The International Composition Competition in Abu Dhabi enhances the city's influential presence as a global music hub, an innovation incubator, and a destination for creative excellence. According to Du Yun, the first-winning compositions will be professionally recorded under the 'Platform for Composition and Musical Documentation' initiative by the Abu Dhabi Festival. Huda Al-Hamis announced that the Abu Dhabi Festival, the flagship event organized by the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, has announced Daniele Gasparini as the first-prize winner in the orchestral category for his composition 'In the Air', and Andrei Zubits as the first-prize winner in the piano category for his composition 'Openings for Mirrors' during the inaugural edition of the Abu Dhabi International Composition Competition. The competition, which launched last May, will contribute to strengthening Abu Dhabi's global standing as a UNESCO City of Music, a hub for musical innovation, and a beacon of creative distinction. Huda Ibrahim Al-Hamis, Founder and Artistic Director of the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism and the festival, stated: 'Believing in the stature of arts and music as a universal language for dialogue, and the role of creativity as a space for intellectual and cognitive meeting and cultural exchange, we launched the competition as the first international composition competition in the Middle East, aiming to enhance Abu Dhabi's influential presence as a global music city, an incubator for innovation, and a destination for creative excellence by honoring young composers and celebrating their musical works.' She added: 'In its inaugural edition, with over 165 entries from 47 countries, the competition, in its two categories of orchestral works and solo piano pieces, offered an opportunity to shed light on the rising voices in contemporary music by supporting creative talents and fostering artistic innovation that contributes to shaping the future of music.' She noted that the competition embodies the commitment to supporting composers, documenting their innovative works under the 'Platform for Composition and Musical Documentation' initiative by the Abu Dhabi Festival, and presenting them to local and global audiences. The winners were selected by a distinguished jury panel comprising an elite of renowned international composers, including Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and jury chairman Du Yun, composer Shin Yi, composer and conductor Elmar Lampson, Kazakhstani composer Egerim Silova, composer and world-renowned organist Naji Hakim, and producer Robert Townson. Du Yun, in turn, said: 'The jury expressed a deep admiration for the breadth of vision and creative imagination that characterized the entries submitted in the competition's inaugural edition. We also witnessed a rich and striking sonic tapestry where distinctive regional creations interacted within a sophisticated global musical dialogue. This powerful convergence of cultural depth and comprehensive human dimension embodies the essence of what we aspired to discover, and affirms the vital role this new platform plays on the global music stage.' He added: 'Selecting from this exceptional and diverse pool of talents was a profound honor and an inspiring experience by all measures. We eagerly look forward to hearing the voices we celebrate today and how they will contribute to shaping the future of music in the years to come. Recording of the Compositions. Each first-prize winner will receive 130,000 dirhams, a professional recording opportunity, and a world premiere with internationally renowned partner orchestras during the 23rd Abu Dhabi Festival next April. The second-prize winners in the orchestral category—Nadeem Trabai for his 'Sinfonietta in C Major' and in the piano category—Tarek Yamani for his 'Dabka on Saba Maqam'—received an award of 50,000 dirhams. The third-prize winners in the orchestral category—Thomas Cornell for 'Fear, Anger, Fire' and in the piano category—Bruno Flahik for 'Mirage Toccata'—received 25,000 dirhams. We eagerly look forward to hearing the voices we celebrate and how they will contribute to shaping the future of music.'
