaton Ensemble (dir. Paolo Da Col)
1. Coenantibus illis (G. Pierluigi da Palestrina)
2. Dominus Jesus in qua nocte (G. Pierluigi da Palestrina)
3. Exsultate Deo (G. Pierluigi da Palestrina)
4. Laudate Dominum (G. Pierluigi da Palestrina)
5. O Sacrum Convivium (G. Pierluigi da Palestrina)
6. Pater Noster (G. Pierluigi da Palestrina)
7. Surge Illuminate (G. Pierluigi da Palestrina)
8. Tu es Pastor Ovium (G. Pierluigi da Palestrina)

PHASE I-B – Emilia-Romagna Regional Choir + Rapsody Orchestra
1. Chorale, from the Cantata Wohl dem, der sich auf seinen Gott, BWV139 (J.S. Bach)
2. Chorale (no. 2), from the Cantata Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten (F. Mendelssohn)
3. Misericordias Domini (W.A. Mozart)
4. Laudate Pueri, from Vesperae Solennes de Confessore, KV 399 (W.A. Mozart)
5. Quare fremuerunt gentes, from Oratorio de Noël Op.12 (C. Saint Saëns)
6. Gloria Patri II, Sicut Erat, Miserere III, from Miserere ZWV57 (J.D. Zelenka)

PHASE II

PHASE II-A – Musicanova Choir Rome
1. Our Father (G. Verdi)
2. It was already time (A. Zecchi)
3. Yver vous n’estes qu’un villain (C. Debussy)
4. Morning Star (A. Pärt)
5. Sagastipean (J. Busto)
6. Ave Maris Stella (T. Kverno)
7. Seisab Valurikas Ema (Hail Mary) (U. Sisask)
8. The Star of the County Down (Trad. Ireland (arr. Howard Goodall))

PHASE II-B – White Voice Choir: Young Voices of Bassano (Bassano del Grappa, Italy)
1. Ave Maris Stella (V. Miškinis)
2. Tota Pulchra (O. di Piazza)
3. Kala, Kallá (E. Whitacre)
4. Gloria, from ‘A Little Jazz Mass’ (B. Chilcott)
5. The Star Dance of Elysium (D. Lim)
6. Fecit Potentiam, from Magnificat (K.A. Arnesen)
7. Gloria Patri (sino b. 82), from Magnificat (K.A. Arnesen)
8. Song of Hope (S. Lindmark)

PHASE III

PHASE III-A – Gregorian Ensemble: Schola Gregoriana Ecce (Bologna, Italy)
1. CO. Qui manducat
2. AN. Salve Regina (tonus solemnis)
3. IN. Nos autem gloriari
4. HY. Ad cenam agni providi
5. IN. Suscepimus Deus

PHASE III-B – Women’s Choir: Enjoy (Cesano Maderno, Italy)
1. Ave Maris Stella (E. Ugalde)
2. Tollite Portas (V. Nees)
3. Laudate Dominum (J.A. Pamintuan)
4. Ubi Caritas (O. Gjeilo)
5. Dies Irae (M.J. Trotta)

PHASE III-C – Women’s Choir: Enjoy (Cesano Maderno, Italy)
1. Sub tuum praesidium (M. Kocsár)
2. Jubilate Deo (F. Alberti)
3. Ave Maria (Z. Kodály)

XI. STUDY TOUR

XI. STUDY TOUR – With Prof. Michele Napolitano
1. On the occasion of the fourth edition of the ‘Romano Gandolfi’ International Competition for Choral Conductors, we would like to offer the opportunity to participate in the event from a special angle, with the valuable guidance of an experienced teacher-director. The initiative, already in use in important national and international contexts, aims to involve choral conductors and students of choral conducting in a training and in-depth course that allows them to analyze a plurality of situations, experiences, repertoires, in a high-profile international context.
2. It will be possible to follow all the competition rounds (preliminaries, semifinals and finals) with reserved access and guaranteed seating within the various competition venues (Conservatorio di Parma – Auditorium Paganini).
3. There will also be specific moments of debate and analysis, outside the competition hours, led by Study Tour lecturer Prof. Michele Napolitano. An opportunity, therefore, not only for listening but also for in-depth analysis and sharing aimed at personal and professional growth.
4. The program will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 28, and will conclude on Sunday, Nov. 30, with the awards ceremony scheduled for 10:15 p.m.
5. The cost of participation is Euro 60 for AERCO / FENIARCO / ANDCI members and Euro 80 for non-members and includes complete PDF scores, “sample” mode.
6. There is a maximum number of 20 participants, according to the order of registration.
7. To register, use the link: https://form.jotform.com/aercobologna/studytour2023.

Payment to be made by:
Bank transfer
Intesa Sanpaolo Bank
IBAN: IT61G0306902520100000005066
SWIFT / BIC: BCITITMM
Reason for payment: Auditor at the Romano Gandolfi International Conducting Competition – ‘your name’.

PayPal
AERCO’s PayPal account: ufficio@aerco.emr.it
Reason for payment: Auditor at the Romano Gandolfi International Conducting Competition – ‘your name’.

8.The organisation will not provide the auditors with board and lodging and will not cover their travel expenses.

9.The fee includes:

a. An identification card and promotional materials.
b. The right to participate in the auditions of the different stages and meetings with the jurors.
c. Musical materials with the Competition repertoire (PDF sheet music in ‘sample’ mode).
d. A reserved seat for the gala concert.
e. A certificate of participation in the Competition.

XII. COPYRIGHT AND PERSONAL DATA

After submission of the completed competition entry form, the candidate:

1.Accepts that photos may be taken of him/her during the Competition and that such photos may be used, processed and reproduced, by any means, for promotional and AERCO archive purposes, without the need for specific authorisation on each occasion.

2.It grants free of charge to the Competition Organisation the right to use the audiovisual artistic recordings made during the Competition or the Finalists’ Concert exclusively for non-commercial purposes, including promotional and archiving purposes, in the following fields of use:

  • with regard to reproduction – recording by means of digital sound and image technology, production of CDs and/or DVDs or other media;
  • as regards the distribution of copies on which an artistic performance has been recorded – the placing on the market, lending or hiring out;
  • with regard to the dissemination of the performances in a manner other than that specified in point b above: broadcasting, rebroadcasting and making available to the public on selected web pages.

3.They agree to the processing of their personal data for purposes related to the Competition, in accordance with the declaration made on the registration form. Personal data are provided by candidates on a voluntary basis, but their submission is required for participation in the Competition.

Finals Provisions

1. The Organisation reserves the right to amend these regulations.

2. The Organisation may cancel the Competition for important and force majeure reason

The Artistic Direction of the Competition:

Andrea Angelini – Artistic Director
Daniele Sconosciuto – Artistic Director
Silvia Biasini – Preliminary Evaluation Committee
uca Buzzavi – Preliminary Evaluation Committee
Roberto Penta – Preliminary Evaluation Committee
Ilaria Cavalca – Preliminary Evaluation Committee
Silvia Perucchetti – Preliminary Evaluation Committee
Giovanna Facilla – Preliminary Evaluation Committee.

AERCO
Emilia-Romagna Choirs Association
Via Barberia 9 – 40123 Bologna – Italy

www.aerco.it
www.choralconductorcompetition.eu
aercobologna@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/romanogandolficompetition
Tel. +39 051 0067024

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