Spinazzola City Music Prize
National Competition for Musical Performance and Interpretation in the Alta Murgia
About Spinazzola Music Prize
The «Spinazzola City» Music Prize
The «Spinazzola City» Music Prize is a national competition for musical performance and interpretation held annually between late May and early June in Spinazzola, in the heart of the Alta Murgia, in the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani (Apulia). The event is promoted by the Municipality of Spinazzola and organized by the Accademia Musicale Innocenzo XII, which oversees its artistic and logistical direction in collaboration with the Municipal Library.
A competition open to talent from all over Italy
Created to showcase the artistic talent of new generations, the competition is open to musicians of all nationalities and, in many categories, has no age limit. Auditions take place in the Auditorium of the Accademia Musicale Innocenzo XII and the Municipal Library, while the final awards concert brings the Sala Innocenzo XII to life. Each edition attracts over a hundred participants from Italy's leading conservatories and music institutes, fostering an environment of healthy competition and professional growth.
Categories
- Classical Music: soloists (voice, piano, harp, guitar, mandolin, strings, woodwinds/brass, accordion, percussion) and chamber music;
- Jazz: soloists and groups;
- Pop/Rock: soloists and groups;
- Ensemble: schools, musical associations, orchestral groups, choirs, and bands.
Jury and Awards
The panel brings together prominent national and international teachers and concert performers, presided over by Maestro Saverio Vizziello. Winners in the various categories receive cash prizes and recognition, with special attention given to very young and emerging students who find a prestigious stage here.
Spinazzola and its territory
Situated on the Murgia Plateau, bordering Basilicata, Spinazzola boasts a vibrant band tradition and the work of the Accademia Innocenzo XII, named after Pope Innocent XII (Antonio Pignatelli), who was born in the town. The Prize is part of a cultural calendar that brings musicians, families, and enthusiasts to the city between late spring and early summer, contributing to the artistic growth and promotion of the Apulian Alta Murgia region.
Spinazzola Music Prize — edition 2026
The fourth edition (2026)
The fourth edition of the «Spinazzola City» Music Prize was held from May 25 to June 1, 2026, under the artistic direction of Maestro Giuseppe Porrelli. Auditions took place in the Auditorium of the Accademia Musicale Innocenzo XII and the Municipal Library, while the final awards concert brought the Sala Innocenzo XII to life.
The jury, chaired by Maestro Saverio Vizziello, featured prestigious masters such as Michele Campanella, Gabriele Pieranunzi, and Pierluigi Sanarica. Among the most emotional moments was the victory of Domenico Calenda, the first artist from Spinazzola to win the first prize in his section.
Programme Spinazzola Music Prize 2026
Sections
- Classical Music (soloists and chamber music)
- Jazz (soloists and groups)
- Pop/Rock (soloists and groups)
- Ensemble (orchestral, choral, and bands)
Jury
President: Maestro Saverio Vizziello. Members: Maestro Michele Campanella (piano, Accademia Chigiana of Siena), Maestro Gabriele Pieranunzi (first violin, Teatro San Carlo of Naples), Maestro Pierluigi Sanarica (first cello, Teatro San Carlo of Naples).
Main winners (1st prize, €1,000)
- Classical: Emma Castellano, harp (Udine); €500 prizes to Vittorio Chittano (accordion, Cutrofiano), Marco Mancini (sax, Foggia), Claudio Longobardi (guitar, Gragnano), and Marco Ianniruberto (guitar, Campobasso, 11 years old, the youngest winner)
- Jazz: Mirko Riccardo, drums (Binetto)
- Pop/Rock: Domenico Calenda, drums (Spinazzola)
- Ensemble: Brass Ensemble «Il Cenacolo» (Bisceglie)
Highlights Spinazzola Music Prize 2026
- Artistic direction by Maestro Giuseppe Porrelli
- Over one hundred participants from all over Italy
- First victory by a local artist from Spinazzola, Domenico Calenda, in the pop/rock section
- Exceptional jury with Campanella, Pieranunzi, and Sanarica
- Final awards concert in the Sala Innocenzo XII
Prices Spinazzola Music Prize 2026
Practical information — Spinazzola Music Prize
Location
Auditions and the final concert take place at the Accademia Musicale Innocenzo XII, the Municipal Library, and the Sala Innocenzo XII, in the center of Spinazzola (BT).
How to get there
Spinazzola can be reached by car via the state roads that cross the Alta Murgia; the Spinazzola railway station is served by the Rocchetta Sant'Antonio-Gioia del Colle line. The nearest airports are Bari-Palese and Foggia-Gino Lisa.
Registration and information
The call for entries, registration fees, and full regulations are published on the official website premiospinazzola.it. Registration usually closes a few days before the auditions begin.
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Where does it take place — Spinazzola Music Prize
Accademia Musicale Innocenzo XII - Sala Innocenzo XII