Scandicci International Music Competition

A week of music in Scandicci

The Scandicci International Music Competition is one of the most significant events dedicated to youth music in Italy. It takes place every May in Scandicci, a city in the Metropolitan City of Florence, Tuscany, and involves thousands of young people from across the peninsula. The initiative is promoted by the Filarmonica Vincenzo Bellini of Scandicci in collaboration with the Department of Public Education of the Municipality of Scandicci and under the patronage of the Tuscany Region.

Who can participate

The competition is open to a wide range of school and amateur musical groups: middle schools with music programs, music high schools, comprehensive institutes, primary schools, music projects, music academies, opera and modern singing schools, and brass bands. This inclusivity makes it a massive event: recent editions have seen the participation of thousands of young instrumentalists and singers representing numerous Italian regions.

Competition categories

Performances are organized into several sections covering almost the entire musical spectrum: primary and secondary school orchestras and bands, choirs, solo piano, percussion, wind instruments, chamber music, and small ensembles, as well as opera and modern singing categories. Each section is evaluated by a jury of professional musicians and educators, and the best performers receive awards and recognition during the prize-giving ceremonies that conclude the competition days.

More than just a competition

Alongside the competition, the program offers masterclasses, workshops, and concerts that allow young people to engage with established artists. Among the most anticipated events of recent editions are the inaugural event in Piazza della Resistenza, featuring large gatherings of guitarists and percussionists playing alongside professional musicians, and lessons held by well-known names in the Italian music scene. It is a precious opportunity for students, teachers, and professionals to meet.

A landmark event for Tuscany

For Scandicci and the entire Florentine area, the competition represents a major cultural showcase, capable of filling theaters, auditoriums, and squares for over a week. The event highlights the educational role of music and creates a bridge between the many Italian schools that invest in the musical training of the youngest generations.