Composition competition

In 2026, Cantabile vzw will once again host the biennial “Cantabile Composition Competition.”

FOR WHOM

Open to anyone residing or studying in Belgium, who is under the age of 31 as of January 1, 2026.

WHAT

The task involves composing a piano piece suitable for the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th grade of music schools in Belgium.

WHEN

Entries must be submitted by April 1, 2026, via the online registration form.

PRIZES

There is a €750 prize for each category. The awarded compositions will be performed as compulsory pieces at the next Cantabile Piano Competition. The winning works will be published by Metropolis.
Please read the complete competition rules at the bottom of this page. If you have any additional questions, feel free to email compositie@cantabilewedstrijd.be.

1. In 2026, Cantabile vzw will once again organize the biennial “Cantabile Composition Competition.”
2. Anyone with Belgian nationality or studying at a Belgian music school or conservatory who has not turned 31 by January 1, 2026, is eligible to participate.
3. The registration fee to participate is €30 (per participant, not per submitted work in the case of multiple submissions). This should be paid to our Cantabile account IBAN BE58 4567 0778 5179, by April 1, 2026, with your last name and the title of the work as a reference.
4. The task involves composing a new piano piece of:
   • 2 to 3 minutes, suitable for the 2nd grade music school in Belgium (Category A), and/or
   • 3 to 4 minutes, suitable for the 3rd grade music school in Belgium (Category B), and/or
   • 4 to 5 minutes, suitable for the 4th grade music school in Belgium (Category C).
   • Note: it is recommended to sit down with a piano teacher to assess whether the pieces seem suitable for this purpose. As an example, you can also listen to the performances of the required works on our YouTube channel.
5. Entries must be submitted by April 1, 2026. The submitted works will be evaluated anonymously by a committee of eminent personalities from the music world. The jury will convene on May 1, 2026. The winners and the composition of the jury will be announced via Cantabile’s website and social media on May 3, 2026.
6. Submissions should be uploaded as PDFs via the form on our website. Your name should not appear on the score or in the filename; in other words, the score itself must remain entirely anonymous. The jury will only learn your name upon the publication of the winners.
7. The criteria used for evaluation are the suitability for the respective grade and the originality of the work. You may use “extended techniques” but not “preparations.” No instruments other than the piano are allowed. If you wish to use a “tape,” you can send the audio file as an mp3 to compositie@cantabilewedstrijd.be.
8. The copyright and ownership of the submitted works remain with the composer. By uploading a score, you grant Cantabile vzw permission to use your submission and name on their website and social media, such as in the announcement of the winners.
9. The Maatschappij Linkerscheldeoever awards a cash prize of €750 to the winning works (one per category). The winning compositions will be performed as compulsory pieces by the finalists of the respective category during the final of the next Cantabile Piano Competition. The winning works will be published by Metropolis, who will receive exclusive rights for this purpose.

The jury, consisting of M. Verlaak, D. Janssens, M. Coppens, M. Bisceglia, chaired by P. Swerts with J. Lust as secretary, announced on 1/5/2024 the winners as follows:

• Category A: “Dirty Dishes – Vieze Vaat” by Job Clement
• Category B: No winner
• Category C: “Miroir Nocturne” by Andreas Moulin

Congratulations to the winners! Their works were performed during the preliminary round of the Cantabile Piano Competition on January 25 and 26, 2025, and during the final on March 2, 2025. More information can be found on our concert page.