60th anniversary Concertino Praga Competition. Here’s who will perform in the finals concerts in September.

The Concertino Praga – the Antonín Dvořák International Radio Competition for Young Musicians, which is co-organised by Czech Radio and the Academy of Classical Music, is celebrating an important anniversary this year. The 2026 Concertino Praga Competition will culminate in two finals evenings at the Dvořák Prague Festival on 17 September and 18 September, 2026. The finalists have been announced.

Competitors vying for first place

The young musicians have already gone through the first round of the competition. Four finalists in each category were selected based on anonymous recordings submitted by the competitors. We are pleased that a large number of Czech competitors made it to the finals this year.

Two finals evenings

The finals evenings are open to the public. The performances of the young musicians will be judged by both the jury and the audience.

Final Competition Round, Wind instruments category, 17 September, 2026

The concert will take place in the Prague Conservatoire Concert Hall. The soloists will be accompanied by the Prague Philharmonia, led by conductor Marko Ivanović.

Programme and Competitors:

• SEBASTIAN CRETAN
  • Lars-Erik Larsson: Concertino, Op. 45, No. 7

• ALINA LAMZIUK
  • Frigyes Hidas: Concerto in D Major for Oboe and Orchestra

• VOJTĚCH STEJSKAL
  • Alexander Arutunian: Trumpet Concerto in A flat Major

• ELEN VIRABYAN
  • Aram Khachaturian: Violin Concerto in D Minor (arranged for flute by Jean Pierre Rampal)

Final Competition Round, Keyboard/string instruments category, 18 September, 2026

The second finals evening will take place in the magnificent Dvořák Hall in the Rudolfinum. The young musicians will perform alongside the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Marek Šedivý.

Programme and Competitors:

• XUYAO BAI
  • Sergei Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18

• TOBIÁŠ BALKOVSKÝ
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33

• VALENTÝNA IBRIQI
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat Minor, Op. 23

• LIN TOKURA
  • Jean Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47

Exceptional prizes

Thanks to the support of the Academy of Classical Music, made possible through the Karel Komárek Family Foundation and other partners, the winners will receive study scholarships of up to EUR 5,000, and also have the opportunity to create a professional recording at Czech Radio.

Come support the next generation of professional musicians!

Photo: Concertino Praga 2024 winner Zoja Syguda during the final concert at the Rudolfinum. © Petra Hajská