Concours National d’Exécution Musicale

Competition open to the public - L’Abeille, RiddesThursday, October 22, 2026, starting at 9:00 a.m.: Preliminary Rounds (Flutes, clarinets, saxophones, and marimba)Friday, October 23, starting at 9:00 a.m.: Finals | 5:00 p.m.: Announcement of results and concert featuring the winners accompanied by piano | Works by Emmanuel Séjourné, Carl Reinecke, Frank Martin, and Carl NielsenFree admissionInformation: www.riddes.ch Grand Finale - NODA, SionSunday, October 25 at 5:00 p.m.: Finale with the symphony orchestra of the Haute École de Musique Vaud Valais Fribourg (HEMU).Information and reservations: www.noda.ch Riddes Competition 2026 A key milestone in the careers of young musicians in Switzerland Over the years, the Riddes Competition has established itself as an essential event in the Swiss music education landscape. Its distinctiveness lies in the unique role it plays among existing competitions: it addresses a real and clearly identified need in the development of young performers. In Switzerland, the SJMW (Swiss Youth Music Competition) is primarily aimed at students at the pre-professional level and serves as an essential step before entering a music conservatory. At the other end of the spectrum, international competitions are, for the most part, intended for musicians who have reached a level equivalent to a master’s degree or who are already pursuing a professional career. Between these two poles, the Riddes Competition fills a crucial gap. It is primarily aimed at students at Swiss music conservatories at the bachelor’s level, offering them a demanding, stimulating, and formative environment perfectly suited to this pivotal phase of their artistic development. The competition thus serves as a transitional platform, allowing young performers to confront the realities of the competitive world while remaining grounded in a pedagogical and constructive approach. The 2026 edition will feature four instrumental disciplines: flute, clarinet, marimba, and saxophone. Through these selections, the Riddes Competition reaffirms its commitment to representing the diversity of instrumental practices and encouraging artistic excellence across a wide range of repertoires.As the highlight of this edition, the 2026 finals will take place in the new NODA concert hall in Sion, an iconic venue that embodies the dynamism and cultural ambition of Valais. The finalists

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