The 3rd International Orchestra Conducting Competition “Llíria City of Music” will be held from July 21 to 25
Llíria, April 14, 2025.- Llíria Will once again host the most significant orchestra conducting competition of the Spanish music scene. From July 21 to 25, the UNESCO Creative City of Music will organize the 3rd International Orchestra Conducting Competition, “Llíria City of Music -CIDO 2025-, open to the best promising international conductors.
The Department of Culture, in collaboration with AESDO (the Spanish Association of Orchestra Conductors), organizes this biannual competition which, as its head Mª José Llopis mentions, “aims to discover and become a springboard for the careers of conductors under 35 years of age, while at the same time positioning Llíria internationally as a leading centre in musical training and with a bicentennial history.”
The first edition, held in 2021, was a complete success, with 188 candidates from 35 countries, including the outstanding Hungarian Levente Török, the eventual winner of the competition. The second edition, which was held in 2023, again far exceeded the 100 entries of various nationalities. Taiwanese Brian Liao emerged victorious for his demonstration of technique, musicality and charisma.
Cristóbal Soler, renowned orchestra conductor with a brilliant career, is the artistic director and jury member of this third edition of CIDO, which will be further made up of great batons of exhaustive career and international prestige.
Important economic and recognition awards
From the Llíria City Council and the collaborating entities, a great effort has been made to provide CIDO with attractive prizes, at an economic level as well as professional recognition for the winners:
First prize
€ 5,000 and accrediting diploma awarded by the Llíria City Council. Likewise, the person awarded the first prize may be invited to conduct the collaborating orchestras of the contest.
Second prize
€ 1,500 and accrediting diploma awarded by the Spanish Association of Orchestra Conductors (AESDO).
Third prize
€ 1,000 and accrediting diploma awarded by the Spanish Association of Orchestra Conductors (AESDO).
Special award AESDO
€ 1,000 awarded by the Spanish Association of Orchestra Conductors (AESDO).
Likewise, the AESDO member who obtains the best overall classification of the contest may collaborate with the following orchestras throughout the 2026/27 – 2027/28 seasons: the FSMCV Youth Symphony Orchestra, Harmonie Ensemble, ESMAR Orchestra, and the Forum Musikae Youth Orchestra. This award is compatible with any of the above prizes.
Phases and repertoire
Among all the registered people, 25 candidates will be selected through a critical analysis of their videos, biographies, letters of recommendation, professional links, etc. These applicants will compete, already in Llíria, throughout four phases, from July 21 to 25, where they must conduct the “Llíria City of Music” Orchestra, made up mostly of prominent musicians from the city of Edeta.
The repertoire includes works by Igor Stravinsky, Edward Elgar, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Henri Tomasi and Ludwig van Beethoven. Also included is a commissioned work by 33-year-old David Moliner. Thus, CIDO maintains its commitment to young composers and the premiere of newly created works.
Registration open until April 30
The competition rules are published at www.aesdo.com. The registration period will be open from this Monday, April 14, until next April 30, both inclusive.
