1st Aural Skills Competition “Aures Spatiales”

“Spatial Ears”—this is the guiding motto of the 1st National Aural Skills Competition “Aures Spatiales”, organized by the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music and the Centre for Art Education. The competition will take place at the Academy of Music in Katowice on 6–7 March 2026. Participation is free of charge, and the application deadline is 6 February 2026.

“True musical hearing is something far greater—it involves analysis, interpretation, and synthesis, but above all: creativity. Behind it stands a kind of musical hearing that embraces everything. Those who possess it have what we call ‘spatial ears.’ Cosmic ears. Aures Spatiales,” explain the organizers.

The competition has a nationwide scope and is intended for students of secondary-level music schools (Level II) and students of higher music education institutions. In exceptional cases, students of Grade VII/VIII general education classes at Level I music schools may also be admitted.

The substantive program of the competition is based on the aural skills curriculum for Level II music schools in the student category, while the university category includes extended content. A particularly important aspect of the competition is the inclusion of tasks involving improvisation and imagination (creativity) within aural exercises, with special emphasis placed on these elements in the third stage of the competition.

The pool of examples used in the competition is drawn from musical literature as well as from original tasks specially composed by Polish composers for this event.

Applications must be submitted by completing the electronic registration form by 6 February 2026.

Jury:
Prof. dr hab. Magdalena Długosz (Chair)
Prof. dr hab. Szymon Bywalec
Dr hab. Elżbieta Szczurko
Dr hab. Adam Porębski
Dr hab. Przemysław Scheller
Dr hab. Magdalena Stochniol (Scientific Director of the Competition)
Dr Szymon Borys (Competition Secretary)

Competition website: https://www.aures-spatiales.pl/