BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 16. The National Music
& Global Culture Society, led by Honored Artist of Azerbaijan and
laureate of international competitions, Professor Nargiz Aliyarova,
is organizing the IV International Composition Competition from
March to November, with the support of the Azerbaijan State
Committee for Work with Diaspora and the Ministry of Culture,
Trend
reports.

This competition marks a significant milestone as the first and
only international composition competition in the history of
Azerbaijani music. Dedicated to Azerbaijani folk songs, its aim is
to showcase the rich heritage of Azerbaijani folk art and promote
its global recognition. Composers worldwide, regardless of age, are
invited to participate. As per competition guidelines, each
participant must submit an original composition for solo instrument
or small ensemble (up to 5 instruments), based on one or several of
ten (10) pre-selected Azerbaijani folk songs.

Submissions will be evaluated by an international jury based on
audio recordings and PDF files, with each work required to
acknowledge the original source of the melody and its connection to
Azerbaijani folk art.

For detailed information and participation guidelines, visit
https://nm-gcs.org/about-the-nmgcs-iv-international-composition-competition/.
Contact: +1 202 560 0145, +994502138155. Email:
[email protected].

Competition terms were announced on March 15, with submissions
accepted until July 1. The international jury will review entries
by July 15, and on September 18, Azerbaijan’s National Music Day,
winners will be announced, and cash prizes awarded: $2,000 for 1st
place, $1,000 for 2nd place, and $500 for 3rd place.

The winning compositions will debut in September in Baku at the
International Festival named after U. Hajibeyli. On November 8,
Azerbaijan’s Victory Day, the final concert of the IV International
Composition Competition will take place at Lincoln Center in New
York.

Outstanding works will be compiled into a collection, registered
in the US Library of Congress, and published in New York with
individual numbers and barcodes. Previous competitions have
garnered international participation: 51 participants from 35
countries in 2021, 35 participants from 23 countries in 2022, and
54 participants from 22 countries in 2023. Winners have represented
Azerbaijan, Great Britain, the USA, Germany, Austria, Spain,
Poland, China, Colombia, Georgia, and Ukraine.