INTERNATIONAL COMPOSITION COMPETITION FOR A SACRED MUSIC WORK
“FRANCESCO SICILIANI” AWARD
Sixth edition, 2023
The “Francesco Siciliani” Award started in 2012, following the suggestion of H. Em. Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture. After the success of the first four editions, which took place every two years starting from 2012 with over 650 scores arrived from all over the world, the fifth edition of the International Composition Competition for a work of sacred music is kicking off «Francesco Sicilians ». The initiative was born from the collaboration between the Perugia Musica Classica Onlus Foundation, the Umbrian Music Festival and the aforementioned Pontifical Council for Culture.
The theme of the Competition is a composition for choir, with or without organ, on a compulsory text, lasting between five (5) and fifteen (15) minutes. For the 2023 edition, the candidate should use the entire text of the AGNUS DEI
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.
The competition is open to composers of any nationality and without age limits. The expiration date of the notice is June 1, 2023. According to the custom of the Competition, the scores, in addition to being sent in the manner prescribed by the bando, from December 2019 they can also be uploaded directly to the Perugia Musica Classica Foundation website following a procedure specifically developed to encourage the widest participation and the reduction of shipping costs.
The Jury, chaired by Berislav Šipuš (composer) and composed of Lorenzo Donati (director), Gary Graden (director), Rino Murakami (composer) and Marcello Filotei (composer and artistic secretary of the Competition), will review the submitted works and choose the three finalist pieces, which will be performed on Sept. 16, 2023, as part of the UMBRA MUSICAL SAGRA 2023, by the Choir of St. Jacob’s Cathedral in Stockholm conducted by Gary Graden.
Any television, radio filming, recording and broadcasting of the winning score on websites are authorized by the author of the composition at no additional charge to the organization.
After the performance, the Jury will award the first prize. The attending audience will be able to express their opinion through an electronic vote, and the critics will award a merit mention. The awarding of the winner will take place
over the course of the same evening. The authors of the three finalist works will be hosted at the organization’s expense for rehearsal and performance days.