Article 1 : Purpose of the Competition

The International Ventoux Flute Festival Competition aims to promote ensemble playing of compositions for flute ensembles and chamber music for flute, and to showcase the talent of musicians through three levels of competition. This competition is part of the festival's program of events, which also aims to strengthen ties between flutists on an international level.

Article 2 : Categories (levels)

• • Category 1

Ensembles in this category compete under the auspices of a music school, conservatory, university, or other music education institution. It is open to flute ensembles ranging from trios to quintets and is intended for flutists at the end of cycle 1 to cycle 2 in France or the equivalent abroad (approximately 3 to 6 years of practice).

The age limit for this category is 15 years old, calculated based on the average date of birth of each member on the date of the competition (July 6, 2026).

• • Category 2

Ensembles in this category compete under the auspices of a music school, conservatory, university, or other music education institution. It is open to flute ensembles ranging from trios to quintets and is intended for flutists at cycle 3 level who are completing a diploma course or equivalent abroad (conservatory, higher education institutions, universities, etc.).

• • Category 3

This category is for professionals or advanced amateurs performing in ensembles ranging from duos to quintets of flutes, or flute and other instruments. Ensembles with piano are not accepted.

Article 3 : Registration

• Registration deadline: May 31, 2026.To participate in the competition, each member of the ensembles must complete the online form and pay both the membership fee to the International Ventoux Flute Festival Association and the registration fees.

Registration gives ensemble members access to the festival's international events: free admission to concerts, participation in the flute orchestra and ensemble music workshops, masterclasses (subject to availability), round tables, and conferences. A discounted accreditation with membership is available for one accompanying person per ensemble.

 

Article 4 : Contest Programs

Each category has a compulsory program and a free program.

• • Category 1: Compulsory program of approximately 15 minutes, free program of up to 15 minutes.
  • Category 2: Compulsory program of approximately 20 minutes, free program of up to 20 minutes.
  • Category 3: Compulsory program of approximately 30 minutes, free program of up to 30 minutes.

Here you can find the works for the compulsory program.

For the free program, the jury's evaluation criteria will go beyond technical achievement to include various artistic aspects such as the composition and coherence of the works presented, the presentation and staging, etc. The program must be inventive and may include excerpts from works, improvisations, soundtracks, or electronic music. Failure to comply with the maximum durations mentioned may result in penalties on the final score.

Article 5 : Jury Prize and Audience Favorite Award

• • A Jury Prize will be awarded to the winners in each category, calculated based on the average scores for the compulsory and free programs. In the event of a tie, the jury will select the winner.
  • The awards for categories 1 and 2 will be presented to the institutions that registered the ensembles.
  • For category 3, the prize will be awarded to the winning ensemble.
  • The Audience Favorite Prize will be awarded during the closing evening after the audience has listened to and voted for the nominated ensembles.

Prizes awarded in 2026:

Category 1: Yamaha YPC-62 piccolo
Category 2: Bass flute (brand not specified)
Category 3: Recording of an album under the URTEX DIGITAL CLASSICS label with distribution on music streaming platforms

Additional smaller prizes will be awarded to the members of the winning ensembles.

The Public Favorite Prize is a prize fund established prior to the competition and funded by a crowdfunding campaign and by the sale of coupons during the auditions and festival concerts. The prize fund is distributed among the three ensembles that received the most votes in the public vote (all categories combined). The distribution is as follows: 50% to the first-placed ensemble, 30% to the second, and 20% to the third. In the event of a tie, the amount is evenly distributed among the tied competitors.

 

Article 6 : Jury

• A jury of professionals from the music industry, composed of the panelists from the International Ventoux Flute Festival, will evaluate the competitors’ performances.
• The evaluation criteria will include musical quality, interpretation, technique, the ensembles’ cohesion, as well as originality and the presentation of their free program.
• The jury’s decisions on the merits of the candidates are final and binding.

Article 7 : Schedule

The 2026 competition will take place during the International Ventoux Flute Festival, from Sunday, July 5 to Sunday, July 12, 2026. The competitors’ programs will be presented during public concerts, and the results will be announced at the closing concert on Saturday, July 11, 2026.

Article 8 : General Rules

• Competitors must be present for the entire duration of the festival, with a welcome reception scheduled for the afternoon of Sunday, July 5, and a closing on Sunday, July 12 in the morning (closing concert and closing event on Saturday, July 11).
• Ensembles may not change members during the competition, except in exceptional circumstances and with the approval of the jury.
• Attendance at the closing concert is mandatory; failure to attend may result in disqualification from the competition.
• Participants must adhere to rehearsal schedules and arrive well in advance of competition auditions (concerts), which may take place at venues outside Buis-Les-Baronnies, approximately 15 minutes away by car.
• Ensembles must submit the titles of the works in their free program at least one month before the competition and bring the original scores with them if the pieces are published.
• The organization reserves the right to cancel the competition for any category if there are fewer than three participants registered by the registration deadline.
• Each participating ensemble is responsible for organizing its own stay in Buis-Les-Baronnies. Accommodation suggestions will be available on the ventouxfestival.com website. We encourage participants to make their own transportation arrangements, although a shuttle bus will be provided between Avignon TGV station and Buis-Les-Baronnies on July 5 and 12, as well as carpooling for trips to the concerts.

Article 9 : Acceptance of the Rules

Participation in the contest implies full acceptance of these rules. Any breach may result in penalties or disqualification.

Article 10 : Information and Contact

For any questions regarding the contest, please contact the organization by email at info@ventouxfestival.com or by phone at +33 6 60 97 83 72.