
Abu Dhabi Festival opens submissions for first ‘Abu Dhabi International Competition for Composition'
16 June 2025 14:14
ABU DHABI (WAM) Submissions are now open for the inaugural Abu Dhabi International Competition for Composition, launched by the Abu Dhabi Festival and organised by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF).The new global platform, created to amplify rising voices in contemporary music, aims to nurture creative talent, elevate young composers and champion innovation that will shape the future of music on the world stage.Open to emerging and established composers up to the age of 50 from around the world, submissions for the inaugural competition are now open until 15th September 2025.Finalists will be announced on December 15, 2025, with the first-place winner receiving Dh130,000, a professional recording opportunity, and a world premiere performance with world-renowned partner orchestras at the 23rd edition of Abu Dhabi Festival in April 2026.The second-place winner will receive Dh50,000, along with a performance opportunity, global recognition and mentorship. The third-place winner will be awarded Dh25,000 and access to mentorship.ADICC welcomes submissions from composers worldwide who must anonymously submit original, unpublished and unperformed works for consideration. Awards will be presented in two categories: orchestral compositions of up to 10 minutes, and solo works for piano up to 5 minutes, the featured instrument of the inaugural edition.Submissions will be evaluated by a distinguished jury of renowned international composers and conductors across seven criteria, including originality, creativity and the ability to convey elegance, as well as intellectual depth. Technical proficiency, compositional technique, emotional impact and the integration of traditional instruments, melodies or rhythms from diverse musical heritages and styles will also be assessed.Winning compositions will also be professionally recorded as part of the Abu Dhabi Festival Composers' Platform initiative.Established more than a decade and a half ago, the platform supports music composers from around the world in presenting their work in Abu Dhabi and on the global stage. To date, the platform has produced 36 original compositions and 80 co-commissions, creating high-quality recordings that preserve both traditional and contemporary music.
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For the Shishi, Buma'an, Khenaizi, Fard, and Zamli categories, 15 prizes are offered in each, with Dh367,000 in total prize money per contest and the same top-tier awards of Dh100,000, Dh75,000, and Dh40,000. Specific to Al Ain farms, the Fard Dates Competition offers 15 prizes, with its top three winners receiving Dh100,000, Dh75,000, and Dh40,000, the Khalas Dates Competition for Al Ain farms features 25 prizes, with the same prize amounts awarded to its top three Liwa and Al Dhafra Elite Dates Competitions each feature 15 the Al Dhafra Elite Dates Competition, the first-place winner will receive Dh200,000, the second Dh150,000, and the third Dh100,000, with the total prize pool exceeding Dh700, the Liwa Elite Dates Competition, the top three prizes are Dh125,000, Dh100,000, and Dh60,000, respectively, bringing the total prize value to over Dh500, Largest Bunch of Dates Competition has a prize pool of Dh234,000 distributed among 15 winners, with Dh50,000 for first place, Dh40,000 for second, and Dh30,000 for the fruit category, the Mango Competition features two subcategories: local and mixed varieties. Each subcategory offers ten prizes, with a combined prize pool of Dh234, the Lemon Competition (local and mixed varieties) and the Fig Competition (red and yellow varieties), the festival has allocated 10 prizes for each category, with a total value of Dh117,000 per these is the Local Fruit Basket Competition, which offers a prize pool of Dh400,000, with Dh200,000 awarded to the first-place winner, Dh120,000 to the second, and Dh80,000 to the the Model Farm Competition, which covers the Liwa Western Farms, Liwa Eastern Farms, and Al Dhafra Cities categories, each category carries a prize pool of Dh750,000. The first-place winner in each will receive Dh300,000, second place Dh180,000, and third Dh120, festival has also allocated 10 prizes for the Most Beautiful Date Basket Competition, which aims to revive traditional handicrafts using eco-friendly natural materials. Additionally, 10 prizes have been designated for the Palm Trunk Creativity Competition, which encourages the recycling of palm trunks into artistic the competitions, the festival presents a diverse programme of heritage events, daily activities, and cultural initiatives that preserve the legacy of the date palm as a symbol of the UAE's rich heritage and ongoing prosperity. It also promotes family and community ties, encourages intergenerational engagement, and reinforces values of cooperation and belonging, reflecting the spirit of the UAE's 'Year of the Community.'The festival also serves as a key platform for supporting the local community and productive families in the region through its traditional market, which includes stalls selling fresh dates and date-based products, mobile cafés, agricultural factories, plant nurseries, and pavilions representing sponsoring and participating organisations. 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