"Terra di Severino" Music Competition - City of Roccasecca

A competition born in the name of Severino Gazzelloni

The "Terra di Severino" Music Competition - City of Roccasecca is one of the most popular musical events in southern Lazio. Promoted by the "Labirinto Armonico" Musical Cultural Association, based in Roccasecca in the province of Frosinone, the competition bears the name of Severino Gazzelloni, the world-famous flutist born in this town in the Ciociaria region and considered one of the greatest Italian performers of the 20th century. His teaching - "music is not a job, it is a life choice" - has become the motto accompanying every edition.

Who can participate

The competition is open to a wide range of musicians, with categories organized by educational level, age, and instrument. Eligible participants include:

• Students from Middle Schools with Musical Programs (SMIM) and primary schools;
• Students from music high schools and conservatories;
• Pupils from music schools, music workshops, and private academies;
• Soloists, chamber ensembles, choirs, bands, and orchestras;
• Professional musicians.

The permitted instruments cover the entire classical range: guitar, clarinet, horn, bassoon, accordion, flute, oboe, percussion, piano, saxophone, trumpet, violin, and cello, as well as voice.

Competition venues

Auditions take place in two symbolic locations of the territory. The "Daniele Paris" Auditorium of the "Licinio Refice" Music Conservatory in Frosinone hosts the performances for SMIM, music high schools, conservatories, and bands, offering students the experience of playing in a real concert hall. The Palazzo Ducale Cantelmo in Atina, a historic residence in the Comino Valley, welcomes singers, choirs, and soloists in a charming setting. Collaboration with the Municipality of Atina and local schools, such as the IIS "Marconi-Buonarroti" in Fiuggi, further expands the competition's network.

Jury and prizes

Performances are evaluated by a committee of musicians and teachers with recognized international experience, who assign scores and mentions for each category. Alongside the first prizes in each category, the competition offers several highly coveted special prizes:

• The Best Flute Prize, dedicated to the best flutist in the competition, offering the opportunity to perform at the Severino Gazzelloni International Festival, the summer event held in Roccasecca between July and August;
• The "Terra di Severino" Special Prize, reserved for particularly deserving musicians, also including the possibility of a concert at the Festival;
• The Musical Review Prize, which grants participation in the "Labirinto Armonico" review.

For many young instrumentalists, this is the first real transition from a classroom to a public stage, with an external audience and jury.

Music and territory

The competition is more than just a contest. The organizing association has always linked the days of the auditions to the discovery of the historical, cultural, and landscape heritage of the Liri Valley and the Ciociaria region, with guided tours and excursions offered to visiting groups. Roccasecca, perched on the slopes of the Cairo Mountains with its castle of the Counts of Aquino and the villages overlooking the Liri plain, is also the birthplace of Saint Thomas Aquinas: a context that gives the competition days a dimension of cultural travel, as well as musical.

An event that has grown year after year

Active since 2020, the event has progressively expanded the number of categories, venues, and participants, becoming a reference point for music-oriented schools in Lazio and neighboring regions. Registration generally opens on March 1st and closes at the end of April via the official website's online platform; the detailed calendar of auditions, with the call times for each candidate, is published in the weeks preceding the trials.