2026 Orford Music Award
The competition rewards classical music artists who innovate and explore their creativity through artistic proposals and quality of stage presence.
Application deadline: February 6, 2025
Live Auditions: Summer 2025
Finals and Winners Announcement: Summer 2026
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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 eighth edition in 2025!
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.
Prizes awarded in 2024
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1st Prize (public’s vote)
Value of $15,000
- $8,000 cash prize – Presented by the Municipality of Orford
- Invitation to participate in the prestigious 2025 Orford Music Festival
- Full scholarship for a two-week stay at the Orford Music Academy or artist residencies in 2025
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2nd Prize
Value of $5,000
- $4,000 in cash – Presented by Claude Omann
- Full scholarship for a two-week stay at the Orford Music Academy or artist residencies in 2025
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Canimex Prize
- Each finalist of the Orford Music Award receives professional coaching and training to acquire the fundamental tools for creating and promoting the concert presented during the competition. The finalists also work on their project during an artist residency at Orford Music. All of this has a total value of $15,000 and is provided by Canimex.
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Eligibility Requirements
- The competition is open to all instrumentalists between the ages of 18 and 30 (up to 35 for singers) enrolled in the 2025 Academy. It is possible to submit a solo or ensemble project. However, at least one member of the ensemble must be enrolled in the 2025 Academy.
- To be eligible, submitted projects must be related to classical or acoustic music. Original compositions are welcome. Other art forms are allowed, but music must comprise 75% of the artistic performance time and serve as the central element of the project.
- Technological elements may be integrated in the project. Orford Music will provide a technical estimate with the available equipment. However, artists must provide any additional equipment required for the project and be autonomous in their use.
- The competition is not open to previous first-prize winners of the Orford Music Award.
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Competition Process
- In May 2025, a jury will analyze applications and select the qualifying projects. Applicants whose projects have been selected will be contacted by Orford Music.
- Selected projects will be presented to Orford Music’s artistic director during the 2025 Academy. Presentations must include a 5-minute project description, followed by 20 minutes of music, and will conclude with a question period.
- The six finalists will be announced during the summer of 2025.
- Finalists will move on to the development phase. During this phase (from September 2025 to June 2026), Orford Music will support finalists through conferences, artistic residencies, coaching, and virtual meetings with several experts, with the intention of helping finalists reach their project’s full potential.
- Finalists will be required to be at Orford Music from July 25 to August 1, 2026 (dates subject to change). During this week, there will be individual and group coachings devoted to putting the final touches to stage presence and ability to communicate with the public. Accommodations and meals will be provided during this one-week stay.
- Finals will take place over two days: July 28 and August 1, 2026 (dates subject to change).
- Finals 1: The six finalists will present approximately 20 minutes of repertoire and approximately 5 minutes of presentation for a precise total of 25 minutes.
- Finals 2: The two finalists selected by the jury will present approximately 32 minutes of repertoire and approximately 8 minutes of presentation for a precise total of 40 minutes.
- The awards ceremony will be held on the last night of the competition.
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Candidates’ Commitments
- Candidates must be available from July 25 to August 1, 2026 (dates subject to change), and travel to Orford Music. Orford Music will not reimburse transportation costs.
- First-place prize winner(s) must mention the prize in their promotional tools for a period of five years following the competition.
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General Conditions
- The Orford Music Award reserves the right to change the text of the rules at any time and without prior notice.
- By entering, candidates agree to abide by all the conditions of the competition and the decisions of the Orford Music Award committee and jury, which are final and without appeal.
- Candidates who fail to comply with any of the rules of the Orford Music Award may be disqualified without appeal.
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Transfer of Rights
- Candidates are required to release, in favour of Orford Music, all filming, broadcasting, recording and follow-up rights to their performances for the Orford Music Award, for a period of fifty years from the date of the performances.
- By finalizing their applications, candidates consent to use the video recordings submitted to the Orford Music Award.
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Promotion
- Candidates authorize Orford Music to use their biographies, in whole or in part, photos and any other material necessary to promote the Orford Music Award and Orford Music.
- Candidates agree to remain available to meet with partners and sponsors during the Orford Music Award.
- Candidates agree to remain available for promotional purposes with the media before and during the Orford Music Award.
Authority of the Orford Music Award
- The Orford Music Award jury reserves the right not to award a prize.
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Are you a member of the public? If so, click here to view the Orford Music Award's public page.