X JORMA PANULA INTERNATIONAL CONDUCTING COMPETITION
| The first prize | 11 000 euros |
| The second prize | 8 000 euros |
| Third prize | 6 000 euros |
The official name of the competition is the X Jorma Panula International Conducting Competition, Vaasa, Finland. The Jorma Panula Conducting Competition is among the most prestigious conducting competitions in Europe and is now arranged for the tenth time in Vaasa.
From the very beginning, conductor, composer, academician Jorma Panula has been the Artistic Director and Chairman of the competition, which is held every three years. In year 2027, the jury consists of Jorma Panula, chairman, professor, conductor Sian Edwards (Great Britain, professor, conductor Bjarte Engeset (Norway), conductor Anna-Maria Helsing (Finland) and conductor Pietro Rizzo (Italy). One representant for each competition orchestra will also be in the jury. The competition orchestras are the Vaasa City Orchestra and the Jyväskylä Sinfonia. The Secretary of the Jury is music director Michael Claussen.
The Jury
Rules
- Competitors must be citizens of European Union member states, Great Britain, Switzerland, Norway or Iceland.
- The upper age limit is 40 years. The competition is open to applicants born after 5th of September 1987.
- Twenty competitors will be selected among the applicants by a professional team, led by Prof. Jorma Panula. Every approved contestant will be personally contacted by the secretary about the result.
- Application is made online on website https://www.panulacompetition.fi/register . Application period is from 1st of December 2026 to 28th of February 2027. The platform opens 1.12.2026.
- Attachments:
- Curriculum Vitae (please provide no more than 10 items). Please provide professional information, not exceeding 400 words.
- One high resolution photo (new/recent), digital format jpeg, jpg, pdf (max 4 MB, resolution 300dpi).
- Attachments (cont.):
- Video recording: Attached link which includes digitally recorded video material for downloading (on Youtube, Vimeo). The video recording must include material that shows the competitor conducting an orchestra in rehearsal and/or concert situations. The total length of video recordings must be about 10-15 minutes in length and recorded from the orchestras point of view. Very low picture/sound quality can be discarded.
- The selection will be made on the basis of the recordings by the end of April 2027.
- The non-refundable registration fee is 60 € and must be paid together with the application (attach receipt). A fee of 550 € will later be charged from the 20 contestants chosen for the competition. The fee covers necessary accommodation and events arranged for the contestants.
The orchestras of 2027
VAASA CITY ORCHESTRA
Regular orchestral concerts in Vaasa date back to 1930, when an Orchestra Society was founded in the town. In 1974, the orchestra became part of the City of...
JYVÄSKYLÄ SINFONIA
Jyväskylä Sinfonia is the jewel of classical music in Central Finland. Its heart beats in Jyväskylä and its sound resonates throughout the region. The...
Contact
Producer
+358 (0)50 911 33 49
monica.johnson@panulacompetition.fi
Secretary of the international jury
michael.claussen@panulacompetition.fi
The Competition Office is located at Vaasa City Hall during the competition.
Street address: Senaatinkatu 1, 65100 Vaasa
Postal address: PO Box 3, FI-65101 VAASA
info@panulacompetition.fi
panulacompetition.fi