RULES
Art.1 –
The Musical Cultural Association AULOS, in collaboration with the Municipality of Noci (Bari), calls the
22th International Clarinet Competition “Saverio Mercadante”.
The twenty-second edition will take place from 15 to 18 October, 2026
in Noci (BARI, Italy) in the Congress Hall of the Hotel Punto Verde.
Art. 2 –
The International Competition aims at promoting and spreading musical culture and at the same time artistic patrimony of the places welcoming the competition activity.
The Competition addresses to soloist clarinettists and it consists of three sections:
- SENIOR SOLOISTS (born after September 10, 1991 | no older than 35 years) –
application deadline September 10, 2026 - JUNIOR SOLOISTS (born after October 3, 2006 | no older than 20 years) –
application deadline October 3, 2026 - YOUNG SOLOISTS (born after October 3, 2011 | no older than 15 years) –
application deadline October 3, 2026
Art. 3 –
The application to the competition implies the acceptance of all rules.
Art. 4 –
The application will be submitted exclusively through the ONLINE REGISTRATION, from the competition website https://mercadantecompetition.com/registration/
no later than 10 September 2026 for the SENIOR SOLOISTS section and no later than
3 October 2026 for the JUNIOR & YOUNG SOLOISTS section.
Attachments required for application:
- Payment of the membership fee to participate in the competition takes place directly through the competition website on the registration page with the following amounts:
- € 100,00 category SENIOR SOLOISTS (credit commission charged to the sender);
- € 60,00 category JUNIOR and YOUNG SOLOISTS (credit commission charged to the sender);
- video recording, required only for the SENIOR SOLOISTS section as eliminatory round / pre selection;
- one recent black-and-white photo size 9×12 cm;
- biography, including musical studies and biography written in Italian or English;
- copy of an identification document
Art.5 –
The videos, required for the eliminatory round only for the SENIOR SOLOISTS, cannot be edited or processed.
Cuts, editing or other technological manipulation are not permitted.
Two different videos must be produced, one for the Sonata and one for the solo piece,
and the relevant links must be sent using the YouTube platform, uploaded as private videos.
The applicants who have passed through to the 2nd Round will be notified by email before
September 21, 2026.
Art.6 –
The auditions of the competition will be public.
Competitors are not obliged to perform pieces from memory.
The order of performance in the various auditions can be chosen freely by the competitor.
Competitors can participate in more than one category.
Before the audition, candidates must deliver 2 copies of the works that will be performed.
Art.7 –
The order of performance will be determined by the drawing of a letter that will take place on the first day of the competition
and it will be valid for all stages of selection.
The drawing will take place in the presence of competitors.
Art.8 –
Any recording and relevant radio or TV transmissions and photos authorized by the organization will not imply any remuneration of performers.
Art.9 –
The winners must perform in concert attire during the final awards evenings, one of which will be held in Noci (Bari)
on 18 OCTOBER 2026 at 8:30pm for all sections.
Any refusal will imply the cancellation of the prize.
Art.10 –
The jury will be composed by eminent international musicians.
Art.11 –
The jury has the right not to award prizes having not an adequate artistic level and of awarding any ex-aequo prizes.
The jury’s decision is final and cannot be appealed.
Art.12 –
The Organizing Committee will provide accompanist pianists for participants integrating the membership fee with
€ 30,00.
The SENIOR, JUNIOR and YOUNG SOLOISTS will integrate such fee upon arrival at the competition secretariat.
Participants are permitted to bring their own accompanists.
Art.13 –
Travel and accommodation expenses will be paid by the participants.
The Organization is available for suggestions about the best logistic offers and any convention with accommodation facilities.
Art.14 –
Money prizes are considered inclusive of tax.
Art.15 –
If necessary, the Organizing Committee reserves the right of modifying these rules and, in that case,
changes will be communicated to the parties concerned in good time.
