Estonian Wind and Percussion Players Competition 2026

22.11.2026 – 27.11.2026
at 10:00
Great Hall, Chamber Hall

The Estonian Wind and Percussion Players Competition has been announced for eleven instruments: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, French horn, trumpet, trombone, bass trombone, tuba and percussion.

This is an event of great importance to Estonian musical culture, highlighting the current state, level, reach and future prospects of wind and percussion performance in society at large. The competition is a highly anticipated event among performers and teachers, increasing the motivation of young musicians and broadening their performance opportunities. From the perspective of Estonian professional orchestras and ensembles, the competition is an important source of information for mapping the prospects of the fields, the level of performers and future talents.

The competition is organised in cooperation with the Estonian Music Council, Musical Youth in Estonia, the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre and the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra.

  • Time Schedule

    I Round (Selection Round): 22–23 November
    II Round (Prize Round): 24–25 November
    Grand Prix Round: 27 November

    All rounds take place in the Great Hall and Chamber Hall of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.
    Rounds I–II are free of charge for the audience. Tickets for the Grand Prix Round are available via Piletikeskus.

  • Repertoire

    FLUTE

    Round I

    1. Georg Philipp Telemann – 12 Fantasias for Solo Flute TWV 40:2–13 (choose 1 fantasia)

    2. One work from the following:
    Gabriel Fauré – Fantaisie, Op. 79
    Philippe Gaubert – Fantaisie
    George Enescu – “Cantabile et Presto”
    Henri Dutilleux – Sonatine
    Frank Martin – Ballade

    Round II

    1. One work from the following:
    Sergei Prokofiev – Sonata for Flute and Piano in D major, Op. 94
    Carl Reinecke – Sonata for Flute and Piano, Op. 167 “Undine”
    Erwin Schulhoff – Sonata for Flute and Piano
    Charles-Marie Widor – Suite for Flute and Piano, Op. 34
    Eduard Tubin – Sonata for Flute and Piano

    2. One work from the following:
    Jüri Reinvere – “Ricordanza”
    Mari Vihmand – “Keeris” (“Whirl”)

    3. One work from the following:
    Claude Debussy – “Syrinx”
    Jacques Ibert – “Pièce”
    Arthur Honegger – “Danse de la Chèvre”, H. 39
    Edgard Varèse – “Density 21.5”
    Tōru Takemitsu – “Air”
    Tōru Takemitsu – “Itinerant”

    Grand Prix Round

    One concerto from the following:
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Flute Concerto No. 1 in G major, K. 313
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Flute Concerto No. 2 in D major, K. 314
    Jacques Ibert – Flute Concerto
    Carl Reinecke – Flute Concerto in D major, Op. 283
    Carl Nielsen – Flute Concerto, FS 119


    OBOE

    Round I

    1. Georg Philipp Telemann – 12 Fantasias for Solo Oboe TWV 40:26–37 (choose 1 fantasia)

    2. One work from the following:
    Henri Dutilleux – Sonata for Oboe and Piano
    Pierre Sancan – Sonatine for Oboe and Piano
    Pavel Haas – Suite for Oboe and Piano, Op. 17
    Paul Hindemith – Sonata for Oboe and Piano
    Francis Poulenc – Sonata for Oboe and Piano FP 185

    Round II

    1. One concerto from the following:
    Antonio Vivaldi – Oboe Concerto RV 447
    Antonio Vivaldi – Oboe Concerto RV 451
    Antonio Vivaldi – Oboe Concerto RV 454
    Antonio Vivaldi – Oboe Concerto RV 455
    Antonio Vivaldi – Oboe Concerto RV 461

    2. Eino Tamberg – Cycle “Music for Oboe”, Op. 35

    Grand Prix Round

    One concerto from the following:
    Richard Strauss – Oboe Concerto in D major, AV 144
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Oboe Concerto in C major, K. 314
    Bohuslav Martinů – Oboe Concerto, H. 353


    CLARINET

    Round I

    1. One work from the following:
    Johann Stamitz – Clarinet Concerto in B-flat major, 1st movement
    Bernhard Crusell – Clarinet Concerto in E-flat major, 1st movement
    Franz Krommer – Clarinet Concerto in E-flat major, 1st movement

    2. One work from the following:
    André Messager – “Solo de concours”
    Jules Mouquet – “Solo de concours”
    Henri Rabaud – “Solo de concours”

    Round II

    1. Ester Mägi – Sonata for Clarinet and Piano

    2. One work from the following:
    Igor Stravinsky – Three Pieces for Solo Clarinet
    Lepo Sumera – “Two Capriccios”
    Kaija Saariaho – “Duft”
    Elliott Carter – “Gra”
    Jörg Widmann – Fantasie
    Gergely Oláh – Sonata

    3. Claude Debussy – Rhapsody

    Grand Prix Round

    One concerto from the following:
    Carl Maria von Weber – Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F minor, Op. 73
    Carl Maria von Weber – Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 74


    BASSOON

    Round I

    1. One work from the following:
    Malcolm Arnold – Fantasy for Solo Bassoon, Op. 86
    Gordon Jacob – Partita

    2. One work from the following:
    Johann Sebastian Bach – Partita in D minor, BWV 1013: Prelude and Corrente (without repeats)
    Johann Sebastian Bach – Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: Prelude, Allemande and Courante (without repeats)

    Round II

    1. One work from the following:
    Tõnu Kõrvits – “Solitudes”: II movement Cantabile and III movement Ciaconna
    Tõnu Kõrvits – “Puudutus” (“Touch”)

    2. Camille Saint-Saëns – Sonata, Op. 168, Movements I and II

    3. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Bassoon Concerto in B-flat major, K. 191

    Grand Prix Round

    One concerto from the following:
    Carl Maria von Weber – Bassoon Concerto in F major, Op. 75
    Johann Nepomuk Hummel – Bassoon Concerto in F major “Grand Concerto”


    SAXOPHONE

    Round I

    1. Tõnu Kõrvits – “Laulan üle merede” (“I Sing Across the Seas”)

    2. One work from the following:
    Robert Planel – “Prélude et Saltarelle”
    Jules Demersseman – “Fantaisie sur un thème original”
    Pedro Iturralde – “Pequeña Czarda”
    David Salleras – “Danse folle”
    Florent Schmitt – “Légende”
    Jacques Charpentier – “Gavambodi 2”
    Henri Tomasi – Ballade

    Round II

    1. Alexander Glazunov – Concerto in E-flat major, Op. 109

    2. One work from the following:
    Alexander Tcherepnin – “Sonatine sportive”
    Eduard Tubin – Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano
    Paul Creston – Sonata in E-flat major for Alto Saxophone and Piano, Op. 19
    Fernande Decruck – Sonata in C-sharp
    Vincent David – “Nuée ardente”

    Grand Prix Round

    One concerto from the following:
    Jacques Ibert – Concertino da camera
    Pierre Max Dubois – Saxophone Concerto
    Henri Tomasi – Saxophone Concerto


    FRENCH HORN

    Round I

    1. One work from the following:
    Eugène Bozza – “En forêt” Op. 40
    Paul Dukas – “Villanelle”
    Sigurd Berge – “Hornlokk”

    2. A work by an Estonian composer (free choice)

    3. One work from the following:
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Horn Concerto No. 2 in E-flat major, K. 417, 1st movement
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Horn Concerto No. 3 in E-flat major, K. 447, 1st movement

    Round II

    1. One work from the following:
    Robert Schumann – “Adagio and Allegro” in A-flat major, Op. 70
    Jean-Michel Defaye – “Alpha” for Horn and Piano
    Francis Poulenc – Elegy, FP 168

    2. Ludwig van Beethoven – Sonata in F major, Op. 17

    Grand Prix Round

    One concerto from the following:
    Reinhold Glière – Horn Concerto in B-flat major, Op. 91
    York Bowen – Horn Concerto, Op. 150


    TRUMPET

    Round I

    1. One work from the following:
    Eugène Bozza – “Rustiques”
    Alexander Arutiunian – “Aria and Scherzo”
    Henri Tomasi – “Triptyque”

    2. One work from the following:
    Hillar Kareva – “Lamento”
    Mirjam Tally – “Streams”
    Tõnu Kõrvits – “Thulema Songs II”

    Round II

    1. One work from the following:
    Joseph Haydn – Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major, Hob. VIIe:1
    Johann Nepomuk Hummel – Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major or E major

    2. One work from the following:
    Jacques Ibert – Impromptu
    André Jolivet – “Air de bravoure“

    Grand Prix Round

    One concerto from the following:
    Eino Tamberg – Trumpet Concerto No. 1, Op. 42
    Tõnu Kõrvits – Trumpet Concerto


    TROMBONE

    Round I
    1. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov – Trombone Concerto
    2. Mati Kuulberg – “Attacca“

    Round II
    1. Henri Dutilleux – “Chorale, Cadence et Fugato“
    2. Paul Hindemith – Sonata

    Grand Prix Round
    Launy Grøndahl – Trombone Concerto


    BASS TROMBONE

    Round I
    1. Ernst Sachse – Concertino in F major
    2. Jan Koetsier – “Allegro maestoso“

    Round II

    1. One work from the following:
    Patrick McCarty – Sonata
    Eric Ewazen – Ballade

    2. Urmas Lattikas – “Partita“

    Grand Prix Round

    Elizabeth Raum – Concerto for Bass Trombone, String Orchestra and Percussion


    TUBA

    Round I

    1. Robert Schumann – Adagio and Allegro Op. 70
    2. George Frideric Handel – Oboe Concerto in G minor, HWV 287

    Round II

    1. Anthony Plog – Three Miniatures for Tuba and Piano

    2. A work by an Estonian composer (free choice)

    3. One work from the following:
    Trygve Madsen – Sonata, Op. 34
    Bruce Broughton – Sonata

    Grand Prix Round

    Ralph Vaughan Williams – Tuba Concerto in F minor


    PERCUSSION

    Round I

    1. Johann Sebastian Bach / Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart / Ludwig van Beethoven – a piano, cello, lute or violin sonata or suite performed on marimba (all movements)

    2. A freely chosen work on an instrument of choice (except marimba), maximum duration 15 minutes (may include piano accompaniment)

    Round II

    1. Raimo Kangro – “Display XII: Balls“

    2. A freely chosen work for multi-percussion or snare drum

    3. A freely chosen work for xylophone, marimba or vibraphone (may include piano accompaniment)

    Grand Prix Round

    Paul Creston – Concertino for Marimba and Orchestra, Op. 21

  • Rules

    Time and Venue
    The Estonian Wind and Percussion Players Competition will take place on 22–27 November 2026 in Tallinn. The competition rounds will be held in the Great Hall and Chamber Hall of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.

    Schedule
    22–23 November: Round I
    24–25 November: Round II
    26 November: Rehearsal with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra
    27 November: Grand Prix Round and award ceremony

    Participants
    The competition is open to Estonian citizens, persons with a residence permit in Estonia and foreign students living in Estonia and studying in a degree programme. It is also open to foreign students who have completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre within the past five years. There is no age limit.

    Structure of the competition
    The broad repertoire lists for Round I (Selection Round) and Round II (Prize Round) give performers sufficient freedom to create a programme that best highlights their musical nature and individuality. At least one work by an Estonian composer must be included.

    The Grand Prix round, open to instrumentalists who have won first prize, is held in cooperation with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra. The programme will feature some of the most outstanding concertos written for wind and percussion instruments.

    The registration deadline is 1 October 2026. Registration is electronic.
    The final deadline for repertoire changes is 22 October 2026.
    Participants must perform with their own piano accompanist.

    Jury
    Due to the variety of disciplines, Round I and Round II will be judged by separate international juries for woodwind, brass and percussion. These juries will combine for the Grand Prix Round.

    Prizes
    Based on the results of Round II, the jury has the right in each instrument group to award up to three laureate titles with monetary prizes, to redistribute prizes or to withhold prizes.

    After the Grand Prix Round, up to three Grand Prix laureate titles will be awarded in the following groups: brass, woodwind (including saxophone) and percussion. The Grand Prix title and its monetary prize replace the first-prize title and its accompanying monetary award. The jury has the right not to award a Grand Prix title.

    The total prize fund is up to 15 000 euros. Prize amounts are determined by the jury. The jury’s decision is final.

    Additional special prizes will be awarded by the competition’s partners.

    Audience
    The competition is open to the public. Entering or leaving the hall during performances is not permitted.

    Recording rights
    The organisers have the right to record performances, take photographs and make internet, radio or television broadcasts of all rounds and the final concert. The organisers hold all reproduction rights. Performances are not remunerated.

    Special voting condition
    A jury member may not vote if they have been the teacher of a competing participant within the previous two years.

    Practice conditions
    Practice facilities at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre will be provided for all participants during the competition.

    Performance order
    The performance order will be determined by drawing lots. The drawn order will remain valid until the end of the competition.

    Illness
    In case of illness, the jury may allow a participant to perform at the end of the round outside the original order. In such a case, the new order will remain valid until the end of the competition.

    Participation fee
    Registered participants must pay a participation fee of 50 euros by 1 October 2026 to the Estonian Music Council’s bank account:
    IBAN: EE941010022000130003
    Please indicate the participant’s name in the payment reference.
    The participation fee is non-refundable in case of non-attendance.

    Acceptance of rules
    By registering, the participant confirms that they have read the repertoire and competition conditions and agree to comply with them.

  • Registration

    To participate in the competition, the following documents must be submitted:

    1. Completed registration form
    2. Portrait photo for the competition brochure
    3. A short biography of up to 1000 characters
    4. Copy of residence permit (only foreigners and stateless persons)

    Registered participants must pay a participation fee of 50 euros to the Estonian Music Council account: IBAN: EE941010022000130003, reference: participant’s name.

    The deadline for registration and participation fee paymet is 1 October 2026

  • Contact

    E-mail: hanneleen.pihlak@eamt.ee
    Phone: +372 58554044