The 8th Piotr Perkowski National Composers' Competition

The Karol Szymanowski State Music Schools in Toruń announced the 8th Piotr Perkowski National Composers' Competition. The competition is open to students of secondary music schools in Poland — composers born no earlier than 2004. This year’s edition is organized in cooperation with the Faculty of Fine Arts at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń and features an interdisciplinary format that bridges the visual and musical arts. The deadline for submissions is August 30, 2026.

An integral part of the project consists of video materials (animations), which will outline an interpretative context for the submitted musical works. Participants are required to make use of the materials provided by the organizers in their creative process. The video content has been created by students and alumni of the Faculty of Fine Arts at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. The project aims to create a collaborative space for young creators from various artistic disciplines. Its implementation offers mutual benefits: composers gain the opportunity to present their music in an audiovisual format, while the animators receive an original musical layer that enriches their works.

The objective of the competition is to compose a piece inspired by one of the four film animations provided by the Organizer. The work must be precisely synchronized with the chosen animation and serve as its original musical score.

The pieces will be performed by the school symphony orchestra and soloists; therefore, the level of difficulty should correspond to the capabilities of students at a secondary music school level.

Each participant may submit works in one or both categories; however, the total number of submissions must not exceed three. Works must be submitted anonymously. Submitted pieces must not have been previously published or awarded in any other composition competitions.

The competition includes two stages: in the first stage, the Jury will select the scores qualified for performance; in the second - the selected works will be performed during the final concert. The final concert will take place on December 11, 2026 at the Concert Hall of the State Music Schools in Toruń, at the end of which the Jury will announce the prizes.

In each category, three cash prizes will be awarded. The total prize pool is 9,000 PLN. In addition, the laureates will receive non-cash prizes and diplomas.

Media patronage: Polish Music Information Centre POLMIC.

Detailed information available at: https://zsm.torun.pl/viii-ogolnopolski-konkurs-kompozytorski-im-piotra-perkowskiego/