2027 EDITION · GENERAL RULES
Your guide to entering DV Young Sounds: eligibility, application materials and the path from selection to recording.
Applications open1 Nov 2026
Applications close30 Sep 2027
Results by15 Nov 2027
Recordings completed by15 Dec 2028
On this page
01 / Eligibility
- The competition is open to soloists and chamber ensembles of any nationality, from solo to sextet, with or without piano. All instruments and voices are welcome.
- Musicians must be aged 18 to 33 at the time of registration. In ensembles of three or more musicians, one member may be older than 33.
- Previous winners may not enter. Previous participants may apply again, whether or not their projects were previously considered suitable.
- For an ensemble, the representative musician may submit the application on behalf of the group. The musicians in the application must be the same as those in the submitted video; changes to the formation are not permitted after submission.
- A musician may enter as a soloist and/or with different ensembles. A separate participation fee is required for each project.
02 / Programme
Submit a coherent recording proposal that communicates your artistic vision. The programme is freely chosen, but works by living composers or composers who died after 1953 are not permitted.
For each work, include the composer’s full name, the title, the arranger if applicable, and the approximate duration. State the total programme duration.
Programme format
Composer’s full name: Title of the work (arranger, if applicable) — approximate duration
Total programme duration: … minutes
03 / What to submit
Applications are accepted only through the online application form. Prepare:
- Your proposed recording programme, with individual and total durations.
- A YouTube or Vimeo link to a performance lasting 15–30 minutes, related to your proposed programme.
- A curriculum for each musician, with a maximum of 300 words per person.
- Proof of payment of the participation fee, as requested in the application form.
Submit all requested information by 30 September 2027. Applications, curricula and concert proposals sent by email or by other means will not be considered. Only the requested materials will be evaluated.
04 / Video guidelines
- Use one fixed camera. The performers’ hands and faces must be clearly visible.
- Do not edit the recording or add video effects, artificial reverberation or other effects that modify the sound.
- The video must show the same musicians named in the application.
- Upload the performance to YouTube or Vimeo as an unlisted video, accessible to the jury through the submitted link.
- The performance must last 15–30 minutes and relate to the proposed recording programme.
Title and description
Use the title DVYS + Soloist or Ensemble Name, for example “DVYS Duo Example”. In the description, list every performer and instrument, followed by the works performed and their timestamps.
Check the link before submitting: the jury must be able to watch the video.
05 / Fees & application
The participation fee is charged per project and is non-refundable.
- Solo: €100 · Duo: €120 · Trio: €140
- Quartet: €160 · Quintet: €180 · Sextet: €200
Payment instructions and the receipt upload will be available when applications open on the Apply page.
Applications open on 1 November 2026.
Closing date: 30 September 2027.
06 / Evaluation & prizes
The jury will assess the proposed programme and the interpretation demonstrated in the submitted video. Each jury member may award up to 20 points, taking into account Programme and Interpretation. The maximum total score is 60 points.
The First Prize will be awarded to the project receiving the highest total score.
In the event of a tie, the ensemble with the lower average age will be ranked first.
The competition offers a First Prize with a total value of €10,000, including a €4,000 monetary award, and a Second Prize with a total value of €5,000, including a €1,000 monetary award. See Prizes for the full benefits.
Results will be announced by 15 November 2027.
07 / Recording conditions
Recording dates must be agreed within 30 days of the results announcement, between the winning artists and the technical staff. Recordings must be completed by 15 December 2028.
- The artistic direction chooses the recording location; changes of location are not permitted. Recordings usually take place at Da Vinci Publishing’s recording space in northern Italy.
- All projects are carried out with the technicians and experts appointed by the artistic committee.
- Da Vinci Publishing provides its recording space, recording equipment and Steinway & Sons Model D piano.
- Special requests, instrument rentals and costs not expressly included in these rules or the listed prize benefits are borne by the musicians.
- Travel expenses are borne by the musicians.
08 / Jury
- Edmondo Filippini
President, Founder and Artistic Director of Da Vinci Publishing - Gabriele Zanetti
Music Producer and Sound Engineer - Yumi Shimizu
Musicologist and Soprano
09 / Acceptance & contact
By submitting the application form, participants accept these competition rules.
For organisational reasons, the Competition Management may modify the dates. Any changes will be announced on the official competition website.
For matters covered by these rules, the decision of the President of the Society is final.
Questions: edition@davinci-edition.com.