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24th International
Composition Contest

The Associazione Corale Goriziana “C. A. Seghizzi” announces the 24th edition of the “Seghizzi” Composition Contest.

Musicians of any nationality and citizenship may take part in the contest, with no age limit.

The compositions, which must be unpublished and must not have received awards in previous composition contests, must be sent to the Secretariat of the “Seghizzi” Composition Contest at the email address info@seghizzi.it by 11:59 p.m. on 31 August 2026.

Composition

The winner of the 2024 edition, Roberto Berzero, receiving the award from Pietro Ferrario during the gala evening of the 62nd International Choral Singing Competition.

Contest
 Categories

The competition is divided into two categories:

Sezione A: Choral compositions either a cappella or with piano accompaniment (for mixed, male, female or children’s voices); maximum duration: about five minutes. The shortlisted compositions are intended for choirs participating in one of the future editions of the “Seghizzi” International Choral Singing Competition.

Sezione B: Compositions for solo voice and piano accompaniment (with just one pianist performing); maximum duration: about five minutes. The shortlisted compositions are intended for soloists participating in one of the future editions of the “Seghizzi” International Chamber Music Competition for Solo Voice and Piano.

Concorso
Giuria

La giuria internazionale è composta da: 

Pietro Ferrario

(Italia) Composer, organist, and educator. Artistic Director and Jury President of the competition.

Curriculum

Vaclovas Augustinas

(Lituania) Internationally award-winning conductor and composer, master at blending classical choral tradition with contemporary musical idioms.

Curriculum

Giulio De Carlo

(Italy) Versatile choral conductor and composer, active in prominent artistic collaborations and international competition juries.

Curriculum

Michael Ostrzyga

(Germany) Visionary composer and music director, acclaimed internationally for his bestselling Mozart Requiem completion for Bärenreiter

Curriculum

Paul Steegmans

(Belgio) Acclaimed Belgian pianist, composer, and educator known for award-winning choral and chamber compositions.

Curriculum

Evaluation
 Phases

The evaluation process is carried out in three steps:

Step one

The international jury of the composition contest will evaluate the submitted works by the 20th of September 2026 and select a maximum of four scores for each competition category, considering their aesthetic qualities and performability, not their musical style.

The international jury of the composition contest will award the CHORAL COMPOSITION TROPHY along with 1.000,00 Euros prize and the SOLO VOICE COMPOSITION TROPHY along with 1.000,00 Euros prize to the composers who got the highest mark in each category provided that at least a score of 85/100 has been reached. At the sole discretion of the jury, the trophy and prize may be not be awarded.

Category A: The international jury of the next “Seghizzi” International Choral Singing Competition will award a CERTIFICATE AND AN AWARD PLAQUE FOR BEST PERFORMANCE to the choir that has performed one of the shortlisted compositions by the jury of the 24th “Seghizzi” Choral And Solo Voice Composition Contest.

Category B: The international jury of the International Chamber Music Competition for Solo Voice and Piano will award a CERTIFICATE AND AN AWARD PLAQUE FOR BEST PERFORMANCE to the performers of one of the shortlisted compositions of the 24th “Seghizzi” Choral And Solo Voice Composition Contest.

Competition
 Materials

Regulations

View and download the full call for entries and rules of the 24th edition of the “Seghizzi” International Composition Contest.

Download ENG Version .pdf
Scarica versione ITA .pdf

Competition
Jury

In this section, you can find information about the members of the competition jury.

Vaclovas Augustinas

An award-winning Lithuanian composer, conductor, and Professor of Composition at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre.

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Eva Hess Thaysen

Internationally acclaimed soprano, teacher and Head of the Vocal Department at the Royal Academy of Music in Copenhagen.

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Pierangelo Conte

Artistic Director of the Teatro Carlo Felice Foundation in Genoa.

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Gabriele Ribis

Internationally acclaimed baritone, Artistic Director of the Piccolo Opera Festival of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

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Eddi De Nadai

Pianist and conductor, specialist in Lieder repertoire, Artistic Director of the “Seghizzi” International Chamber Singing Competition in Gorizia.

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Awarded the Medal of the
 Presidency of the Republic

In 2026, the international activities promoted by the Associazione Corale Goriziana C. A. Seghizzi were awarded the Medal of the President of the Italian Republic, granted to initiatives of particular cultural significance.

Under the
 Patronage of:

The Association is pleased to announce that the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Milan has granted its patronage for the Seghizzi 2024 International Events.

Under the
 Support of:

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Logo-regione-autonoma-Friuli
GORIZIA
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logo club Unesco di Gorizia odv
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loho-io-sono-friuli

Pietro Ferrario

After initial musical studies under the guidance of Mariateresa Nebuloni and scientific secondary education, he earned diplomas in piano, composition, organ and organ composition, choral music, and choral conducting from the Conservatories of Brescia, Milan, and Alessandria, studying with Luigi Molfino and Bruno Bettinelli. He subsequently pursued advanced studies in composition with Azio Corghi, film music with Ennio Morricone, organ with Lionel Rogg, Giancarlo Parodi, and others, and choral conducting with Gary Graden and Tõnu Kaljuste.

He maintains an active concert career in the triple role of choral conductor, pianist, and organist.

As a composer, he is widely appreciated for numerous choral and instrumental works, performed and recorded both in Italy and abroad (Switzerland, Germany, France, Spain, Ireland, Australia, China, the United States, New Zealand, Argentina, Israel, Japan, Serbia, Hungary, Austria, Norway, South Africa, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Indonesia, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Latvia, Estonia, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Venezuela) by prominent ensembles and internationally acclaimed performers, at major European choral competitions, and in renowned concert venues (including Carnegie Hall in 2019).

He has received commissions from distinguished institutions, including the Fondazione Toscanini in Parma, Settimane Musicali di Stresa, I Pomeriggi Musicali di Milano, and the Landesakademie Ochsenhausen (Germany).

In 2004, he was awarded 1st prize at the 1st "Seghizzi" International Choral Composition Trophy in Gorizia. In 2008, he won 1st prize at the "Bettinelli" International Composition Competition in Milan. In 2016, 1st prize at the "Canta Petrarca" Choral Composition Competition in Arezzo. In 2020, 1st prize at the AERCO International Choral Composition Competition (with the winning piece performed by The King's Singers in Bologna in 2021). In 2022, 1st prize at the 2nd "Caecilia Virgo" International Competition for Choir and Organ Composition in Verona. In 2023, 3rd prize (1st prize not awarded) at the 50th "Guido d’Arezzo" International Choral Composition Competition. His works are published by Ricordi, Carrara, Sonzogno, Rugginenti, Feniarco, Edizioni Musicali Europee, Sonitus, the German publishers Carus-Verlag and Ferrimontana, the Japanese Edition ICOT, and the American publishers Hal Leonard and Gentry Publications.

He is frequently invited to serve as a juror or jury president at national and international choral and composition competitions, both in Italy and abroad. He is currently the Artistic Director of the "Seghizzi" International Choral Composition Competition in Gorizia.

In 1997, he founded the Ensemble Vocale Calycanthus of Parabiago (Milan), leading them to numerous national and international awards (including Arezzo 2005 and Vittorio Veneto 2006, the Feniarco Prize for best Italian choir in Gorizia 2008, and the Grand Prix at the 2nd National Choral Competition of Carpi 2023). With the ensemble, he has performed at prestigious music festivals in Italy and abroad (including appearances at three editions of the Encuentro Coral Internacional de Torrevieja in 2004, 2006, and 2011), with repertoire spanning from the Renaissance to contemporary music and a cappella pop-jazz, premiering works by Miškinis, Dubra, Corghi, Antognini, and Bianchera, and recording two CDs for Bottega Discantica and SMC Records. An upcoming CD featuring the world premiere recording of Bruno Bettinelli's Requiem for a cappella choir is scheduled for release by a prominent German record label. He is the titular organist of the historic 1841 Carrera organ at the Provostial Church of Saints Gervaso and Protaso in Parabiago. He has taught several disciplines—including composition, harmony and analysis, choral conducting and choral composition, rhythmic theory and musical perception (ear training)—at the Conservatories of Vicenza, Cagliari, Sassari, Cesena, Parma, Pesaro, and Alessandria. He currently holds the professorship of Rhythmic Theory and Musical Perception at the "Giuseppe Nicolini" Conservatory in Piacenza.

Vaclovas Augustinas

Vaclovas Augustinas is a conductor, composer, and educator. He graduated from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre with degrees in choral conducting (1981) and composition (1992). Since 1992, he has served as Artistic Director of the choir Jauna Muzika. Augustinas is a member of the Lithuanian Composers’ Union and the Lithuanian Choral Union, and he is a recipient of the Lithuanian National Prize for Culture and Arts (2010). As an expert in choral music, Augustinas is frequently invited to international seminars for choral conductors, as well as to choral competitions and festivals. He is a regular member of the jury of the international composers’ competition Musica Sacra Nova. He is a highly regarded composer and arranger of choral music, whose award-winning works from various international competitions are widely performed by choirs and published by music publishers. Rock music has also played an important role in his musical career. He was a keyboardist and composer for the well-known Lithuanian bands Saulės Laikrodis and Antis. Augustinas is an influential mentor to future professional musicians and serves as Professor at the Composition Department of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. Musicologist Dr. Judita Žukienė describes him as follows: “Vaclovas Augustinas is a remarkably versatile musician, successfully combining creative, performing, and pedagogical activities; integrating the professions of composer and choral conductor; bridging academic and non-academic musical styles; bringing together a high-level artistic ensemble for the performance of choral music from various eras and styles, while enriching Lithuanian choral music with new and relevant works of his own.”

Giulio De Carlo

He began his musical studies privately at the age of 11 under the guidance of flutist Maestro Francesco Critelli, with whom he pursued training for nearly a decade, studying and performing a wide variety of musical genres. He further refined his flute studies with Maestro Claudia Pochini. After receiving his first conducting lessons from Maestro Francesco Critelli, he dedicated himself for many years to the study of choral music. Over time, he expanded his musical expertise by taking part in numerous masterclasses and advanced training courses led by distinguished masters (Pier Paolo Scattolin, Walter Marzilli, Francesco Romano, Roberta Paraninfo, Lorenzo Donati, Manolo Da Rold, Mauro Marchetti, Z. Randall Stroope, Franco Radicchia, Matteo Valbusa, Paweł Łukaszewski, Paolo Piana, Ragnar Bohlin, Brandon A. Boyd, and Marco Berrini). From 2001 to 2005, he assisted soprano Maestro Giovanna Massara in training and rehearsing the equal-voice choir of the San Pio X Theological Seminary, with which he performed in several regional festivals both as a bass singer and a flutist (notably taking part in the performance of Trittico Romano, composed and conducted by Monsignor Marco Frisina at the Teatro Politeama in Catanzaro on March 31, 2005). From 2002 to 2015, he was actively involved with the Coro Polifonico del Conventino in Catanzaro as a flutist and bass, assisting the conductor—his brother, Raffaele De Carlo—in the vocal group's musical training. Since 2015, he has been the Conductor of the Singing Cluster Polyphonic Choir. In 2017, he established an artistic collaboration with the Teatro di Calabria "Aroldo Tieri", composing the original scores for the 4th Cycle of Classical Drama 2017 for the tragedies Titàn. I fuochi di Prometeo and Euripides' Medea. Over the years, his work as a composer has led him to collaborate with renowned conductors, artists, and instrumentalists in Italy and worldwide, who have performed his works on numerous occasions. Notable collaborators include: Pier Paolo Scattolin (Coro Euridice), Mauro Marchetti (Coro Città di Roma), Jessica Lot (Children's Choir and Youth Choir of Contrà Camolli), Gianfranco Cambareri (Coro Giovanile Calabrese), Fabiana Noro (Coro Polifonico di Ruda), Monica Faja (Æolian Vocal Ensemble, Antonino Pecoraro Children's Choir, Coriste per Gioco), Marina Mungai (Coro Note Blu), Franco Radicchia (Tritonus and Armoniosoincanto), Maria Carmela Ranieri (Piccolo Coro del Teatro Rendano), Brady Allred (Salt Lake Vocal Artists), Anthony Go Villanueva (Kammerchor Manila), Jeremiah Purwoto (Gita Sekawan - SMAK Penabur 4), Ivan Yohan (Lassenne Vocale), Kinga Sirákné Kemény (Diósd Women's Choir), Julian Bryson (Infinitus Choir), Clifford W. King (Rocky Mountain Chamber Choir), Scott MacPherson and Gregory Ristow (Cleveland Chamber Choir), Douglas McCall (West Liberty University Choir), Joseph Mitchell (Tony Hillerman MS & Volcano Vista HS), Giorgio Ubaldi (Children's Choir of Piacenza), Raffaella Fellegara (Le Voci del Terzo), Shannon Gravelle (Lawrence University Viking Chorale), Chuck Taft (Asheville Senior Chorus, UNCA University Choral, and Asheville Singers), Christopher L. Clark (Case Concert Choir), Salvina Miano (Piccoli Cantori di Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto), Francesco Grigolo (choir classes of the Rovigo Conservatory), Pietro Ferrario (Ensemble Vocale Calycanthus), and Nicola Iannello (Ensemble Vocal Tactus). He collaborated with the duo Two for New (Francesco Silvestri and Giovanni De Luca), composing the piece Flying in the night for them. In November 2020, he composed the official anthem of the Magna Graecia Flute Choir, founded by the late Maestro Sebastiano Valentino. He served as an international juror at the World Voice and Choral Competition (WVCC) 2023, participating in the preliminary rounds and the Grand Prix Finals at the invitation of Maestro Terrence Ling. During the 2020–2024 four-year term, he served on the Board of Directors of the Organizzazione Cori Calabria and the Associazione Nazionale Direttori di Coro Italiani (Italian National Choral Conductors Association). In May 2025, his work My Voice for You was commissioned and premiered at the Teatro Politeama Garibaldi in Palermo as part of the international project "My Voice for You – Eco di cuori liberi", featuring the Singing Cluster choir directed by composer Giulio De Carlo himself and an international massed choir of approximately 200 singers from Italy and Portugal, under the artistic direction of Monica Faja. Throughout his career, he has maintained an intense compositional activity in both instrumental and vocal genres, producing numerous original works that have been awarded and performed at various cultural and musical events. He has also collaborated with renowned poets and lyricists to create original works: in Italy with Elisa Gastaldon (Oceani nuovi, Ecco viene Natale, Inno alla Pace) and in the United States with Charles Anthony Silvestri (Forgotten, My dear Life).

Michael Ostrzyga

Michael Ostrzyga, composer and conductor, was commissioned by Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (Central German Broadcasting), World Symposium on Choral Music 2023 in Turkey as well as 2020 in Auckland, NZ, Alte Oper Frankfurt, Finnish YL Male Voice Choir (Ylioppilaskunnan Laulajat), Latvian Youth Choir „Kamēr…“, StimmGold Vokalensemble (Bavaria), and Kammerchor Stuttgart, among others. He draws inspiration from a wide variety of sources, including natural, technological, astronomical, historical, mythological and pop-cultural phenomena and contexts. In 2025, his choral work was honored with the highly acclaimed Chorpreis der GEMA-Stiftung (GEMA Foundation’s Choral Prize), which recognizes outstanding achievements only once every four years.
Performers include the Raschèr Saxophone Quartet, Jena Philharmonic Orchestra, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Rundfunkchor Berlin, New Dublin Voices, Kammarkören Pro Musica and Allmänna Sången (Sweden), The Esoterics (USA), the Australian Chamber Choir, Chorwerk Ruhr, and MDR-Rundfunkchor.
Ostrzyga presented a completion of Mozart’s Requiem fragment that, for the first time, combines musicological perspectives with historically informed music theory and artistic practice in composition, arrangement and instrumentation. Published by Bärenreiter in 2022, the edition became a bestseller and is now among the most frequently performed completions of the Requiem internationally. Three commercial recordings have been made, most recently with the RIAS Kammerchor and Chamber Orchestra of Europe under Yannick Nézet-Séguin for Deutsche Grammophon. The first recording was nominated for an Opus Klassik in 2021 in the category “Editorial Achievement of the Year”. Ostrzyga is Music Director at the University of Cologne. From 2007 to 2019 he was conductor and artistic director of the Oratorienchor Brühl. As a guest conductor, he collaborated with ensembles like Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Bochumer Symphoniker, Neue Philharmonie Westfalen, Musikfabrik, and Kölner Vokalsolisten. He appeared in festivals like Brühler Schlosskonzerte and Acht Brücken, conducting for instance Feldman’s Rothko Chapel and vocal works by Ligeti. He has also regularly commissioned and premiered numerous works by composers such as Friedrich Jaecker, Martin Herchenröder, Jan Masanetz, and Anno Schreier.
Ostrzyga has been President of the Netzwerk Universitätsmusik in Deutschland since its founding in February 2024. Fotografia di Christian Pam

Paul Steegmans

Paul Steegmans (July 3, 1957) was awarded diploma ‘Laureate in piano and music education’ in 1980 at Lemmensinstuut Leuven and in 1985 he received the coveted first fugue prize. In 1993 he finished his composition studies under W. Kersters with a first prize composition.

He acquired a famous and respectful admiration and reputation as a accompanist (piano and organ) of singers and choirs.

Paul Steegmans’ piano, organ and choir works and also his chamber music have been commended in the highest orders of merit. He became a laureate of the composition contest ‘Baron Flor Peeters’, Cantabile (twice), ‘Albert de Vleeschouwer’ ‘Compositiewedstrijd Vocale Muziek 2012 van de stad Ninove’

By order of the EPTA in 1996 he composed the compulsory works for the ‘piano-four hands’ contest. By order of ‘the International Choir Contest of Flanders-Maasmechelen’’ he composed the compulsory works for the 1999 contest. By order of Dexia Classics he composed in 2010 the compulsory pieces for violin and double bass.

His Oratorio "Stad van Vrede" was commissioned by the ‘Comité Zevenjaarlijkse Virga Jessefeesten’ and was the apotheosis of the "Virga-Jessefeesten 2003."
It was first performed on 5 September 2003 in Hasselt, on 6 September was the second performance in Maastricht.
Paul Steegmans’ compositions were performed in Japan, Taiwan, Finland, Lithuania, Costa Rica and even in Cuba. In this country he gave a concert and he performed his own works together with the national choir.

Since 1980 Paul Steegmans has been passing on his skills teaching piano and accompaniment at the school of music in Genk, and he was guest teacher of ‘practical harmony’ for 25 years at the "Lemmensinstituut" in Louvain.

Vaclovas Augustinas

Vaclovas Augustinas is a conductor, composer, and educator. He graduated from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre with degrees in choral conducting (1981) and composition (1992). Since 1992, he has served as Artistic Director of the choir Jauna Muzika. Augustinas is a member of the Lithuanian Composers’ Union and the Lithuanian Choral Union, and he is a recipient of the Lithuanian National Prize for Culture and Arts (2010). As an expert in choral music, Augustinas is frequently invited to international seminars for choral conductors, as well as to choral competitions and festivals. He is a regular member of the jury of the international composers’ competition Musica Sacra Nova. He is a highly regarded composer and arranger of choral music, whose award-winning works from various international competitions are widely performed by choirs and published by music publishers. Rock music has also played an important role in his musical career. He was a keyboardist and composer for the well-known Lithuanian bands Saulės Laikrodis and Antis. Augustinas is an influential mentor to future professional musicians and serves as Professor at the Composition Department of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. Musicologist Dr. Judita Žukienė describes him as follows: “Vaclovas Augustinas is a remarkably versatile musician, successfully combining creative, performing, and pedagogical activities; integrating the professions of composer and choral conductor; bridging academic and non-academic musical styles; bringing together a high-level artistic ensemble for the performance of choral music from various eras and styles, while enriching Lithuanian choral music with new and relevant works of his own.”

Christoph Prégardien

Christoph Prégardien is considered one of the most important lyric tenors in the world. Particularly acclaimed as a Lieder performer, he opens the 2025/26 season alongside Julius Drake at the Schubertiade Schwarzenberg/Hohenems, before performing, among other works, Die schöne Müllerin/These Fevered Days by Johannes Maria Staud: an extraordinary project that combines Schubert's cycle in a new orchestrated version with seven new songs based on texts by Emily Dickinson.

Christoph Prégardien performs regularly with world-renowned orchestras. He has collaborated with the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestras, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, as well as the Boston and San Francisco Symphony Orchestras, alongside conductors of the caliber of Barenboim, Metzmacher, and Thielemann. His vast orchestral repertoire includes the great Baroque, Classical, and Romantic oratorios and passions, as well as works from the 17th and 20th centuries. In the operatic field, he has performed roles such as Tamino, Almaviva (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Fenton (Falstaff), Don Ottavio, Tito, Ulisse, and Idomeneo.

His extensive experience as a singer in the roles of the Evangelists, combined with close collaboration with conductors such as Nagano, Chailly, Herreweghe, Harnoncourt, Luisi, and Gardiner, has provided the ideal foundation for his increasing dedication to conducting the works of Bach. Following his successful conducting debut in 2012 leading Le Concert Lorrain and the Nederlands Kammerkoor, he regularly conducts internationally renowned ensembles such as the Balthasar Neumann Choir, the Dresdner Kammerchor, Collegium Vocale Gent, and the RIAS Kammerchor. In the spring of 2024, he conducted Bach's St Matthew Passion with Vespres d’Arnadí and the Palau de la Música Catalana Chamber Choir in Barcelona. In December 2025, he will conduct Bach's Christmas Oratorio on tour with the Belgian ensemble Il Gardellino and the Palau de la Música Catalana chamber choir.

He has recorded much of his repertoire in a discography of over 150 albums, which have received prestigious awards such as the Orphée d’Or from the Académie du Disque Lyrique, the Edison Award, the Cannes Classical Award, and the Diapason d’Or. For the Challenge Classics label, he recorded Schubert's Schwanengesang with Andreas Staier and Die schöne Müllerin with Michael Gees, the latter selected as Editor's Choice by Gramophone magazine and awarded the MIDEM Record of the Year. Shortly after followed recordings of Hugo Wolf's Italienisches Liederbuch with Julia Kleiter, "Between Life and Death", "Wanderer", and the Grammy-nominated Winterreise disc, all with Michael Gees, as well as "Father and Son" with his son Julian Prégardien. His Schubert CD "Poetisches Tagebuch", with Julius Drake, won the German Record Critics' Award in 2016. In 2023, the Etcetera label released an album of Bach cantatas recorded with Stephan Schultz and Le Concert Lorrain, featuring Christoph Prégardien as a baritone.

Teaching remains an important part of Christoph Prégardien's musical life. After many years at the Zurich University of the Arts and a professorship at the Cologne Academy of Music, he continues to lead masterclasses for young singers worldwide.

Pietro Ferrario

After initial musical studies under the guidance of Mariateresa Nebuloni and scientific secondary education, he earned diplomas in piano, composition, organ and organ composition, choral music, and choral conducting from the Conservatories of Brescia, Milan, and Alessandria, studying with Luigi Molfino and Bruno Bettinelli. He subsequently pursued advanced studies in composition with Azio Corghi, film music with Ennio Morricone, organ with Lionel Rogg, Giancarlo Parodi, and others, and choral conducting with Gary Graden and Tõnu Kaljuste.

He maintains an active concert career in the triple role of choral conductor, pianist, and organist.

As a composer, he is widely appreciated for numerous choral and instrumental works, performed and recorded both in Italy and abroad (Switzerland, Germany, France, Spain, Ireland, Australia, China, the United States, New Zealand, Argentina, Israel, Japan, Serbia, Hungary, Austria, Norway, South Africa, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Indonesia, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Latvia, Estonia, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Venezuela) by prominent ensembles and internationally acclaimed performers, at major European choral competitions, and in renowned concert venues (including Carnegie Hall in 2019).

He has received commissions from distinguished institutions, including the Fondazione Toscanini in Parma, Settimane Musicali di Stresa, I Pomeriggi Musicali di Milano, and the Landesakademie Ochsenhausen (Germany).

In 2004, he was awarded 1st prize at the 1st "Seghizzi" International Choral Composition Trophy in Gorizia. In 2008, he won 1st prize at the "Bettinelli" International Composition Competition in Milan. In 2016, 1st prize at the "Canta Petrarca" Choral Composition Competition in Arezzo. In 2020, 1st prize at the AERCO International Choral Composition Competition (with the winning piece performed by The King's Singers in Bologna in 2021). In 2022, 1st prize at the 2nd "Caecilia Virgo" International Competition for Choir and Organ Composition in Verona. In 2023, 3rd prize (1st prize not awarded) at the 50th "Guido d’Arezzo" International Choral Composition Competition. His works are published by Ricordi, Carrara, Sonzogno, Rugginenti, Feniarco, Edizioni Musicali Europee, Sonitus, the German publishers Carus-Verlag and Ferrimontana, the Japanese Edition ICOT, and the American publishers Hal Leonard and Gentry Publications.

He is frequently invited to serve as a juror or jury president at national and international choral and composition competitions, both in Italy and abroad. He is currently the Artistic Director of the "Seghizzi" International Choral Composition Competition in Gorizia.

In 1997, he founded the Ensemble Vocale Calycanthus of Parabiago (Milan), leading them to numerous national and international awards (including Arezzo 2005 and Vittorio Veneto 2006, the Feniarco Prize for best Italian choir in Gorizia 2008, and the Grand Prix at the 2nd National Choral Competition of Carpi 2023). With the ensemble, he has performed at prestigious music festivals in Italy and abroad (including appearances at three editions of the Encuentro Coral Internacional de Torrevieja in 2004, 2006, and 2011), with repertoire spanning from the Renaissance to contemporary music and a cappella pop-jazz, premiering works by Miškinis, Dubra, Corghi, Antognini, and Bianchera, and recording two CDs for Bottega Discantica and SMC Records. An upcoming CD featuring the world premiere recording of Bruno Bettinelli's Requiem for a cappella choir is scheduled for release by a prominent German record label. He is the titular organist of the historic 1841 Carrera organ at the Provostial Church of Saints Gervaso and Protaso in Parabiago. He has taught several disciplines—including composition, harmony and analysis, choral conducting and choral composition, rhythmic theory and musical perception (ear training)—at the Conservatories of Vicenza, Cagliari, Sassari, Cesena, Parma, Pesaro, and Alessandria. He currently holds the professorship of Rhythmic Theory and Musical Perception at the "Giuseppe Nicolini" Conservatory in Piacenza.

Giulio De Carlo

He began his musical studies privately at the age of 11 under the guidance of flutist Maestro Francesco Critelli, with whom he pursued training for nearly a decade, studying and performing a wide variety of musical genres. He further refined his flute studies with Maestro Claudia Pochini. After receiving his first conducting lessons from Maestro Francesco Critelli, he dedicated himself for many years to the study of choral music. Over time, he expanded his musical expertise by taking part in numerous masterclasses and advanced training courses led by distinguished masters (Pier Paolo Scattolin, Walter Marzilli, Francesco Romano, Roberta Paraninfo, Lorenzo Donati, Manolo Da Rold, Mauro Marchetti, Z. Randall Stroope, Franco Radicchia, Matteo Valbusa, Paweł Łukaszewski, Paolo Piana, Ragnar Bohlin, Brandon A. Boyd, and Marco Berrini). From 2001 to 2005, he assisted soprano Maestro Giovanna Massara in training and rehearsing the equal-voice choir of the San Pio X Theological Seminary, with which he performed in several regional festivals both as a bass singer and a flutist (notably taking part in the performance of Trittico Romano, composed and conducted by Monsignor Marco Frisina at the Teatro Politeama in Catanzaro on March 31, 2005). From 2002 to 2015, he was actively involved with the Coro Polifonico del Conventino in Catanzaro as a flutist and bass, assisting the conductor—his brother, Raffaele De Carlo—in the vocal group's musical training. Since 2015, he has been the Conductor of the Singing Cluster Polyphonic Choir. In 2017, he established an artistic collaboration with the Teatro di Calabria "Aroldo Tieri", composing the original scores for the 4th Cycle of Classical Drama 2017 for the tragedies Titàn. I fuochi di Prometeo and Euripides' Medea. Over the years, his work as a composer has led him to collaborate with renowned conductors, artists, and instrumentalists in Italy and worldwide, who have performed his works on numerous occasions. Notable collaborators include: Pier Paolo Scattolin (Coro Euridice), Mauro Marchetti (Coro Città di Roma), Jessica Lot (Children's Choir and Youth Choir of Contrà Camolli), Gianfranco Cambareri (Coro Giovanile Calabrese), Fabiana Noro (Coro Polifonico di Ruda), Monica Faja (Æolian Vocal Ensemble, Antonino Pecoraro Children's Choir, Coriste per Gioco), Marina Mungai (Coro Note Blu), Franco Radicchia (Tritonus and Armoniosoincanto), Maria Carmela Ranieri (Piccolo Coro del Teatro Rendano), Brady Allred (Salt Lake Vocal Artists), Anthony Go Villanueva (Kammerchor Manila), Jeremiah Purwoto (Gita Sekawan - SMAK Penabur 4), Ivan Yohan (Lassenne Vocale), Kinga Sirákné Kemény (Diósd Women's Choir), Julian Bryson (Infinitus Choir), Clifford W. King (Rocky Mountain Chamber Choir), Scott MacPherson and Gregory Ristow (Cleveland Chamber Choir), Douglas McCall (West Liberty University Choir), Joseph Mitchell (Tony Hillerman MS & Volcano Vista HS), Giorgio Ubaldi (Children's Choir of Piacenza), Raffaella Fellegara (Le Voci del Terzo), Shannon Gravelle (Lawrence University Viking Chorale), Chuck Taft (Asheville Senior Chorus, UNCA University Choral, and Asheville Singers), Christopher L. Clark (Case Concert Choir), Salvina Miano (Piccoli Cantori di Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto), Francesco Grigolo (choir classes of the Rovigo Conservatory), Pietro Ferrario (Ensemble Vocale Calycanthus), and Nicola Iannello (Ensemble Vocal Tactus). He collaborated with the duo Two for New (Francesco Silvestri and Giovanni De Luca), composing the piece Flying in the night for them. In November 2020, he composed the official anthem of the Magna Graecia Flute Choir, founded by the late Maestro Sebastiano Valentino. He served as an international juror at the World Voice and Choral Competition (WVCC) 2023, participating in the preliminary rounds and the Grand Prix Finals at the invitation of Maestro Terrence Ling. During the 2020–2024 four-year term, he served on the Board of Directors of the Organizzazione Cori Calabria and the Associazione Nazionale Direttori di Coro Italiani (Italian National Choral Conductors Association). In May 2025, his work My Voice for You was commissioned and premiered at the Teatro Politeama Garibaldi in Palermo as part of the international project "My Voice for You – Eco di cuori liberi", featuring the Singing Cluster choir directed by composer Giulio De Carlo himself and an international massed choir of approximately 200 singers from Italy and Portugal, under the artistic direction of Monica Faja. Throughout his career, he has maintained an intense compositional activity in both instrumental and vocal genres, producing numerous original works that have been awarded and performed at various cultural and musical events. He has also collaborated with renowned poets and lyricists to create original works: in Italy with Elisa Gastaldon (Oceani nuovi, Ecco viene Natale, Inno alla Pace) and in the United States with Charles Anthony Silvestri (Forgotten, My dear Life).

Michael Ostrzyga

Michael Ostrzyga, composer and conductor, was commissioned by Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (Central German Broadcasting), World Symposium on Choral Music 2023 in Turkey as well as 2020 in Auckland, NZ, Alte Oper Frankfurt, Finnish YL Male Voice Choir (Ylioppilaskunnan Laulajat), Latvian Youth Choir „Kamēr…“, StimmGold Vokalensemble (Bavaria), and Kammerchor Stuttgart, among others. He draws inspiration from a wide variety of sources, including natural, technological, astronomical, historical, mythological and pop-cultural phenomena and contexts. In 2025, his choral work was honored with the highly acclaimed Chorpreis der GEMA-Stiftung (GEMA Foundation’s Choral Prize), which recognizes outstanding achievements only once every four years.
Performers include the Raschèr Saxophone Quartet, Jena Philharmonic Orchestra, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Rundfunkchor Berlin, New Dublin Voices, Kammarkören Pro Musica and Allmänna Sången (Sweden), The Esoterics (USA), the Australian Chamber Choir, Chorwerk Ruhr, and MDR-Rundfunkchor.
Ostrzyga presented a completion of Mozart’s Requiem fragment that, for the first time, combines musicological perspectives with historically informed music theory and artistic practice in composition, arrangement and instrumentation. Published by Bärenreiter in 2022, the edition became a bestseller and is now among the most frequently performed completions of the Requiem internationally. Three commercial recordings have been made, most recently with the RIAS Kammerchor and Chamber Orchestra of Europe under Yannick Nézet-Séguin for Deutsche Grammophon. The first recording was nominated for an Opus Klassik in 2021 in the category “Editorial Achievement of the Year”. Ostrzyga is Music Director at the University of Cologne. From 2007 to 2019 he was conductor and artistic director of the Oratorienchor Brühl. As a guest conductor, he collaborated with ensembles like Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Bochumer Symphoniker, Neue Philharmonie Westfalen, Musikfabrik, and Kölner Vokalsolisten. He appeared in festivals like Brühler Schlosskonzerte and Acht Brücken, conducting for instance Feldman’s Rothko Chapel and vocal works by Ligeti. He has also regularly commissioned and premiered numerous works by composers such as Friedrich Jaecker, Martin Herchenröder, Jan Masanetz, and Anno Schreier.
Ostrzyga has been President of the Netzwerk Universitätsmusik in Deutschland since its founding in February 2024. Fotografia di Christian Pam

Paul Steegmans

Paul Steegmans (July 3, 1957) was awarded diploma ‘Laureate in piano and music education’ in 1980 at Lemmensinstuut Leuven and in 1985 he received the coveted first fugue prize. In 1993 he finished his composition studies under W. Kersters with a first prize composition.

He acquired a famous and respectful admiration and reputation as a accompanist (piano and organ) of singers and choirs.

Paul Steegmans’ piano, organ and choir works and also his chamber music have been commended in the highest orders of merit. He became a laureate of the composition contest ‘Baron Flor Peeters’, Cantabile (twice), ‘Albert de Vleeschouwer’ ‘Compositiewedstrijd Vocale Muziek 2012 van de stad Ninove’

By order of the EPTA in 1996 he composed the compulsory works for the ‘piano-four hands’ contest. By order of ‘the International Choir Contest of Flanders-Maasmechelen’’ he composed the compulsory works for the 1999 contest. By order of Dexia Classics he composed in 2010 the compulsory pieces for violin and double bass.

His Oratorio "Stad van Vrede" was commissioned by the ‘Comité Zevenjaarlijkse Virga Jessefeesten’ and was the apotheosis of the "Virga-Jessefeesten 2003."
It was first performed on 5 September 2003 in Hasselt, on 6 September was the second performance in Maastricht.
Paul Steegmans’ compositions were performed in Japan, Taiwan, Finland, Lithuania, Costa Rica and even in Cuba. In this country he gave a concert and he performed his own works together with the national choir.

Since 1980 Paul Steegmans has been passing on his skills teaching piano and accompaniment at the school of music in Genk, and he was guest teacher of ‘practical harmony’ for 25 years at the "Lemmensinstituut" in Louvain.

Christoph Prégardien

Christoph Prégardien is considered one of the most important lyric tenors in the world. Particularly acclaimed as a Lieder performer, he opens the 2025/26 season alongside Julius Drake at the Schubertiade Schwarzenberg/Hohenems, before performing, among other works, Die schöne Müllerin/These Fevered Days by Johannes Maria Staud: an extraordinary project that combines Schubert's cycle in a new orchestrated version with seven new songs based on texts by Emily Dickinson.

Christoph Prégardien performs regularly with world-renowned orchestras. He has collaborated with the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestras, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, as well as the Boston and San Francisco Symphony Orchestras, alongside conductors of the caliber of Barenboim, Metzmacher, and Thielemann. His vast orchestral repertoire includes the great Baroque, Classical, and Romantic oratorios and passions, as well as works from the 17th and 20th centuries. In the operatic field, he has performed roles such as Tamino, Almaviva (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Fenton (Falstaff), Don Ottavio, Tito, Ulisse, and Idomeneo.

His extensive experience as a singer in the roles of the Evangelists, combined with close collaboration with conductors such as Nagano, Chailly, Herreweghe, Harnoncourt, Luisi, and Gardiner, has provided the ideal foundation for his increasing dedication to conducting the works of Bach. Following his successful conducting debut in 2012 leading Le Concert Lorrain and the Nederlands Kammerkoor, he regularly conducts internationally renowned ensembles such as the Balthasar Neumann Choir, the Dresdner Kammerchor, Collegium Vocale Gent, and the RIAS Kammerchor. In the spring of 2024, he conducted Bach's St Matthew Passion with Vespres d’Arnadí and the Palau de la Música Catalana Chamber Choir in Barcelona. In December 2025, he will conduct Bach's Christmas Oratorio on tour with the Belgian ensemble Il Gardellino and the Palau de la Música Catalana chamber choir.

He has recorded much of his repertoire in a discography of over 150 albums, which have received prestigious awards such as the Orphée d’Or from the Académie du Disque Lyrique, the Edison Award, the Cannes Classical Award, and the Diapason d’Or. For the Challenge Classics label, he recorded Schubert's Schwanengesang with Andreas Staier and Die schöne Müllerin with Michael Gees, the latter selected as Editor's Choice by Gramophone magazine and awarded the MIDEM Record of the Year. Shortly after followed recordings of Hugo Wolf's Italienisches Liederbuch with Julia Kleiter, "Between Life and Death", "Wanderer", and the Grammy-nominated Winterreise disc, all with Michael Gees, as well as "Father and Son" with his son Julian Prégardien. His Schubert CD "Poetisches Tagebuch", with Julius Drake, won the German Record Critics' Award in 2016. In 2023, the Etcetera label released an album of Bach cantatas recorded with Stephan Schultz and Le Concert Lorrain, featuring Christoph Prégardien as a baritone.

Teaching remains an important part of Christoph Prégardien's musical life. After many years at the Zurich University of the Arts and a professorship at the Cologne Academy of Music, he continues to lead masterclasses for young singers worldwide.