All applicants for the 2026 Orchestra must be aged between 16 and 26 inclusive on 31 December 2025 and hold passports from one of the 27 European Union member countries.

The auditions will take place in two rounds:

• • Pre-audition for strings on Friday, 7 November @10:00-14:00 in D-511, and for wind, brass and percussion on Wednesday, 5 November @16.00-20.00 in D-511 and on Thursday, 6 November @16.00-20.00 in C-405.
  • Final round on Wednesday, 12 November 2025 at 10:00 in D-511

Candidates will be asked to play a prepared piece of their own choosing (eg a movement from a concerto, sonata etc) and a selection of orchestral extracts.
NB! Percussionists will be asked to play a selection of prepared orchestral extracts only (no piece).

How and when to apply

All the candidates are requested to fill in the application on the EUYO homepage latest by 29 October 2025.

Since its founding in 1976, the EUYO has grown into one of the world’s leading symphony orchestras, collaborating with many of the greatest musicians in history, such as Daniel Barenboim, Leonard Bernstein, Herbert von Karajan, and Mstislav Rostropovich. Notably, the orchestra has also worked with its three Music Directors and the current Chief Conductor: Founding Music Director Claudio Abbado, former Music Director Vladimir Ashkenazy, former Music Director and current Conductor Laureate Bernard Haitink, and, since spring 2024, Chief Conductor Iván Fischer.

The EUYO’s spring and summer sessions are held at its residency in Grafenegg, Austria, followed by concert tours, details of which can be found on the EUYO homepage.

Questions and additional info:
Kai Kiiv
6675 721
kai.kiiv@eamt.ee

The Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (EAMT) is pleased to announce the fourth annual Composition Competition. The competition is open to all bachelor’s and master’s students of the Estonian Academy of Music regardless of their field of study.

Competition Details
Participants are invited to submit compositions meeting the following criteria:
Duration: 7–10 minutes

Instrumentation: Flute (piccolo and alto flute), viola, piano, and percussion. The percussion instruments must be selected from the list below and used in a practical setup for one percussionist.

Available percussion instruments: Vibraphone, Campanelli, Tam-tam, 1 Triangle, 2 Cowbells, 4 Cymbals (ride, crash, splash, China) in different sizes, Hi-hat, Concert bass drum, Snare drum, 3 Tom-toms (available sizes: 8”, 10”, 12”, 14”, 16”, 18”), Bongos (pair), Congas (pair), 5 Woodblocks, 3 Temple blocks.

Submission Guidelines
Deadline: March 9, 2026, at 23:59
Submission address: emtahk@eamt.ee

Each submission must include the full score and individual parts.
Late submissions will not be accepted.

Jury Members
Preliminary Round: Helena Tulve, Kerri Kotta, Tõnu Kõrvits, René Eespere, Liisa Hirsch and the ensemble Broken Frame Syndicate
Final Round: Helena Tulve, Kerri Kotta, Tõnu Kõrvits, René Eespere and Liisa Hirsch

Prizes
First Prize: Diploma and €400
Second Prize: Diploma and €200
Third Prize: Diploma and €100
Fourth and Fifth Prizes: Diploma

Competition Regulations

1. The competition is open to all bachelor’s and master’s students of EAMT

2. Each composer may submit one composition that has not been previously published, performed, recorded, or broadcast.

3. Submissions must include a short biography of the composer.

4. The composition must adhere to the specified instrumentation and duration.

5. The composer’s name must not appear on the score or parts to ensure anonymous evaluation.

6. The jury will select five compositions to be performed and recorded live in concert on April 18, 2026, at the EAMT Chamber Hall.

7. During the concert intermission, the jury will select three winning compositions to receive the main prizes.

8. Recordings of the selected works will be shared with the composers, and the three winning pieces will be published on the EAMT YouTube channel.

Contact: For inquiries, please write to emtahk@eamt.ee

IV EAMT Composition Competition taking place in collaboration with Broken Frame Syndicate