International Conducting Competition Rotterdam

Last updated
International Conducting Competition Rotterdam
International Conducting Competition Rotterdam Logo.png
Genre Classical
Venue De Doelen
Location(s) Rotterdam, Netherlands
Inaugurated1-3 June 2022
Participants6
Prize money€25,000
Website iccr.nl

The International Conducting Competition Rotterdam (ICCR) is a conducting competition held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. [1]

For the competition, six conductors are selected to compete. Applicants need to be between 23 and 30 years of age. [2] After the selection, the six participants have a year-long training program. After this program, the main competition event begins. The participants compete in five rounds, each consisting of multiple rehearsals and a concert. Tickets can be bought for both the concert and the rehearsals. Every round has a different genre and orchestra. [3] [4] The genres of the rounds are proms, contemporary, classical, opera, and great symphonic works. [5] Participating orchestras include the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, Sinfonia Rotterdam, Klangforum Wien and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. The event is presented by pianist Christiaan Kuyvenhoven. [6] At the end of the competition, a prize is assigned for each round, and also a grand prize for the best allrounder. [7]

The event was initiated by former Concertgebouw director Martijn Sanders [3] and is organised in cooperation with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and De Doelen. [8] The competition offers young conductors opportunity to gain experience, because it is usually difficult to get access to an orchestra. [9] It is a member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions. [10]

The first edition was held in June 2022, with a selection in 2021. [11] The second edition was held in June 2025, with the selection taking place in June 2024. [12]

Finalists and winners

First edition (2022)

The first edition of the competition had 165 applicants from 50 countries, of which six finalists were selected: Bertie Baigent, Chloe Rooke, Martijn Dendievel, Luis Toro Araya, Joel Sandelson and Carlos Ágreda. [6] [13] One of the featured pieces was Night Flight commissioned to Dutch composer Joey Roukens. [14] The first prize for Best Allrounder was awarded to Bertie Baigent. [5]

Second edition (2025)

The second edition included a semi-final where 24 selected participants conducted live in Rotterdam. [2] The commisioned piece was A Portrait of Six Conductors by Mathilde Wantenaar. [3] The six finalists were Luis Castillo Briceño, Yukuang Jin, Jakub Przybycień, Rodrigo Sámano Albarrán, Miguel Sepúlveda and Sam Weller. [15] [16] The joint winners of the Best Allrounder prize were Luis Castillo Briceño and Miguel Sepúlveda. [8]

References

  1. ↑ "About us". International Conducting Competition Rotterdam. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
  2. 1 2 "International Conducting Competition Rotterdam 2025". Global Foundation for the Performing Arts. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  3. 1 2 3 van der Lint, Peter (2025-06-06). "In Rotterdam zoekt men dezer dagen naar een dirigeertalent à la Mäkelä" [In Rotterdam these days they are looking for a conducting talent like Mäkelä]. Trouw (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2025-06-07. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  4. ↑ "Codarts students take on ICCR: the International Conducting Competition Rotterdam". Codarts . 2025-06-02. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  5. 1 2 Gandolahage, Rahul (2022-06-04). "Bertie Baigent is de eerste winnaar van nieuw dirigentenconcours in Rotterdam" [Bertie Baigent is the first winner of the new conducting competition in Rotterdam]. NRC (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2025-06-20. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  6. 1 2 Varney, Clare (2022-06-12). "Redefining the World of Classical Music Competitions". The Spidy Editor. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  7. ↑ Stokkers, Maartje (2022-05-31). "Zes kandidaten strijden in Rotterdam om de prijs voor beste dirigent" [Six candidates compete in Rotterdam for the prize for best conductor]. De Volkskrant (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2024-03-11. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  8. 1 2 "Twee dirigenten delen eerste prijs Rotterdams concours" [Two conductors share first prize in Rotterdam competition]. Reformatorisch Dagblad (in Dutch). 2025-06-16. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  9. ↑ Gandolahage, Rahul (2022-06-04). "Bertie Baigent is de eerste winnaar van nieuw dirigentenconcours in Rotterdam" [Bertie Baigent is the first winner of the new conducting competition in Rotterdam]. NRC (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2025-06-20. Retrieved 2025-08-23. (...) is het voor jonge dirigenten moeilijk om ervaring op te doen.[(...) it's difficult for young conductors to gain experience.]
  10. ↑ "Rotterdam - International Conducting Competition Rotterdam". World Federation of International Music Competitions . Retrieved 2025-08-22.
  11. ↑ "International Conducting Competition Rotterdam". www.rotterdamsphilharmonisch.nl. 2022-06-01. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
  12. ↑ "Second edition". International Conducting Competition Rotterdam. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
  13. ↑ "Over de ICCR". Symphony.live (in Dutch). Retrieved 2025-08-22.
  14. ↑ Jeroen (2022-04-04). "International Conducting Competition Rotterdam starts". Inside Rotterdam Magazine. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  15. ↑ "International Conducting Competition Rotterdam 2025". NPO Klassiek (in Dutch). 2025-06-11. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
  16. ↑ "VC LIVE | International Conducting Competition Rotterdam - Final Round". The Violin Channel. 2025-05-13. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
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