These are all the
participants of the
Young Composers Competition!
The Young Composers Competition
Would you like to continue making your own music and are you 18 years old or younger? Then take part in the NBE Young Composers Competition! Whether you sing, rap, make beats or compose on your instrument – anything goes, as long as you wrote it yourself. During the Young Composers Competition, you will receive guidance from experienced composers and arrangers, meet other young musicians, gain stage experience and have your work performed by top musicians. The competition is a springboard for many serious composing talents in the Netherlands and produces beautiful new compositions every year.
From the Showcases in October to the Composers’ Weekend and the Final in December, you will work on your own composition. At the end, you will have a chance to be selected to perform on stage during the NBE’s New Year’s Concert!
Theme 2025
Our challenge for you this year: think about your ideal world. If you could design a new world, what would you see? Tell us in your own way, with a song, soundscape or symphony – in any style you like.
First round: selection
Participants had until 12 October 2025 to submit their compositions. All compositions will be listened to and assessed by a professional jury of NBE musicians and composers. The most important criteria are originality and quality. Pieces will be selected from each region (north, east, south, west) to proceed to the regional Showcases.
Second round: Showcases
If your composition is selected, we will invite you to perform your piece during the regional Showcases, from 30 October to 2 November. You can do this on your own, together with friends or, if you have written a piece for (members of) jongNBE, together with these musicians! A jury consisting of NBE musicians, composers and arrangers will choose who will proceed to the next round. The selection criteria take into account the mix of styles in the New Year’s Concert. We would also like to see this mix in the music of the young composers. When selecting the winners, in addition to originality and quality of the composition, attention will also be paid to diversity in relation to each other (musical style, age, gender) and to presentation.
Third round: Composer’s Weekend
During this Composer’s Weekend, on 13 and 14 December, all participating composers and NBE musicians will meet. During the day, they will rehearse, learn, listen and eat together, and every evening there will be a concert performance with an audience. After each concert, composers will be selected who are guaranteed a place in the Final. However, there are also “wildcards” available, which will be awarded at the end of the weekend. So after this weekend, we will know which participants are going to the Final!
Fourth round: Final
During the Final on 21 December, the young composers will compete against each other for a place in the New Year’s Concert. Three of them will be chosen to perform their piece with the NBE during the New Year’s Concert in the Concertgebouw.
The New Year’s Concert
The winners of this Composition Competition will be able to play their piece together with the NBE during the annual New Year’s Concert. The New Year’s Concert will be performed once on 31 December and twice on 1 January in the Main Hall of the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and will be broadcast on television by BNNVARA on the same evening.
Dates 2025
- Showcases: 30 October – 2 November
- Composer’s Weekend: 13 December – 14 December
- Final: 21 December
- New Year’s Concert: 27 December – 1 Januari
Rules
You can write a piece for:
- your own instrument/voice
- your band or other music group
- the jongNBE (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, saxophone, trombone, percussion and double bass/bass guitar), possibly including yourself – please send all sheet music with your entry
The following also applies:
- your piece must be no longer than 4 minutes
- you are not older than 18 years on the day of the application deadline
Questions? Ask them via componeren@nbe.nl.
Partners
During the Young Composers Competition, the young composers are guided by experienced composers/arrangers.
The Young Composers Competition is organised by the NBE in collaboration with BNNVARA, Podium Mozaïek, Loft, VRIJDAG, Kaliber, Akoesticum, TivoliVredenburg Utrecht and Het Concertgebouw Amsterdam.
How do you start composing?
Composer’s Toolbox
Welcome to the Composer’s Toolbox: the virtual helpdesk for composers of all ages and levels! The Composer’s Toolbox offers a treasure trove of information and inspiration. Musicians from the NBE and well-known composers answer questions such as “How do you start composing?”, “Do you have to be original?” and “What do you do when you’re stuck?”. It’s not just about classical music, but also pop, jazz and world music. In short videos, NBE musicians demonstrate the possibilities and special playing techniques on their instruments: what it’s called, how it sounds, how you do it, how you write it down and when you use it. You’ll also find all kinds of tips on harmony, instrumentation, form, melody and much more. Take a look!
Are you participating?
Are you ready to submit your own piece of music and take part in the Young Composers Competition? Great, you can do so until 12 October! Do you have any questions first? Ask them via componeren@nbe.nl.
ask your questions
Compositiewedstrijd 2025: Showcases
Compositiewedstrijd 2025: Componistenweekend