José Augusto Alegria Prize | Young Musicians’s contest – 2026

11^th Edition

In 2026, Évora Music Association, “Eboræ Mvsica”, celebrates its 39^th anniversary, and the 28^th annual international meeting entitled “Évora Cathedral School of Music” that will be held in October. The 11th “José Augusto Alegria Contest” for young musicians from Portugal and abroad will also be held this year. It’s guiding light and patron is Canon José Augusto Alegria, who bequeathed to us an important range of works based on the study and research of various aspects of the “Évora Cathedral School of Music”, mainly from the 16th and 17th centuries.

The contest includes different musical categories, in 2026 Song and Trumpet.

The objectives of the contest include:

• fostering the study of music and encouraging excellence of performance;

• developing musical taste;

• promoting the exchange of learning;

• paying tribute to the patron of the contest, Canon José Augusto Alegria, and making his name known.

REGULATIONS

1 – Rules of entry:

SONG

1 – Music students and young professional musicians beginning their careers, who are at least 18 years and not over 32 years of age on 1st August 2026, may take part in the contest.

TRUMPET

1 – Music students and young professional musicians beginning their careers, who are:

• Level 1 – aged 15 years or less on 1st August 2026;
  • Level 2 – aged 18 years or less on 1st August 2026;
  • Level 3 – aged 25 years or less on 1st August 2026;

2 – Competition:

1. SONG

1^st Stage – First round

The names of first round qualifiers will be announced at the end of the first round.

2^nd Stage – Semi-final

Maximum six entrants will qualify for the final round. The names of qualifiers will be announced at the end of the semi-final.

3^rd Stage – Final. The names of winners will be announced at the end of the Final.

Repertoire:

Pieces may not be repeated at different stages of the contest.

First round:

− one lied or melodie;

− one opera aria from the 18th or 19th century.

Semi-final:

− one erudite song in Portuguese by a Portuguese composer.

− one piece freely chosen.

− one opera aria or oratorio (or cantata or motet) freely chosen.

Pieces should be presented in at least 3 (three) different languages and may be presented in any order.

Final:

− one erudite song in Portuguese by a Portuguese composer.

− one Lied or Melodie.

− one opera aria, freely chosen.

Pieces should be presented in at least three different languages and may be presented in any order.

• TRUMPET

Level 1 (until 15 years old):

First Round:

– Victory – Herbert Clarke;

Winners’ names will be announced at the end of the first round.

Final:

– Andante e Alegro – Ropartz;

Level 2 (until 18 years old):

First Round:

– Concert Etude Op. 49 – Alexander  Goedicke;

Winners’ names will be announced at the end of the first round.

Final:

– Concert for Trumpet – Arutunian;

– Sonata for Trumpet and Piano – Paul Hindemith;

Level 3 (until 25 years old):

First Round:

– Concert Piece No 2 – Brand;

Winners’ names will be announced at the end of the first round.

Final:

– Intrada – Arthur Honegger;

– Trumpet Concerto in E major – Johann Hummel;

3 – Entrants must present themselves at the contest and rehearsals, with or without pianist, in the established order, to be decided by lottery. All entrants must attend the lottery, to be held at the Convento dos Remédios in Évora:

• on 17^th July 2026 at 8h30am – Trumpet;
• on 17^th July 2026 at 9h00am – Song;

Entrants who are unable to attend may be represented by an accredited representative.

Entrants who do not attend the lottery and/or are not represented by someone duly authorized, will be automatically disqualified.

• 3.1. The order established by the lottery cannot be changed.

• 3.2. Entrants who do not present themselves at the contest in the established order will be eliminated from the contest.

4 – At each stage of the Song contest, each entrant should present their repertoire without interruption, in the chosen order, and pieces must be played from memory (except for the Oratorio or Cantata aria).

5 – The Jury may deem it necessary to interrupt entrant’s performances at any time or exempt entrants from performing one or more pieces.

6 – Entrants may be accompanied by a pianist supplied by the contest organisers, or alternatively, entrants may supply their own accompanying pianist, and they thereby accept liability for the cost of travel, board and accommodation for their accompanying pianist.

7 – Entrants, in both categories (Song and Trumpet), are not allowed to do rehearsals or practice at the examination venue.

8 – The semi-final and final (Song) and final (Trumpet) are open to the public and will take place at the venues detailed below.

9 – At the final, the Jury reserves the right to withhold any prize if it considers that the required standard of performance has not been met.

10 – All entrants who are eliminated from the contest will receive a participation certificate.

11 – All prize-winners will receive a certificate.

12 – The decisions of the Jury are final, and there is no appeal.

13 – Prize-winners’ concert and award ceremony: all prize-winners must perform at the prize-winners’ concert (those who do not perform will forfeit their certificate and prize); the concert repertoire should include one or two pieces, freely chosen, from among those performed during the contest.

14 – Entry fees are not refundable for any reason.

15 – Entrants are liable for the cost of travel and accommodation.

16 – The contest organisers reserve the right to record, photograph and film performances and use recordings and images for the purposes of radio and television broadcast, newspaper articles, electronic platforms, social media and other purposes; entrants agree to forfeit all rights over such recordings and images.

17 – The minimum number of participants in every stage in Trumpet contest is two.

18 – On signing the entry form, entrants agree to be bound by the contest regulation.

19 – Contest and prize-winners’ concert calendar and venues:

(the schedule can change according to the participant’s numbers)

1. SONG

First round

Évora, Évora Region Conservatory – Eboræ Musica, Convento dos Remédios – July 17, 3:00pm ;

Semi final

Évora, Évora Region Conservatory – Eboræ Musica, Convento dos Remédios – July 18, 3:00pm ;

Final

Évora, Évora Region Conservatory – Eboræ Musica, Convento dos Remédios – July 19, 3:00pm ;

• TRUMPET

First round

Level 1

Évora, Évora Region Conservatory – Eboræ Musica, Convento dos Remédios – July 17, 11:00am ;

Level 2

Évora, Évora Region Conservatory – Eboræ Musica, Convento dos Remédios – July 17, 6:30pm ;

Level 3

Évora, Évora Region Conservatory – Eboræ Musica, Convento dos Remédios – July 18, 9:00am ;

Final

Level 1

Évora, Évora Region Conservatory – Eboræ Musica, Convento dos Remédios – July 18, 5:00 pm;

Level 2

Évora, Évora Region Conservatory – Eboræ Musica, Convento dos Remédios – July 19, 9:00 am;

Level 3

Évora, Évora Region Conservatory – Eboræ Musica, Convento dos Remédios – July 19, 11:30 am;

• PRIZE-WINNERS’ CONCERT

Évora, Teatro Garcia de Resende, Largo Joaquim António de Aguiar – July 19, 9:00 pm.

20 – Entry:

To enter the contest participants should send us your completed entry forms, accompanied by the documents detailed below, and the proof of the payment to the address indicated below, to be received until July 10th:

– Completed entry form, on eboraemusica.pt (at the entrance for the lottery identification document must be shown (identity card or passport);

– Curriculum vitae;

– One list of the repertoire for each stage of the contest (with name of composer and piece);

– Two legible copies of scores for pieces included in the repertoire at each stage of the contest (Song and Trumpet);

– Two photos;

– Fee: 40 euro (payment by bank transfer to Caixa Geral de Depósitos bank account no. 029700036507230   IBAN PT50 0035 0297 00036507230 76

Address:

Eboræ Musica

Convento dos Remédios

Avenida de S. Sebastião

Apartado 2126

7001-901 Évora

Portugal

Email: eboraemusica@gmail.com

If the participants prefer, it is possible to fill the form on the link below:

https://forms.gle/QXeJnjwZv2HgQ2RN6

Then the participants should send all the documents to eboraemuscia@gmail.com , and mention that this form is already filled out.

21 – Prizes:

 Song

• 1st Prize – 1.000 euro + one concert in the 28th series of Concerts “Music and other forms of Art in the Cloister”, Évora, 2027;
•  2nd Prize – 750 euro;
•  3rd Prize – 550 euro;
• Prize for best performance of Portuguese Song – 500 euro + didactic material;

Trumpet

Level 1

• 1st prize – 400 euro;
• 2nd prize – 200 euro;
• 3rd Prize – Honourable mention + didactic material;

Level 2

• 1st prize – 500 euro;
• 2nd prize – 300 euro;
• 3rd Prize – Honourable mention + didactic material;

Level 3

• 1st prize – 1.000 euro + one concert in the 28th series of Concerts “Music and Other forms of Art in the Cloister”, Évora, 2027;
• 2nd Prize – 500 euro;
• 3rd Prize – Honourable mention + didactic material;

22 – Jurors:

1. SONG:

Chair: Benoît Gibson

Member: Liliana Bizineche

Member: Sandra Medeiros

• TRUMPET

Chair: Benoît Gibson

Member: Pedro Monteiro

Member: Artur Barroso

21 – Accompanying pianist: Yan Mikirtumov

ENTRY FORM

JOSÉ AUGUSTO ALEGRIA PRIZE

YOUNG MUSICIAN’S CONTEST

11^th EDITION – 2026

1 – Name: ____________________________________________________________

2 – Address: __________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

3 – City: ________________________4 – Country: ___________________________

4 – Post Code: |__|__|__|__| – |__|__|__|

5 – Birth Date: |__|__|/|__|__|/|__|__|__|__|

6 – Age on 01/08/2026: |__|__|

7 – Nationality:_________________________________________________________

8 – Telephone: |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|

9 – Mobile: |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|

10 – Nº of passport or id card: ____________________________________________

11 – E-mail: ___________________________________________________________

12 – Vocal range (Song): _________________________________________________

13 – Instruments and level I apply for:______________________________________

14 – I shall require piano accompaniment: Yes |__| No|__|

15 – I shall supply piano accompaniment: (name)_____________________________

16 – I agree with the contest regulations.

17 – Date: |__|__|/|__|__|/|__|__|__|__|

18 – Signed:___________________________________________________________