Val Tidone International Music Competitions - Winners' Gala
Young talents of great music compete in Pianello Val Tidone
About Val Tidone Competitions
A forge of young talents in the heart of Val Tidone
For almost thirty years, the Val Tidone International Music Competitions have been one of the most prestigious events in the concert calendar of Emilia-Romagna. Organized by the Val Tidone Musica Foundation in the Municipality of Pianello Val Tidone, in the Province of Piacenza, they form the competitive core of the broader Val Tidone Festival, whose season they inaugurate each year. Here, young performers and composers from all over the world put years of study to the test before international juries, in a competition that is as rigorous as it is stimulating.
Three days of auditions and a grand finale
The selections take place over three days at the theatre in Pianello Val Tidone and culminate in the Winners' Gala, hosted at the "Ernesto Astorri" Municipal Theatre, overlooking Piazzale Alpini. It is on this evening that the winners of the various sections return to the stage, no longer to be judged by a commission, but to offer their music to the audience: the concert officially inaugurates the Festival and features the Enrica Prati Prize, a special award given directly by the audience in the hall, in memory of the historic editor of the newspaper Libertà.
Competitions on the program
- "Val Tidone" Competition: dedicated to young performers, with instrumental sections and categories divided by age and level.
- "Egidio Carella" Composition Competition: reserved for young composers, awarding creativity and contemporary musical writing.
- "Silvio Bengalli" Piano Prize: a prestigious biennial award, culminating in a recital by the winner at the Municipal Theatre of Piacenza.
A project that embraces the territory
The Competitions are not just an event for insiders: they represent a cultural investment involving the twelve municipalities of Val Tidone and Val Luretta, extending to the city of Piacenza. The event is promoted by the Val Tidone Musica Foundation with the support of the Fondazione di Piacenza e Vigevano, and is part of a season that, from June to October, brings some of the most beloved names in the Italian music scene to the Piacenza hills. For those who love discovering the future stars of international concert music, a day spent in the villages of Val Tidone is absolutely worth the trip.
Val Tidone Competitions — edition 2026
The 2026 Program
The 2026 edition, the XXVI of the Competitions, was dedicated to younger musicians. The auditions were held at the theatre in Pianello Val Tidone on Friday, June 5, Saturday, June 6, and Sunday, June 7.
- "Val Tidone" Competition — a competition for young performers, with instrumental sections and categories divided by age and level.
- "Egidio Carella" Composition Competition — reserved for young composers, with a jury chaired by prominent figures in contemporary music.
- Prize Money — cash prizes totaling 7,000 euros, as well as concert opportunities.
Winners' Gala
On Sunday, June 7, at 6:30 PM, the Winners' Gala at the "Ernesto Astorri" Municipal Theatre in Pianello Val Tidone brought together the prize winners from the various sections on stage, officially inaugurating the 28th edition of the Val Tidone Festival. During the evening, the audience in the hall awarded the "Enrica Prati" Prize. Free admission subject to availability.
Programme Val Tidone Competitions 2026
Friday, June 5 - Saturday, June 6, 2026 — Pianello Val Tidone Theatre
- Auditions for the Val Tidone International Music Competitions (XXVI edition)
- "Val Tidone" Competition for young performers — instrumental sections, categories by age and level
- "Egidio Carella" Composition Competition for young composers
Sunday, June 7, 2026, 6:30 PM — "Ernesto Astorri" Municipal Theatre
- Winners' Gala — performance by the prize winners of the various sections
- Official inauguration of the Val Tidone Festival 2026
- Awarding of the "Enrica Prati" Audience Prize
The names of the individual winners and the concert program will be announced at the end of the auditions.
Highlights Val Tidone Competitions 2026
Prices Val Tidone Competitions 2026
Practical information — Val Tidone Competitions
How to get there
Pianello Val Tidone is located in the Province of Piacenza, along the Val Tidone. By car, take the SP412 south from Piacenza for about 30 km. The nearest train station is Piacenza, on the Milan-Bologna line, from which you can continue by bus or car.
Venue
The Winners' Gala is held at the "Ernesto Astorri" Municipal Theatre, Piazzale Alpini, Pianello Val Tidone. The competition auditions take place at the town theatre.
Admission
All concerts, including the Winners' Gala, are free admission subject to availability, without reservation (the final recital at the Municipal Theatre of Piacenza is an exception).
Information
Fondazione Val Tidone Musica, tel. +39 0523 887827, [email protected].
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Where does it take place — Val Tidone Competitions
Teatro Comunale Ernesto Astorri
Piazzale Alpini, 29010 Pianello Val Tidone