16 Compositions Shortlisted by the Preselection Jury
The Preselection Jury of the Bartók World Competition–Composition 2026 has shortlisted 16 pieces, including several works by Hungarian composers, for consideration by the International Jury, chaired by the world-renowned Swedish composer Anders Hillborg.
Here are the pseudonyms of the 16 shortlisted composers. Please note that the published order is alphabetical and it does not reflect any ranking.
232disaster232
ABC 123
BenArticolato
caelum
Fagus Sylvatica
Fructus
hoquetus
July-Canary
Martinho Sande
MicroPolyphony
Porbus
SABOTAGE
Sarma28
Viv
Windful
Zarties
“We are delighted to have received such a large number of submissions from around the world, 144 compositions by 136 talents from 36 countries. This shows that the Bartók Competition is gaining international recognition, while also drawing attention to the enduring importance of Béla Bartók’s music and Hungarian musical culture,” said composer Gyula Fekete, Chair of the Preselection Jury, Head of Department at the Liszt Academy, and Artistic Director of the Composition Round.
The other members of the Preselection Jury were composers Máté Bella, Balázs D. Kecskés, Péter Tornyai and Gergely Barta, all members of the Liszt Academy’s teaching staff. They received the scores and accompanying audio recordings of the submitted compositions, together with the composers’ brief notes, in anonymized form via an electronic link.
The International Jury will make its decision in October. Members of the prestigious panel:
Anders Hillborg—One of Sweden’s leading contemporary composers, Anders Hillborg has received commissions from major orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Dr. Natalie Nicolas—Sydney-based composer, researcher and lecturer Dr. Natalie Nicolas has written for leading Australian ensembles and orchestras, including the Australian String Quartet, Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and her music has been performed internationally.
Matthew Aucoin—American composer, conductor and writer Matthew Aucoin, a 2018 MacArthur Fellow, is particularly acclaimed for his operatic work, which has been presented by institutions including the Metropolitan Opera, Los Angeles Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Xiaogang Ye—One of China’s leading contemporary composers, Xiaogang Ye is a professor at the Central Conservatory of Music and an international honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Gyula Fekete—Professor and Head of the Composition Department at the Liszt Academy, Gyula Fekete is an award-winning composer whose works span numerous genres, including opera, orchestral and chamber music.
The prize-winning compositions will be presented at the Gala Concert in the Solti Hall of the Liszt Academy on 29 November 2026.
Two selected pieces from among the prize-winning compositions will be included in the repertoire of the 2027 Bartók World Competition for String Quartets.
Supported by the Hungarian state, the First Prize is €5,000, the Second Prize €3,000, and the Third Prize €2,000.
