Recognition for Musical Talents at Abu Dhabi's First Composition Competition

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

Abu Dhabi, UAE – January 2026:

The prestigious Abu Dhabi Festival, under the auspices of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF), has unveiled the laureates of its inaugural Abu Dhabi International Competition for Composition (ADICC), marking a novel milestone in the Middle East's music scene.

This noteworthy competition was conducted with the honorary backing of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, alongside Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, a prominent patron of the festival. The initiative emphasizes Abu Dhabi’s evolving status as a global hub for music and artistic creativity.

Daniele Gasparini achieved first place in the Orchestra Category for his piece En el Aire, while Andrey Zubets claimed victory in the Piano Category with his composition Mirror Preludes. Both composers will showcase their award-winning works at the upcoming 23rd Abu Dhabi Festival in April 2026, with the performances expected to be streamed globally.

With 165 entries from 47 countries, the competition reflects a robust international engagement and a rich array of musical expressions. Initiated in May 2025, ADICC is a testament to Abu Dhabi's vision as a UNESCO-designated City of Music, fostering innovation in contemporary composition and highlighting rising global talent.

Her Excellency Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder of ADMAF and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Festival, articulated the competition’s goal of enhancing Abu Dhabi’s stature as a preeminent center for music and cultural exchange. She emphasized that ADICC offers a stage for emerging composers and bridges them with international audiences.

The winners were evaluated by an esteemed international jury headed by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Du Yun, along with esteemed composers such as Shen Ye, Elmar Lampson, Aigerim Seilova, Naji Hakim, and producer Robert Townson. The jury commended the selected works for their technical mastery, emotional resonance, and effective fusion of various musical traditions. Assessments also took into account the pieces' live performance viability.

As champions of the competition, Gasparini and Zubets will each be awarded AED 130,000, a chance for professional recording, and a world premiere performance at the 2026 Abu Dhabi Festival. Their pieces will also be documented under the Abu Dhabi Festival Composers’ Platform, which has been instrumental in promoting global composers for over 15 years, yielding 36 original works and 80 collaborations.

Second-place accolades of AED 50,000 were granted to Nadim Tarabay for his piece Sinfonietta en Spirale (Orchestra Category) and Tarek Yamani for Dabke in C Saba (Piano Category). Third places, worth AED 25,000, went to Thomas Kornel for Fear, Rage, Fire (Orchestra Category) and Bruno Vlahek for Mirage Toccata (Piano Category).

Through impactful initiatives like ADICC, ADMAF remains committed to nurturing emerging artistic voices, facilitating cultural discourse, and solidifying Abu Dhabi's stature as a global leader in music, arts, and creativity.