CMA Compostition Competition

Few things are as magical as the moment of artistic inspiration. That’s why it’s best not to let it pass by but to capture your ideas on paper right away—for yourself and for the new CMA Composition Competition, which offers young musicians a wide platform.

The beginning of many new competitions.
With this new composition competition, the CMA aims to support young, contemporary musicians and encourage them to present their compositions confidently in the spotlight, regardless of their musical style. The competition is intentionally designed to reflect the full diversity of musical creativity, with a different genre being featured each year. In collaboration with the Gustav Mahler Private University of Music in Klagenfurt (GMPU), the goal is to set new impulses and purposefully promote the creation of high-quality professional literature.

From brass compositions to choral works.
The competition will kick off in 2025 with the most creative compositions in the “brass” category, a field to which the CMA has been passionately dedicated for many years. Additional competitions, such as the one planned for 2026 on the theme of choral works, will follow.

Winners will be presented at the Brass Autumn.
This year’s compositions will be evaluated by a renowned jury of experts, who will select the three best pieces from all submissions. These will be presented to the public for the first time during the “Brass Autumn” festival and performed together with the Brass Band Carinthia. This creates a lively dialogue between talented young artists, experienced brass professionals, and a broad audience, infusing the scene with fresh, new impulses. We look forward to your ideas!

PARTICIPATION
The competition will open in February 2025.
Registrations are possible until May 31, 2025.
The submission deadline is October 31, 2025, in digital form.