Luigi Zanuccoli International Competition for Young Musicians
The international music competition that for over twenty years has brought young talents from all over the world to Sogliano al Rubicone
About Zanuccoli Competition
An international competition in the Rubicone hills
For over twenty years, the Luigi Zanuccoli International Competition for Young Musicians has transformed the small village of Sogliano al Rubicone, in the hills of the Province of Forlì-Cesena in Emilia-Romagna, into a capital of classical music for a few weeks in May. The event is dedicated to the memory of Luigi Zanuccoli, a figure linked to the Sogliano area, and each year it draws young instrumentalists and singers from dozens of nations to the Elisabetta Turroni Municipal Theatre.
Competition Sections
The competition is divided into several sections, designed to accommodate different musical paths and age groups, from junior categories to young professionals:
- Soloists Section: instrumentalists who perform individually before the international jury.
- Chamber Music, Ensembles, Orchestras, and Choirs Section: dedicated to groups, from small ensembles to orchestras and choirs.
- Special Opera Singing Section: one of the most popular, which in recent years has brought dozens of voices from around the world to Sogliano.
- Section reserved for Italian music schools, to also provide space for basic musical training.
A high-profile jury
The competition jury brings together prominent names from the Italian and international opera and concert scene: singers, artistic directors, music critics, and casting directors from important theaters. The evaluation considers the technical level, artistic interpretation, and musical maturity of the candidates, with scores that award the first prize only for very high evaluations.
An opportunity for young talents
In addition to cash prizes, the competition offers winners visibility and performance opportunities: the first prize winners are invited to the awards concert that concludes the event at the Elisabetta Turroni Theatre. The stated aim is to identify and promote young musical talents and to create a moment of meeting and cultural exchange among young people from different nations, in a village in the Romagna hinterland rich in traditions and history, also famous for its fossa cheese.
How it works
Registration is done online by the deadline set by the regulations; candidates can participate in multiple sections, but only in one age category per section. During the competition period, the Municipality of Sogliano al Rubicone organizes a free shuttle service from the train stations of Cesena and Savignano sul Rubicone, to facilitate the arrival of competitors and the public.
Zanuccoli Competition — edition 2026
The 23rd edition of the Luigi Zanuccoli International Competition for Young Musicians was held in Sogliano al Rubicone from May 18 to 31, 2026, organized by the ClassicAllMusic Musical Association with the Municipality of Sogliano. The auditions were held by section over the two weeks, culminating in the final concert of the first prize winners on Sunday, May 31, at 5:00 PM at the Elisabetta Turroni Theatre.
The special Opera Singing section was particularly popular, with about eighty international candidates. The first prize went to Ukrainian bass Volodymir Morozov; also on the podium were Kazakh soprano Aziza Omarova and, ex aequo, Chilean baritone Gonzalo Godoy Sepúlveda and Italian tenor Davide Zaccherini.
Programme Zanuccoli Competition 2026
Schedule of auditions
- May 18 - 20 — Section reserved for Italian music schools
- May 22 - 23 — Special Opera Singing Section (approx. 80 international candidates)
- May 24 - 28 — Section I, Soloists
- May 30 — Section II, Chamber Music, Ensembles, Orchestras, and Choirs
- Sunday, May 31, 5:00 PM — Awards concert for the first prize winners at the Elisabetta Turroni Theatre
Jury
International jury presided over by baritone Bruno De Simone, with soprano Cinzia Forte, Matteo Pais (artistic director of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Academy), music critic Roberta Pedrotti, Alessandro Trebeschi (casting director of the Teatro Grande in Brescia), and agent Mina Yossef.
Winners of the Opera Singing section
- 1st prize (€2,500) — Volodymir Morozov, bass (Ukraine)
- 2nd prize (€1,000) — Aziza Omarova, soprano (Kazakhstan)
- 3rd prize (€700 each, ex aequo) — Gonzalo Godoy Sepúlveda, baritone (Chile) and Davide Zaccherini, tenor (Italy)
- Special Mention (€300) — Elisabetta Ricci, mezzo-soprano (Italy)
Highlights Zanuccoli Competition 2026
The highlight was the awards concert on May 31 at the Elisabetta Turroni Theatre, with Ukrainian bass Volodymir Morozov winning the highly anticipated Opera Singing section, judged by an international jury presided over by baritone Bruno De Simone.
Prices Zanuccoli Competition 2026
Practical information — Zanuccoli Competition
Where
The auditions and the final concert take place at the Elisabetta Turroni Municipal Theatre and at the Pro Loco venue in Sogliano al Rubicone (Province of Forlì-Cesena, Emilia-Romagna).
How to get here
By car: Sogliano al Rubicone can be reached from the Via Emilia and the E45, inland between Cesena and the Rubicone Valley. By train: the reference stations are Cesena and Savignano sul Rubicone, from which a free shuttle service is available for competitors during the competition.
Registration
Participation is open to young musicians of all nationalities; applications are submitted online by the deadline indicated in the regulations on the official website of the ClassicAllMusic Association. Registration and accompaniment fees apply.
Audience
The performances and the awards concert are open to the public; it is advisable to check the times and access procedures on the official competition website.
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Where does it take place — Zanuccoli Competition
Teatro Comunale Elisabetta Turroni
Piazza Garibaldi 1, 47030 Sogliano al Rubicone