Premio del Conservatorio (Conservatorio di Musica 'Giuseppe Verdi' di Milano)

What the Premio del Conservatorio gives you

You win prize money of 750 to 5,000 EUR if you place first, second or third in one of ten music categories. First prizes run from 4,000 EUR for solo instrumentalists and singers up to 5,000 EUR for chamber music, jazz, pop-rock and early-music groups. Second prizes are 2,500 to 3,000 EUR, third prizes 1,500 to 2,000 EUR. The Young Talents category pays less: 2,000, 1,000 and 750 EUR. Beyond the cash, first-place winners get concert dates in the Conservatory's 2026/27 season and in outside concert series. The overall winner is chosen as the best of all category first-placers. That winner gets a run of solo and orchestral concerts across Milan's main concert societies plus a professional audio-video recording. This competition is run by the Conservatorio di Musica 'Giuseppe Verdi' di Milano and funded by private donors.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You are enrolled at the Conservatorio di Musica 'Giuseppe Verdi' di Milano for the 2025/2026 academic year.
• What you play: Ten categories cover solo wind, keyboard/percussion, string and plucked instruments, voice, chamber music, jazz, pop-rock, early music and composition.
• Age: No age limit for most categories. The Young Talents category (H) is only for soloists born after 1 January 2010.
• Groups: For jazz, pop-rock, chamber and early-music groups, duos must be made up entirely of current students. In trios and larger groups, one member may be a Conservatory graduate who finished no more than three academic years ago.
• Teacher sign-off: Your own teacher must approve your entry.
• Past winners: If you already won first prize in a category, you cannot enter that same category again. Past overall winners cannot enter at all.

How to apply

You sign up through the online form by 12 April 2026. If you enter the composition category, upload your score by that date too. Most categories run in three stages: a spring qualifying round (April to June 2026), a final in September (up to 10 players per category), and a play-off for the overall prize on 24 October 2026. Outside professional musicians judge the finals.

How realistic are your chances?

Only students at the Milan Conservatory can enter, and entries split across ten separate categories, which keeps each field small. Each category needs at least 12 entrants (7 for Young Talents) to run, and the jury can withhold prizes if the standard is too low. If you are a strong player and your teacher backs your entry, your prospects of placing in your category are realistic.