1- The Municipality of Alassio in cooperation with Ponente Ligure Symphony Orchestra and IberClassica, announces the fourth edition of the:
“ITALIAN CONDUCTING COMPETITION ALCEO GALLIERA”
The competition will focus on repertoire written in the United Kingdom in homage to Edward Elgar, an illustrious honorary citizen of Alassio.
The competition is open to all musicians of any nationality without age limits.
The competition will take place in Alassio on April 2026 days 25 and 26 at the Auditorium Chiesa Anglicana next to the Edward Elgar’s House.
2- RULES
The competition is structurated in two main phases:
FIRST PHASE
The qualification phase begins on October 18, 2025 and ends on February 20, 2026 and consists of the video and CV examination. The candidates are required to send a video to show their skills. Any kind of ensemble is accepted, with the minimum number of two performing artists in case of arrangements (for example a reduction of a piece or score for two pianos).
SECOND PHASE
The semifinal round will take place on April 25th, 2026 in Alassio (Italy) with chamber orchestra.
The final consist of a public concert with symphony orchestra and will be held at the Auditorium Chiesa anglicana on April 26th, in Alassio (Italy).
1. Eligibility:
The competition is open to all conductors, of all nationalities and without age limits.
2. FIRST PHASE:
Applications for qualification phase can be sent from October 18, 2025 to February 20, 2026; candidates must send the link to one video that will be qualified by the jury.
VIDEO DETAILS:
The candidates are required to send a video to show the candidate’s skills. Any kind of ensemble is accepted, with the minimum number of two performing artists in case of arrangements (for example a reductions for two pianos)
CANDIDATES ADMITTED TO THE SECOND PHASE:
The admitted candidates (maximum number of admitted candidates is 60) will be informed by e-mail within February, the 28th; the names of the admitted candidates will also be published on the website;
The competition is structured as follows:
Semifinal: Chamber Orchestra April 25th.
Final: Symphony Orchestra April 26th.
3. Repertoire:
Semifinal: Chamber Orchestra.
Repertorio: Peter Warlock-Capriol Suite completa (100th anniversary of the composition of the piece 1926-2026)
Each competitor will have a maximum time of 10 minutes for the test.
Final: Symphony Orchestra.
- Edward Elgar Serenata op. 20
2. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Sinfonia n°1 KV16 in mi bemolle maggiore (composed in London)
3. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Sinfonia n°4 KV19 in re maggiore (composed in London)
Each competitor will have 45 minutes to rehearse the piece in the morning of the day concert.
Public in the concert is part of the competition, and each competitor will conduct the assigned piece.
The winner will be announced after the final concert, to the presence of the public.
4. Prizes:
First classified:
– 1 concert in the season 2027/2028 of the “Sanremo Symphony Orchestra”
– 1 concert/opera in the opera season 2027/2028 of the “Parma Opera Art”
– 1 concert/opera in the season 2027/2028 in a Symphony Orchestra in Bulgary by New Imagine Management
– Money Prize: $ 1000,00
Official Diploma
Second classified:
– 1 concert in the season 2027/2028 of the “Ponente Ligure Symphony Orchestra”
– 1 concert in the season 2027/2028 of the “Reggia di Colorno Opera Summer”
– Money prize: $ 750,00
– Official Diploma
Third classified:
-Money prize: $ 500,00
– Official Diploma
SPECIAL PRICES:
1) Tactus Label could choose a finalist candidate as a conductor for a new cd release.
All semifinalists will receive an official certificate.
The final round of the competition will be open to the public and managers of Artist Agencies. The Artistic Director of Tactus label will be present.
5. Jury
The jury for both the phases will be composed by the following members:
M° Massimo dal Prà President of the Jury
Members of the Jury:
M° Mario Carbotta (Italy)
Conductor, renowed flutist and Vice Director of the Conservatorio “Giuseppe Nicolini” of Piacenza
M° Eddy Lovaglio (Italy)
President and Manager of the “Parma Opera Art”
M° Massimo Dal Prà (Italy)
Conductor & Artistic Director of the “Ponente Ligure Symphony Orchestra”
M° Davide La Bollita (Bulgary)
Artistic Consultant of the “Opera Theatre” of Varna
M° Paolo Ponziano Ciardi (Italy)
Renowed Conductor
NB all the members of the jury will be present from the first day until the end of the competition. In case of illness or force majeure the organization will replace the missing member with another internationally acknowledged Maestro;
6. Registration
To get registered you must send the application form and the required documents by Midnight (12:00 p.m.) GMT on February, 20 2026.
For any information: iconducting@gmail.com
7. Fees
The application fee to the qualification phase consists in € 95,00 not refundable. Admitted candidates to the second phase will be required to pay the participation fee not refundable that consists in €420,00.
8.
Transfer and accommodation
Transfers
and accommodation are up to the participants;
9.
Media rights
The
candidates will by submitting their application hand over all rights
of the TV and radio recordings to the Promoter, this includes all
pictures taken on and off stage;
The candidates will also by
submitting their application give their permission and approval to
the Promoter to use the candidates’ names and pictures in press
releases;
10. Final notice
The participation to the competition implies the full acceptance of the present rules.
The organization reserves the right to modify the rules and the procedure for carrying out the competition in case of force majeure. In that case the organization will give prompt notification of any modification that may occur.
The decisions of the jury are final and cannot be appealed; jury members are not obliged to give any explanation to the participants for their decisions;
The participation fee will not be refunded for any reason, except only for the cancellation of the competition;
For any controversy the english text of the announcement must be considered;