First started as a violin contest from 1950 to 1965, the competition later featured more instrumental disciplines to recruit new musicians and gradually grew to an international highlight. Held in the world famous German town with a 350-year history of building high quality brass and string instruments, Markneukirchen also presents the most significant museum of musical instruments in Europe that keeps 3000 items collected around the world. Focusing mainly on string and wind instruments, the event is known for its high artistic quality and serves as a platform to promote young musicians. The competition gains further importance by the participation of leading and world famous personalities such as Prof. Julius Berger, Prof. Peter Damm and Prof. Kurt Masur. The 2012 edition sets its categories in the horn and the tuba. This year a CD-pre-selection will be held before the competition for the first time. Finalists will perform together with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Theater Plauen/Zwickau.

Established since 1994 in Romania as part of the EUROPAfest , the event aims to discover and promote young talents via combining competition with master-classes and concerts. The competition features five disciplines, the violin, flute, clarinet, piano and composition, on rotation annually. A division of four age categories is also exclusive here, which ranges from the youngest, 5 to 6 years old, to the master category of an international contest, 18 to 30 years old- inviting talents from all age groups to participate. Prize winners will be invited to perform in the closing EUROPAfest gala concert under live broadcast. The 2012 edition is set to feature the violin category. Jury members will be announced shortly.

First held in 2002, the biennial competition for woodwind has taken place every two years in the beautiful city of Rovereto. Organised by the Italian Mozart Association, it aims to promote the most talented young performers from all over the world. The repertoire includes a compulsory Mozart’s concerto for each instrument. A gala concert presenting the five first prize winners with the Haydn Orchestra will draw the competition to an end.

Founded in 2002, the Montreal International Musical Competition has been an important platform to showcase young music talents. As a member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions since 2004, it has aimed to keep the spirit of classical music as well as to discover and reward young performers. Voice, violin and piano are featured in turns over a three-year basis. The 2012 edition is dedicated to voice. Presided by MIMC president and co-founder André Bourbeau, the jury panels also include Sir Thomas Allen, Dmitry Vdvovin, Renata Scotto and many more important vocal figures in the opera world. Winner of the First Prize will engage in a Career Development Programme atop cash prizes.

Named after the prominent Danish composer, conductor and violinist, the competition is regarded as one of the most authoritative and prestigious music contest in the world. Under the patronage of Margarathe II, Queen of Denmark, the event was founded in the late 1970's by Odense Symphony Orchestra's then Chief Conductor, Karol Stryja and leader Peder Elbæk as well as by the City's Mayor Mr Verner Dalskov. Comprising of the violin, the clarinet, the flute and the organ disciplines, the competition is held annually with a rotating category each year. Atop cash sponsorships, winners will be offered a contract under famous artist management companies in Europe. The 2012 edition feature the violin discipline. Since its first edition in 1980, the violin competition has been held every four years - plus an extraordinary edition in 1999 in New York City. Jury members this year include Milan Vitek, Leon Spierer, Cho-Liang Lin, Lina Yu and more authoritative figures. The winner will be invited to perform in the Copenhagen Summer Festival as well as the opening concert of the 5th Carl Nielsen International Clarinet Competition next year.