The Competition has been held annually since 2007, alternating between two musical направления: academic and song-based music. It is in these genres that Andrey Pavlovich composed most of his works and gained truly nationwide recognition and appreciation.
In 2026, in addition to the two categories — “Symphonic Music” and “Shore of Hope” — the organizers have introduced a third category, “A New Perspective on the Wind Orchestra,” aimed at inspiring young composers to create new contemporary music for wind orchestras.
Competition organizer:
The Foundation for the Preservation and Development of the Creative Heritage of Composer Andrey Petrov.
There is no entry fee for participation in the Competition.
The main objectives of the Competition include supporting serious artistic creation, preserving and developing Russian national culture, as well as its traditional cultural, historical, and spiritual values. The Competition aims to strengthen the positive image of Saint Petersburg as the cultural capital of Russia and to create conditions for participants to realize their creative potential.
In addition, it supports young composers, encourages the growth of younger audiences, and promotes the exchange of professional experience.
More about composer Andrey Petrov
The Competition is held annually in three rounds. The first two rounds are conducted remotely, while the third round (final) takes place in the form of a live concert performance.
More detailed information is provided in the official Competition Regulations.
The Expert Council evaluates and selects the works submitted by the Competition participants, determining the best compositions. Its members are appointed and approved by the Competition Organizer from among renowned musicians — composers, conductors, and other cultural figures.
More about the composition of the Expert Council.
The final round of the Competition and the award ceremony take place in the finest concert venues of Saint Petersburg, including the Grand Hall of St. Petersburg Academic Philharmoniс named after Dmitry Shostakovich, the Small Hall of St. Petersburg Academic Philharmoniс named after Mikhail Glinka, and the St. Petersburg State Theatre of Musical Comedy.
The final round of the Competition is performed with the participation of a symphony orchestra, chamber string orchestra, wind orchestra, or instrumental ensemble, depending on the category. The Competition Directorate provides instrumental soloists and vocal soloists for the performance of the selected works.
More detailed information is available in the official Competition Regulations.
Winners of the Competition are awarded the titles of Laureates or Diploma recipients and receive monetary prizes. All finalists receive special diplomas, and all participants who advance to the second round are awarded certificates of participation.
A professional video recording of the final concert is also provided.
More detailed information is available in the official Competition Regulations.
• The Composers’ Competition is open to all participants, regardless of education or place of residence.
• No entry fee is required for participation in the Competition.
• The official language of the Competition is Russian.
• All participants in the Composers’ Competition must submit their works anonymously under a motto. The motto must not exceed 20 characters.
• Participants who submit sheet music and/or audio recordings containing identifying marks, names, or any other personal information will not be admitted to the Competition.
• Each participant may submit no more than one composition in each nomination category.
Works that have previously received prizes and/or other awards are not eligible for participation in the Competition.
• Members of the Expert Council and other persons affiliated with the Competition are not eligible to participate.
• The composition submitted by the participant must not have been published, publicly performed, and/or recorded on distributed media, nor broadcast prior to February 2024, i.e., before the period of the previous Competition.*
* The term “public performance of works” shall mean the presentation of a disclosed work by live performance or by means of technical devices (radio, television, or other technical means) in a place open to the public or in a place where a significant number of persons are present who do not belong to the usual circle of a family, regardless of whether the work is perceived at the place of its presentation or in another place simultaneously with the presentation of the work. The term “disclosed work” shall mean a work that has been made available to the public with the consent of the author through publication, public display, public performance, broadcasting, communication by cable, or by any other means.
Age Limits
• “Symphonic Music” nomination – no age restrictions;
• “A New Perspective on Wind Orchestra” nomination – no age restrictions;
• “Shore of Hope” nomination – up to 25 years of age *
* The age of participants is determined as of the application submission deadline for the Competition (May 31, 2026).
Total duration of the composition
• “Symphonic Music” nomination – from 10 to 15 minutes
• “A New Perspective on Wind Orchestra” nomination – from 4 to 10 minutes
• “Shore of Hope” nomination – from 5 to 10 minutes
More detailed information is provided in the official Competition Regulations.
Yuri TEMIRKANOV
Artistic director of the St. Petersburg Academic Philharmonic named after D. D. Shostakovich
I have been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Andrey Petrov Foundation since its creation. I can say with confidence that for many years the Foundation has been engaged not only in promoting the music of Andrey Petrov himself, creating an archive, working on the publication of a composer’s collected works, which is undoubtedly very important, but also organizing a composers competition that is very significant for Russian cultural life. As a member of the jury several years ago, I had the opportunity not only to realize how many authors send their compositions to the competition, but also a wide range of cities and countries of participants.
Gennady GLADKOV
Composer
The once-blooming garden of Russian musical culture has been blowing a bit down. Therefore, any support and stimulation of creativity in the field of culture and art is like blessed rain. I consider the Open competition of composers named after Andrey Petrov a matter of vital necessity, a matter of great national importance. Therefore, I express my gratitude to the organizing committee of the contest. Continue this way - it is necessary, it is joyful.
Alexander ZATSEPIN
Composer
Competitions for composers are not frequent, but very important. Sometimes authors simply have nowhere to go with their composition, there is no way to hear their song in the concert hall performed by professional soloists and musicians. The contest, named after the wonderful composer Andrey Petrov, gives the participants this chance, inspiring them to create new compositions! I have long heard about this professional competition, about a worthy and impartial jury, about the widest geography of participants, but for the first time I ended up in the jury, which I was very happy about!
Alexander RASKATOV
Composer
Dear friends, dear jury members, colleagues, young composers!
Now, more than ever, music will play a special role - the role of appeal to a person. Composers are simply called upon to return to music the high role that has always been inherent in it. I am not a “populist” at all, I am always for something new, with a condition that the purpose of this new is to touch the listener and reach out to him.
Doctor vocation is to heal human ailments;
Music - heals the soul, and we will remember it!
I wish you success, dear young colleagues!
Alexander KNAIFEL
Composer
The star of Andrey Petrov
shines with Petersburg -
and it is wonderous
that in the young -
the thaumaturgic whiteness
of the nights
is ever aflame with new life.
Sergey SKRIPKA
Conductor
All my creative life was connected with Andrey Petrov, starting with our first work on Mosfilm. The music of this outstanding composer will forever remain a precious example of true art, those pharos that has been shining for all of us for many years. Someone, like me, grew up with the melodies of Andrey Petrov. Someone has recognized them only now. But the main thing is that his memory does not fade and his music does not age. And it’s fortunate that there is an opportunity for composers to take part in a competition where they appreciate, first of all, good taste, sincere service to art and the continuation of the wonderful traditions laid down by Andrey Petrov.
Eduard ARTEMYEV
People's Artist of Russia, composer
The creative legacy of my colleague Andrey Petrov, a wonderful composer who worked in a variety of musical genres, has a particular value to our culture. His music is played in academic halls, on theater stages, in pop concerts. For each of us, I am sure that for the members of the jury not less than for the contestants – such an event will not only be a great opportunity to look around, hear new music, discover new names for themselves, but also a wonderful experience that will undoubtedly benefit. I am very glad that the Open composers competition has a great authority among the musical community, arouses tremendous interest among the professional community, as evidenced by the number of applications for participation.
Andrey Petrov Foundation directorate
Olga PETROVA - artistic director, People's Artist of Russia, composer
Nadezda KUZINA - director
Anton GOLUBENKO - director for development, technical director
From the bottom of our hearts we greet the musicians and composers taking part in the Andrey Petrov Open composers competition, a prestigious creative competition that attracts the attention of the music community both in Russia and abroad. We are proud that the Competition has gained a reputation and become one of the significant annual events in the cultural life of our country.
We are confident that participation in the competition will become a significant stage in the creative biography of each of the participants, and the experience gained will allow them to conquer new professional heights.
We wish all participants inspiration and good luck!
All rights reserved. Andrey Petrov foundation, 2019 - 2026
