The competition was open to composers of all ages and nationalities; its subject was a composition for a symphonic orchestra. The works submitted were to be original, unpublished, not previously performed in public nor awarded a prize in any other competition.

The jury led by Professor Marcin Błażewicz had to consider 176 submissions from countries such as Argentina, Austria, Brasil, Byelorussia, Canada, China, Cyprus, Danemark, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and the USA. Six works that qualified to the finals are:

- Tomas Peire-Serrate – „Borealis”

- Andrzej Szachowski – „Helix Nebula”

- Adam Porębski – „Iluzje”

- Tomasz Szczepanik – „rumori”

- Claudio Passilongo – „Symphonic Dystopia”

- Choi Jin Seok – „Sunrise in Hyangil Am”

Their premieres will be performed on 19 March 2021 at the Philharmonic in Szczecin by the Mieczysław Karłowicz Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Szymon Bywalec. After the concert, the jury will decide its final verdict and announce the results. Additionally, the Audience Award and the Orchestra Award are planned.

Free concert streaming will be available on the YouTube and Facebook channels of the Szczecin Philharmonic on Friday 19 March 2021 at 7 pm CET.

It is not a coincidence that the Szczecin Philharmonic together with the Society of Authors ZAiKS creates a new artistic brand, namely the International Composers’ Competition. The iconic building housing the Philharmonic validates offering the music lovers a truly contemporary repertoire. The international audience which would follow the online concert streaming will be asked to select its favorite work by casting votes via the internet and text messaging.

Miłosz Bembinow, vice-president of ZAiKS and competition’s originator, declares: „I sincerely hope that the works created thanks to our contest will be included in both Polish and foreign philharmonic repertoires. I welcome you most heartily to this final concert”.

It is the second time ZAiKS and Szczecin Philharmonic cooperate on a music project. The first international competition for composers, then yet without any official name, was organized in 2018 to celebrate ZAiKS’ 100th anniversary. The very high quality of the works submitted has inspired both institutions to continue this exceptional music undertaking on a regular biennial basis.

For more information see: 

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Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ7RqRSiL8J0A5mOLxZMTZg

He gained his musical education in his homeland - South Korea. There, he studied composition at two of the capital's universities. He is the laureate of such important presentations of contemporary music in Korea as Joogang Music Competition, Seoul Contemporary Music Festival and ARKO contemporary Music Festival. In 2019, he took part in the 16th International Kazimierz Serocki Competition for Composers, winning the 1st prize and a special prize. The performance of the winning piece by Hashtag Ensemble in the studio of the Witold Lutosławski’s Polish Radio was broadcasted on Polish Radio. The Polish success paved the way for further awards, including the Luxembourg competition "Artistes en Herbe" and the composition competition of the Franz-Josef Reinl Foundation in Austria.