Pontificio Istituto di Musica Sacra, Vatican
Erzbistum Köln, Germany
Freundeskreis Abtei Brauweiler, Germany
Instytut Musica Sacra, Warsaw, Poland
Polski Chór Kameralny, Gdańsk, Poland
Associazione Musica Ficta, Rimini, Italy
Hochschule für katholische Kirchenmusik und Musikpädagogik Regensburg, Germany
1. The competition is open to composers of any nationality.
2. Prize winners from 2024 are not eligible for entries.
3. Age limit: up to 35 years old (on 15 January 2025).
4. More than one score per composer is permitted (maximum three compositions per category).
5. Submitted compositions must be unpublished, should not have been performed in public previously and should not have been awarded a prize at any other competition.
6. Applicants can submit compositions to one or both of the categories below:
Category A:
A composition for unaccompanied mixed choir (up to a maximum of 16 voices) to a Latin Christian text.
Category B:
A liturgical composition for mixed choir (4 voices) with organ ad lib. to a Latin liturgical text.
7. Duration of the composition: Cat. A:3 – 8 minutes; Cat.B: 4 minutes
8. The organizers reserve the rights for the first performance of the prize-winning compositions.
The following prizes will be awarded:
Category A- work for choir
1st Prize: 2.500 Euro First performance in Gdańsk (Poland) by the Polski Chór Kameralny directed by Jan Łukaszewski; further performance in Vilnius by the Municipal Choir “Jauna Muzika” directed by Vaclovas Augustinas.
2nd Prize: 2.000 Euro First performance in Gdańsk (Poland) by the Polski Chór Kameralny directed by Jan Łukaszewski; further performance in Vilnius by the Municipal Choir “Jauna Muzika” directed by Vaclovas Augustinas.
3rd Prize: 1.000 Euro First performance in Gdańsk (Poland) by the Polski Chór Kameralny directed by Jan Łukaszewski; further performance in Vilnius by the Municipal Choir “Jauna Muzika” directed by Vaclovas Augustinas.
1.000 Euro Special Prize of General Consul of Republic of Poland for the best Polish composer
Category B- Liturgical piece for choir (and organ)
1st Prize: 2.000 Euro First performance during the „Musica Sacra Nova” Festival in Brauweiler (Germany).
2nd Prize: 1.500 Euro First performance during the „Musica Sacra Nova” Festival in Brauweiler (Germany).
3rd Prize: 1.000 Euro First performance during the „Musica Sacra Nova” Festival in Brauweiler (Germany).
Additional Prize
In case of ex-aequo, the prize will be split in two parts. The Jury reserves the right not to award a prize. The decision of the Jury is final.
1. The score should be submitted anonymously and marked with a letter emblem online as pdf file.
2. Another file marked with the same letter emblem should also be attached containing the following information:
a) composer’s full name
b) date and place of birth
c) nationality
d) address, telephone and e-mail address
e) title of the composition
3. The sealed envelope marked with the letter emblem must also enclose the following signed and dated declaration:
“I declare that this composition submitted to the Musica Sacra Nova 2025 competition has hitherto neither been published nor performed before a public audience nor awarded a prize in any other competition.”
4. The entries may be sent online: https://form.jotform.com/aercobologna/musicasacranova
The deadline for submission of scores is 15 January 2025.
Results will be announced by the begining of March 2025.
1. The competition is open to composers of any nationality.
2. Prize winners from 2024 are not eligible for entries.
3. Age limit: up to 35 years old (on 15 January 2025).
4. More than one score per composer is permitted (maximum three compositions per category).
5. Submitted compositions must be unpublished, should not have been performed in public previously and should not have been awarded a prize at any other competition.
6. Applicants can submit compositions to one or both of the categories below:
Category A:
A composition for unaccompanied mixed choir (up to a maximum of 16 voices) to a Latin Christian text.
Category B:
A liturgical composition for mixed choir (4 voices) with organ ad lib. to a Latin liturgical text.
7. Duration of the composition: Cat. A:3 – 8 minutes; Cat.B: 4 minutes
8. The organizers reserve the rights for the first performance of the prize-winning compositions.
The following prizes will be awarded:
Category A- work for choir
1st Prize: 2.500 Euro First performance in Gdańsk (Poland) by the Polski Chór Kameralny directed by Jan Łukaszewski; further performance in Vilnius by the Municipal Choir “Jauna Muzika” directed by Vaclovas Augustinas.
2nd Prize: 2.000 Euro First performance in Gdańsk (Poland) by the Polski Chór Kameralny directed by Jan Łukaszewski; further performance in Vilnius by the Municipal Choir “Jauna Muzika” directed by Vaclovas Augustinas.
3rd Prize: 1.000 Euro First performance in Gdańsk (Poland) by the Polski Chór Kameralny directed by Jan Łukaszewski; further performance in Vilnius by the Municipal Choir “Jauna Muzika” directed by Vaclovas Augustinas.
1.000 Euro Special Prize of General Consul of Republic of Poland for the best Polish composer
Category B- Liturgical piece for choir (and organ)
1st Prize: 2.000 Euro First performance during the „Musica Sacra Nova” Festival in Brauweiler (Germany).
2nd Prize: 1.500 Euro First performance during the „Musica Sacra Nova” Festival in Brauweiler (Germany).
3rd Prize: 1.000 Euro First performance during the „Musica Sacra Nova” Festival in Brauweiler (Germany).
Additional Prize
In case of ex-aequo, the prize will be split in two parts. The Jury reserves the right not to award a prize. The decision of the Jury is final.
1. The score should be submitted anonymously and marked with a letter emblem online as pdf file.
2. Another file marked with the same letter emblem should also be attached containing the following information:
a) composer’s full name
b) date and place of birth
c) nationality
d) address, telephone and e-mail address
e) title of the composition
3. The sealed envelope marked with the letter emblem must also enclose the following signed and dated declaration:
“I declare that this composition submitted to the Musica Sacra Nova 2025 competition has hitherto neither been published nor performed before a public audience nor awarded a prize in any other competition.”
4. The entries may be sent online: https://form.jotform.com/aercobologna/musicasacranova
The deadline for submission of scores is 15 January 2025.
Results will be announced by the begining of March 2025.
HONORARY PRESIDENT OF JURY – Professor Marian Borkowski
Boris Alvarado (Chile); Andrea Angelini (Italy); Vaclovas Augustinas (Lithuania); Irina Bogdanovitch (Russia); Vincenzo da Gregorio (Italy); Rihards Dubra (Latvia); Thierry Escaich (France); Eriks Esenvalds (Latvia); Johannes Geffert (Germany); Stephen Layton (United Kingdom); Jaakko Maentyjaervi (Finland); Richard Mailander (Germany); Walter Marzilli (Italy); Chifuru Matsubara (Japan); Vytautas Miŝkinis (Lithuania); Thomas Müller (Germany); Ivar Munk (Denmark); Victoria Poleva (Ukrain); Silvano Presciuttini (Italy); Enjott Schneider (Germany); Michael Utz (Germany); Volker Wangenheim † (Germany); Paul Wingfield (United Kingdom),
*
Andrzej Banasiewicz (Poland); Augustyn Bloch † (Poland); Marian Borkowski (Poland); Sławomir S. Czarnecki (Poland); Marek Jasiński † (Poland); Aleksander Kościów (Poland); Bartosz Kowalski (Poland); Jan Łukaszewski (Poland); Paweł Łukaszewski (Poland); Stanisław Moryto † (Poland); Edward Pałłasz † (Poland); Maria Pokrzywińska (Poland); Marian Sawa † (Poland); Kazimierz Szymonik (Poland); Jan Węcowski † (Poland); Maciej Zieliński (Poland); Ryszard Zimak † (Poland)
The jury of the 21st international composer’s competition Musica Sacra Nova 2025 met in Rome, Italy, on Saturday 1st March 2025. In total, 53 competitions were submitted from the following countries: Austria, Indonesia, USA, Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, Great Britain, Spain, Lithuania, Slovenia and Ukraine.
The Jury composed of: Andrea Angelini (Italy), Vaclovas Augustinas (Lithuania), Stephen Layton (England), Jan Łukaszewski (Poland), Pawel Łukaszewski (Poland), Robert Mehlhart (Vatican), Enjott Schneider (Germany) decided to award the following prizes:
I prize: Paweł Konkol (Poland) for Domine, quis habitabit, 2500 €.
II prize: Jan Łukaszewski (Poland) for Psalmus 91 , 2000 €.
III prize: Paweł Konkol (Poland) for Vox dilecti mei, 1000 €.
First performance in Gdańsk (Poland) by the Polski Chrór Kameralny directed by Jan Łukaszewskiand in Vilnius by the Muncipal Choir „Jauna Muzika” directed by Vaclovas Augustinas.
I prize: Aleksander Jan Szopa (Poland) for Regina Caeli, 2000 €.
II prize: Karolis Dabulskis (Lithuania) for Caritas abundant in omnia, 1500 €.
III prize: Claudio Ferrara (Italy) for Gloria, 1000 €.
First performance during the „Musica Sacra Nova” Festival 2025 in Brauweiler (Germany).
Special Prize of The Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Cologne for the best Polish composer in the amount of 1.000 € went to Aleksander Jan Szopa.
I prize: Paolo Orlandi (Italy) for Septem verba Domini Jesu Christi in cruce, 2500 €.
II prize: Motshwane William Pege (South Africa) for Angele Dei , 2000 €.
III prize: Wojciech Chałupka (Poland) for In paradisum 1000 €.
I prize: Paolo Orlandi (Italy) for Vulnerasti cor meum, 2000 €.
II prize: Daniele Croce (Italy) for Oculi omnium, 1500 €.
III prize: Janusz Krzysztof Korczak (Poland) for Litaniae Pretiosissimi Sanguinis Domini Nostri Iesu Christi, 1000 €.
CATEGORY A
mixed choir a cappella
I prize: Paolo Orlandi(Italy) for Septem verba Domini Jesu Christi in cruce, 2500 €.
II prize: Motshwane William Pege (South Africa) for Angele Dei , 2000 €.
III prize: Wojciech Chałupka (Poland) for In paradisum 1000 €.
CATEGORY B
liturgical composition for mixed choir and organ
I prize: Paolo Orlandi (Italy) for Vulnerasti cor meum, 2000 €.
II prize: Daniele Croce (Italy) for Oculi omnium, 1500 €.
III prize: Janusz Krzysztof Korczak (Poland) for Litaniae Pretiosissimi Sanguinis Domini Nostri Iesu Christi, 1000 €.
CHOIR CATEGORY
1st Prize – Paweł Konkol (Poland) Exsultet gaudio, 2500 €.
2nd Prize –Christopher Enloe (USA) Gloria patri, 2000 €.
3rd Prize –Anej Cerne (Slovenia) O sacrum convivium 1000 €.
LITURGICAL CATEGORY
1st Prize: Aleksander Jan Szopa (Poland) Gloria from Missa Papae Benedicti XVI, 2000 €.
2nd Prize: Paweł Konkol (Poland) for Tantum ergo sacramentum, 1500 €.
3rd Prize: Aleksander Jan Szopa (Poland) for Missa Brevis 1000 €.
Francisco Carbonell – O MAGNUM MYSTERIUM
Aleksandra Chmielewska – VENI EMMANUEL
Phillip Cooke – O SALUTARIS HOSTIA
Katarzyna Danel – MISERICORDIAS DOMINI
Szymon Godziemba-Trytek – BEATUS VIR
Szymon Godziemba-Trytek – MISERERE MEI DEUS MISERERE MEI
David Ho-yi Chan – AVE, REGINA CAELORUM
Janusz Krzysztof Korczak – CUM ENIM QUIETUM SILENTIUM CONTINERET OMNIA, …
Janusz Krzysztof Korczak – MISSA SANCTI JOSEPHI
Bartosz Kowalski – REX TREMENDAE MAIESTATIS
Jan Krutul – VICTIMAE PASCHALI LAUDES
Andrej Makor – O EMMANUEL
Michał Malec – SALVE REGINA
Ethan McGrath – NUNC DIMITTIS
Ethan McGrath – SANCTUS
Douglas Pew – AGNUS DEI
Douglas Pew – KYRIE
Irina Rebhuna – LIBERA ME, DOMINE
Artur Słotwiński – SEVEN LAST WORDS OF CHRIST
Jakub Szafrański – GLORIA DE ANGELIS
Michał Ziółkowski – AGNUS DEI
WINNERS 2022
CHOIR CATEGORY
1st Prize – Paweł Konkol (Poland) Dominus dixit ad me
2nd Prize ex aequo – Lukas Budkas (Lithuania) Eia Mater
2nd Prize ex aeguo – Jakub Szafrański (Poland) In te Domine speravi
3rd Prize – not awarded
LITURGICAL CATEGORY
1st Prize – not awarded
2nd Prize – not awarded
3rd Prize – not awarded
WINNERS 2021
CHOIR CATEGORY
1st Prize – Andreu Diport (Spain) O vos omnes
2nd Prize – Paolo Orlandi (Italy) In paradisum
3rd Prize – Michał Malec (Poland) Rorate caeli
LITURGICAL CATEGORY
1st Prize – Andreas Theobald (Germany) Gloria
2nd Prize– Dominik Puk (Poland) Kyrie et Sanctus
3rd Prize – Johannes X. Schachtner (Germany) Sequentia paschali
WINNERS 2020
CHOIR CATEGORY
1st Prize – Aleksander Jan Szopa (Poland) Ubi caritas
2nd Prize – Paolo Orlandi (Italy) Ave Regina caelorum
3rd Prize – Steven Heelein (Germany) O vos omnes
LITURGICAL CATEGORY
1st Prize – Fe Yuen (Hong Kong) Ave maris Stella
2nd Prize – Joanna Widera (Poland) Agnus Dei
3rd Prize – Johannes X. Schachtner (Germany) Missa brevissima
Special Prize of The Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Cologne
for the best Polish composer Aleksander Jan Szopa (Poland)
WINNERS 2019
CHOIR CATEGORY
1st Prize – Michał Malec (Poland) O vos omnes
2nd Prize – Beata Juchniewicz (Lithuania) Lacrimosa
3rd Prize – Jakub Szafrański (Poland) O vos omnes
LITURGICAL CATEGORY
1st Prize – Katarzyna Danel (Poland) Missa simplex: pro quacumque necessitate
2nd Prize – Aleksander Jan Szopa (Poland) De profundis
3rd Prize – Carles Prat Vives (Spain) Jubilate Deo
Special Prize of The Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Cologne
for the best Polish composer Michał Malec (Poland) O vos omnes
WINNERS 2018
CHOIR CATEGORY
1st Prize – Ethan McGrath (USA) Nunc dimittis
2nd Prize – Jakub Szafrański (Poland) Gloria de Angelis
3rd Prize – David Ho-yi Chan (United Kingdom)
Ave Regina caelorum
ORGAN CATEGORY
2nd Prize – Aleksandra Chmielewska (Poland)
Fantasia Veni, veni Emmanuel
3rd Prize – Michał Schaefer (Poland) Lumiere de Laube
LITURGICAL CATEGORY
1st Prize – Janusz Krzysztof Korczak (Poland) Missa Sancti Josephi
2nd Prize – Ethan McGrath (USA) Sanctus
Special Prize of The Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Cologne for the best Polish composer Jakub Szafrański (Poland) Gloria de Angelis
WINNERS 2017
CHOIR CATEGORY
1st Prize – Katarzyna Danel (Poland) Misericordias Domini
2nd Prize – Andrej Makor (Slovenia) O Emmanuel
3rd Prize – Janusz Krzysztof Korczak (Poland) ..Cum enim quietum silentium contineret omnia..
Special Prize of Archbishop of Cologne
Irina Rebhuna (Latvia) Libera me, Domine
ORGAN CATEGORY
2nd Prize – Michał Schaefer (Poland) …Et verbum caro factum est…And He dwells among us…
3rd Prize – Katarzyna Danel (Poland) Anastasis
Special Prize of The Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Cologne for the best Polish composer Katarzyna Danel (Poland)
WINNERS 2016
CHOIR CATEGORY
1st Prize – Szymon Godziemba-Trytek (Poland) Beatus vir
2nd Prize – Aleksandra Chmielewska (Poland) Veni Emmanuel
3rd Prize – Francisco Jose Carbonell Matarredona (Spain) O magnum mysterium
ORGAN CATEGORY
3rd Prize – Michał Malec (Poland) Meditation sur la Croix
WINNERS 2015
CHOIR CATEGORY
1st Prize – Marek Raczyński (Poland) Media vita
2nd Prize – Monika Sokaite (Lithuania) Lacrimosa
3rd Prize – Michał Ziółkowski (Poland) Ave maris stella
ORGAN CATEGORY
1st Prize – Francisco Jose Carbonell Matarredona (Spain)
Victimae paschali laudes
2nd Prize – Steven Heelein (Germany) In paradisum
3rd Prize – Michał Schaefer (Poland) Blue Ventus
WINNERS 2014
1st Prize – Michał Ziółkowski (Poland) Agnus Dei
2nd Prize – Jan Krutul (Poland) Victimae paschali laudes
3rd Prize – Szymon Godziemba-Trytek (Poland) Miserere mei, Deus
WINNERS 2013
Istprize Artur Słotwiński (Poland) Seven Last Words Of Christ
IInd prize Douglas Pew (USA) Kyrie
IIIrd prize Łukasz Farcinkiewicz (Poland) Pater noster
WINNERS 2012
Ist prize Bartosz Kowalski (Poland)
IInd prize Phillip Cooke (United Kingdom)
IIIrd prize Michał Malec (Poland)
Special Prize of Archbishop of Cologne Douglas Pew (USA)
WINNERS 2011
Ist prize Daniel J. Knaggs (USA)
IInd prize Łukasz Urbaniak (Poland)
IIIrd prize Mattia Culmone (Italy)
Special Prize of Archbishop of Rouen Alexander Campkin
(United Kingdom)
WINNERS 2010
Ist prize Aldona Nawrocka (Poland)
IInd prize Hilary Jocelyn Campbell (United Kingdom)
IIIrd prize Alexander Campkin (United Kingdom)
WINNERS 2009
Ist prize Emil Bernard Wojtacki (Poland)
IInd prize Łukasz Urbaniak (Poland)
IIIrd prize Adria Barbossa Torregrosa (Spain)
WINNERS 2008
Ist prize Izabela Adamska (Poland)
IInd prize Dariusz Przybylski (Poland)
IIIrd prize Rafał Janiak (Poland)
WINNERS 2007
Ist prize Michał Łukasz Niżyński (Poland)
IInd prize Stephan Nicolay (France)
IIIrd prize Cristian Gentilini (Italy)
IVth prize Kamil Kosecki (Poland)
Special Prize for the youngest winner Kamil Kosecki (Poland)
WINNERS 2006
IInd prize Hideyuki Nishimura (Japan)
IIIrd prize Agata Krawczyk (Poland)
ex aequo Jakub Kowalewski (Poland)
IVth prize Piotr Tabakiernik (Poland)
Special Prize for the youngest winner Piotr Tabakiernik (Poland)
WINNERS 2005
Ist prize Bartosz Kowalski (Poland)
IInd prize Nicholas Paul Vines (Australia)
IIIrd prize Ulrich Alexander Kreppein (Germany)
IVth prize Olga Hans (Poland)
Special Prize for the youngest winner
Ulrich Alexander Kreppein (Germany)
MUSICA SACRA POLISH COMPOSER’S COMPETITION
WINNERS 2004
Ist prize Łukasz Farcinkiewicz (Poland)
IInd prize Patryk Różycki (Poland)
IIIrd prize Wojciech Blecharz (Poland)
distinction Miłosz Aleksandrowicz (Poland)
distinction Katarzyna Głowicka (Poland)
MUSICA SACRA POLISH COMPOSER’S COMPETITION
WINNERS 2003
IInd prize Seweryn Ścibior (Poland)
IIIrd prize Sławomir Opaliński (Poland)
ex aequo Jerzy Wołosiuk (Poland)
distinction Łucja Szablewska (Poland)
distinction Ewelina Wdziekońska (Poland)
MUSICA SACRA POLISH COMPOSER’S COMPETITION
WINNERS 2002
Ist prize Aldona Nawrocka (Poland)
IInd prize Klaudia Pasternak (Poland)
MUSICA SACRA POLISH COMPOSER’S COMPETITION
WINNERS 2001
Ist prize Bartosz Kowalski (Poland)
IInd prize Joanna Garbacz (Poland)
IIIrd prize Mi-Jin Lee (South Korea)
distinction Aldona Nawrocka (Poland)
distinction Judyta Wrona (Poland)
MUSICA SACRA POLISH COMPOSER’S COMPETITION
WINNERS 2000
Ist prize Agnieszka Szydłowska (Poland)
ex aequo Bartosz Kowalski (Poland)
IInd prize Mi-Jin Lee (South Korea)
IIIrd prize Joanna Garbacz (Poland)
distinction Dariusz Łapiński (Poland)
distinction Leszek M. Gorecki (Poland)
MUSICA SACRA POLISH COMPOSER’S COMPETITION
WINNERS 1999
Ist prize Weronika Ratusińska (Poland)
IInd prize Michał Moc (Poland)
IIIrd prize Dariusz Łapiński (Poland)
distinction Piotr Wróbel (Poland)
distinction Piotr Wróbel (Poland)
MUSICA SACRA POLISH COMPOSER’S COMPETITION
WINNERS 1998
IInd prize Bartosz Kowalski (Poland)
IIIrd prize Marcel Chyrzyński (Poland)
ex aequo Anna Maria Dudzińska (Poland)
distinction Małgorzata Grabska (Poland)
distinction Bartosz Kowalski (Poland)
MUSICA SACRA POLISH COMPOSER’S COMPETITION
WINNERS 1997
Ist prize Miłosz Bembinow (Poland)
IInd prize Wojciech Widłak (Poland)
IIIrd prize Marcel Chyrzyński (Poland)
distinction Aleksander Kościów (Poland)
distinction Wojciech Widłak (Poland)
MUSICA SACRA POLISH COMPOSER’S COMPETITION
WINNERS 1996
IInd prize Maciej Żółtowski (Poland)
IInd prize Maciej Zieliński (Poland)
