The Radom Chamber Orchestra announces call for applications for the 6th Krzysztof Penderecki International Composers' Competition “Arboretum”.
The subject of the competition is original works for string orchestra. The deadline for submitting scores is September 10, 2025.
The competition was born from a mutual need – felt by both composers and listeners – to experience art. In the first stage, a three-member international jury consisting of Piotr Moss, Paul Patterson, and Maciej Żółtowski will select six works. In the second stage, during the final concert, these six compositions will be performed by the Radom Chamber Orchestra. It is at this point that the head juror will decide on the winners.
It is worth noting that Prof. Krzysztof Penderecki, one of Poland’s most distinguished composers, was the founder of the competition and, until 2019, held the deciding vote in choosing the work deemed most deserving of special recognition. In 2023, his former student and a prominent figure in Polish musical culture, Joanna Wnuk-Nazarowa, accepted the role of jury chair – a position she will continue to hold this year.
The final concert will take place on November 30 in the Krzysztof Penderecki Concert Hall in Radom.
Each edition of the competition also results in a collector's edition CD series featuring recordings of the final concert.
Cash prizes:
- 1st Prize – 30,000 PLN
- 2nd Prize – 10,000 PLN
- 3rd Prize – 5,000 PLN
- Audience Award – 6,000 PLN
The competition is co-financed by the Municipality of Radom (designated grant of 110,000 PLN), and supported by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage from the Culture Promotion Fund as part of the “Music” program run by the National Institute of Music and Dance (grant of 50,000 PLN).
Main patron: International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp. z o.o., a manufacturer of innovative solutions for the tobacco industry (contribution of 60,000 PLN).
Patronat medialny nad konkursem objęło Polskie Centrum Informacji Muzycznej POLMIC.
Wszelkie informacje można znaleźć na stronie internetowej: www.rok.art.pl/wydarzenia/arboretum/
