Participate!

Send in your
composition
now!

The Composition Expedition

Are you 18 or younger and ready to take your own music to the next level? Join the NBE Composition Expedition!

Whether you sing, rap, make beats or compose on your instrument – anything goes, as long as it’s your own original work. During the Composition Expedition, you’ll embark on a musical journey of discovery, guided by experienced composers and arrangers. Along the way, you’ll meet other young musicians, gain valuable stage experience, and hear your work performed by world-class musicians.

Participation is completely free!

From the Première in October to the Metamorphosis and the Composers’ Celebration in December, you’ll develop your own composition every step of the way.

Ready to join?

Theme 2026

Dive into the world of the Roaring Twenties! Imagine a time of vibrant cities, lively dance halls, jazz clubs, and groundbreaking music. Swinging jazz took the world by storm, while classical composers experimented with bold new rhythms, sounds, and styles. More than 100 years later, much of the music from that era still sounds remarkably modern.

But how do you see the Roaring Twenties? Reinvent its music, play with it, combine it with the sounds of today—or challenge it completely. Let your imagination run free and tell your own story through a song, soundscape, symphony, or anything in between. Any style is welcome!

First step: selection

Submit your composition by 5 October 2026 at the latest. All submissions will be reviewed by NBE musicians and composers, with particular attention to originality and potential. The Netherlands is divided into four regions, and from each region, 12 compositions are selected to advance to the Première.

Second step: the Première

The Première takes place from 29 October to 1 November 2026 in four cities across the Netherlands.

These will be inspiring evenings where you’ll perform your composition for a live audience together with jongNBE. Your piece will be performed exactly as you wrote it, whether it’s for yourself, your band, and/or jongNBE. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet the other young composers taking part.

During the Première, the jury looks at originality, the quality of the composition, diversity (including musical style, age, and gender), and presentation. They also consider which participants have the greatest potential to grow musically by taking part in this programme and working closely with professionals.

After the Première, around 20 compositions will be selected to move on to the next stage, where the young composers receive intensive guidance from an arranger.

Third step: the Experiment

After the Première, it’s time to arrange your composition for the full Nederlands Blazers Ensemble. That may sound like a challenge, but you won’t have to do it alone. You’ll be guided by a professional arranger, who will provide tips and practical advice to help you create your own arrangement for the NBE.

Your arranger will support you throughout the process and review the final version to make sure your piece can be performed by the NBE.

But what does your music actually sound like when it’s played by the NBE? That’s where the Experiment comes in. During this session, you’ll attend a rehearsal and hear the NBE perform all or part of your composition. It’s a unique opportunity to experience your music live and decide whether you’d like to make any final changes.

The Experiment takes place on 21 November 2026.

After that, all compositions move on to the next stage.

Fourth step: the Metamorphosis

From the Première onwards, your piece undergoes a true transformation. What began as a composition for yourself, your band, or jongNBE grows into a full work for the NBE — possibly performed together with you or your band.

During the Metamorphosis, you’ll spend a full day developing your piece. You’ll rehearse briefly with the NBE, take part in an inspiring workshop, and have the chance to get to know the other young composers better.

The day ends with a concert. Afterwards, the NBE musicians select the compositions that will go on to the Composers’ Celebration. Across the two days, a total of ten compositions will be selected.

In making their selection, the musicians look primarily at how each composition has developed, the quality of the arrangement, the presentation, how the composition relates to the theme, and how it fits within the final concert programme. They also take diversity into account, considering musical styles, instrumentations, and the composers themselves.

The Metamorphosis takes place on 12 and 13 December 2026 at Akoesticum in Ede. You will be assigned to one of the two days.

Fifth Step: the Composer’s Celebration

The Composition Expedition concludes with the Composers’ Celebration.

During this concert, the ten selected compositions will be performed by the full Nederlands Blazers Ensemble. In addition to the composers of these works, all young composers who took part in the Première are warmly invited to attend. Together, we celebrate everything that has been created throughout the Composition Expedition.

At the end of the concert, the NBE musicians select three compositions to be performed during the New Year’s Concert at the Concertgebouw. Their selection takes into account diversity, presentation, and how well each piece fits within the NBE’s concert programme. This means the chosen works are not necessarily the “best” compositions, but rather those that best complement the programme.

After the concert, there will be plenty of time to meet the other young composers, reflect on the experience, and exchange ideas.

The Composers’ Celebration takes place on 20 December 2026 at Theater Junushoff in Wageningen.

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!

to the Composer’s Toolbox

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

Send in your
composition
now!