World Classical Masters Association（WCMA）
Globally leading online classical music competition organization
WCMA International Composition Competition 2025
The World Classical Masters Association (WCMA) proudly presents the WCMA International Composition Competition, a prestigious global event designed to discover and support exceptional compositional talent worldwide. This competition offers composers a platform to showcase their creativity, exchange ideas, and contribute to the diverse evolution of musical expression.
Why Participate?
-
Open to composers of all ages and nationalities – Celebrate multicultural musical expression.
-
Judged by internationally renowned composers, conductors, and scholars – Ensuring fairness and artistic excellence.
-
Online submission – Breaking geographical barriers and simplifying the entry process.
-
Generous awards and global exposure – Winners receive cash prizes, certificates, and recognition from the international music community.
Awards
Recognition from the international jury, with potential opportunities for future collaborations to advance the composer’s career.
Grand Prize
(95 points and above)
€200 per person
Certificate of Achievement
Digital poster of the winner published on the WCMA website
May be invited to serve as a judge for future music projects or participate in masterclasses.
First Prize
(90-95 points)
Certificate of Achievement
Digital poster of the winner
Second Prize
(85-90 points)
Certificate of Achievement
Digital poster of the winner
Third Prize (80-85 points)
Certificate of Achievement
Honorable Mention (Below 80 points)
Certificate of Achievement
Categories
Children's Group (7-10 years old)
A creative platform designed to inspire young composers, fostering their musical interest and imagination in a fun and engaging way.
Junior Group (11-14 years old)
Encouraging teenage composers to explore music composition, developing their initial compositional skills and artistic expression.
Youth Group (15-18 years old)
Supporting young composers on the verge of adulthood, helping them refine their musical language and creative style.
Young Adult Group (19-35 years old)
Open to young adult composers, whether professionals or passionate amateurs, encouraging them to explore innovative musical expressions.
Senior Group (36 years and above)
Welcoming experienced composers to showcase their accumulated musical wisdom and unique style.
Submission Requirements
Originality: Works must be original, unpublished, and unperformed. Adaptations of existing works are not permitted.
Duration: Submissions must not exceed 20 minutes.
Accepted genres include but are not limited to:
Orchestral works
Chamber music
Vocal and choral works
Solo instrumental pieces
Electronic and electroacoustic music
We welcome a wide range of musical styles and encourage composers to explore innovative forms and techniques, showcasing the boundless possibilities of musical creativity.
Submission Materials
Full score (PDF format, if applicable)
Audio or video recording (MIDI or live performance)
Identification document
High-resolution personal photo
€60 administrative fee
To ensure fairness and impartiality, all scores must be submitted anonymously. No personal information, names, signatures, or identifying marks should appear on the score. The jury will evaluate works solely based on artistic merit and compositional skill, guaranteeing a level playing field for all participants.
Participants must confirm that their submissions are original and have not been published or performed in any other competition or public setting. Any form of plagiarism will result in disqualification and may lead to legal consequences. Additionally, participants are responsible for ensuring the quality of their scores and audio/video files to allow the jury to fully assess the artistic value of their work.
All participants retain the copyright to their works. WCMA reserves the right to use winning compositions for competition-related promotional activities. Personal information will be kept strictly confidential and used only for competition purposes.
Judging Criteria
All submissions will be evaluated anonymously by a distinguished panel of internationally acclaimed composers, conductors, and music scholars. The judging criteria include:
Originality – Does the work demonstrate a unique musical voice?
Compositional Technique – Are melody, harmony, orchestration, and structure skillfully executed?
Artistic Expression – Does the work effectively convey emotion and artistic intent?
Innovation – Does the work explore new creative approaches or techniques?
The jury reserves the right to determine the final competition results. If submissions do not meet the required standards, the jury may choose to leave certain award categories vacant. All decisions are final and not subject to appeal.
Key Dates
Submission Deadline: May 15, 2025
Results Announcement: June 15, 2025
All materials must be submitted online by May 15, 2025. Winners will be announced on June 15, 2025.
Jury President
Prof. Dario Cebic
Academic, Prof. Dr. Dario Cebic (ordinary member of European Academy of Sciences and Arts). He attended elementary and secondary school, after which he started higher education in piano, composition, double bass, music science, music theory, music pedagogy, conducting and musicology. In 2007 he starts doctoral studies in music science. In 2012 he finished doctoral study (Dr. Phil ) at "Universität für Musik and darstellende Kunst" in Graz, and "Postgraduate study" in composition at "Universität für Musik and darstellende Kunst in Vienna" under professor Michael Obst. Specialisation: "Hans Eisler“ Hochschule für Musik, Berlin; "Universität“ Freiburg, "Hochschule für Musik“ Frankfurt and "Impuls Academy“. Selected prizes and awards: On February 5, 2020 awarded by the Croatian President for art, pedagogical work, and composition. 1st Prize on International Music Competition in Paris, Berlin, London, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Vienna, Mailand, Prague, Toronto, Sydney and Lisabon.
His opus includes more than 1000 concert pieces and more than 40 pieces for orchestra (12 symphonies). Orchestra pieces: •12 Symphonies: 1. Symphonie ,,Mystische“ für Orchester, 2. Symphonie ,,Verdunkelung“ für Orchester 3. Symphonie für Orchester 4. Symphonie für Orchester 5. Symphonie für Orchester ,,Te Deum“, 6. Symphonie für Orchester 7. Symphonie für Orchester 8. Symphonie ,,Erinnerung“ für Orchester 9. Symphonie für Orchester 10. Symphonie ,,Der Ursprung des Universums“ für Orchester 11. Symphonie für Orchester 12. Symphonie ,,Sinfonia Concertante“ für Flöte, Klavier, Vybraphone und Orchester •Sonata Seconda for String Orchestra •Anxiety for Symphonie Orchestra usw. Solo instruments, Chamber ensemble, Wind instruments, Voices – Choir, Solo works, Chamber concerto. He is member of IGNM, “European Academy of Sciences and Arts”, “Austrian Composers Society”, "Steirischen Tonkünstlerbund” and “Österreichische Musikrat” (engl. Austrian Music Council, kurz: ÖMR).