WORLD OPEN Online Competition: Duo
- Next edition
- Winter Edition 2026
- Applications until
- December 1
- Entry fee
- €37
- Format
- online, video
RULES FOR PARTICIPANTS IN «DUO» (two different instruments) NOMINATION 2026
Duo competition online: who can enter and how it works
The Duo nomination of the WORLD OPEN Online Music Competition is a duo competition online for two musicians playing two different instruments — for example violin and cello, flute and guitar, or clarinet and bassoon. Duos of two identical instruments enter under the rules of the corresponding solo nomination. The age category is set by the average age of the two partners; one accompanist may join the duo, and their age is not counted.
The competition has three editions a year, applications are accepted all year round, and the duo is judged on video, so the partners can record wherever they rehearse.
Schedule
The competition is completely online and is held annually. Applications are accepted 365 days a year. The competitor selects one of three editions and sends an application.
SPRING EDITION
Application deadline is March 15th. Announcement of the results on April 05.
SUMMER EDITION
Acceptance of applications until June 1. Announcement of the results on June 15.
WINTER EDITION
Application deadline is December 1th. Announcement of the results on December 15th.
Program
The competition program includes two (preferably diverse) compositions of the participant’s choice. Duos are not obligated to perform compositions by heart. It is allowed to perform parts (sonata, suite…) as two pieces.
Participants
Right of participation is given to duos from all the countries in the world. The age category is determined by the average age of the participants, excluding the age of the illustrator (accompanist). Competitors may only perform with one accompanist. For the rules for the nomination Duo (two identical instruments) see the rules for solo nominations.
«DUO» (two different instruments)
JUNIOR
- Category I: born in 2017 and younger – maximum 5 minutes
- Category II: born in 2015 and younger – maximum 5 minutes
MIDDLE JUNIOR
- Category III: born in 2013 and younger – maximum 7 minutes
- Category IV: born in 2011 and younger – maximum 10 minutes
JUNIOR ARTIST
- Category V: born in 2009 and younger – maximum 10 minutes
SENIOR ACADEMIC
- Category VI: born in 2007 and younger – maximum 12 minutes
- Category VII: born in 2005 and younger – maximum 12 minutes
- Category VIII: born in 2002 and younger – maximum 12 minutes
SENIOR ARTIST
- Category IX: born in 1999 and younger – maximum 13 minutes
- Category X: born in 1998 and older –maximum 13 minutes
Repertoire for a duo: what to choose
A duo performs two compositions of its choice, ideally contrasting in tempo or style, and may play from the score. Movements of a sonata or suite can be presented as the two pieces. Look for music written for your exact pair of instruments, or a well-made arrangement in which both parts carry the musical material: a piece where one instrument only accompanies shows less of the partnership. Time limits start at 5 minutes in the youngest categories and reach 13 minutes in SENIOR ARTIST. Examples, as suggestions only:
- JUNIOR and MIDDLE JUNIOR: short folk-song arrangements, or a minuet or gavotte arranged for your two instruments.
- Violin and cello: the Handel–Halvorsen Passacaglia, or duos by Glière.
- Flute and guitar: a movement from Piazzolla’s Histoire du Tango.
- Clarinet and bassoon: one of the duos attributed to Beethoven.
- SENIOR sections: a movement from Ravel’s Sonata for violin and cello or from Kodály’s Duo for violin and cello.
Recording the video: tips for duos
The recording must be one continuous take without editing, pauses or cuts, and both performers must be clearly seen. Place the partners side by side or at a slight angle to each other, so that they can follow each other’s cues and both fit into one landscape frame; avoid one player standing behind the other. Check the balance in a test recording — a louder instrument may need to sit a little further from the microphone. Before playing, the duo states first names, surnames, years of birth and the name of the competition, or shows an A4 sheet with this information on a stand. See video recording tips and the rules.
Application, fee and certificates
Duos apply using the online application form. Together with the video and payment confirmation, attach proof of identity for both players or a list of members with years of birth verified by the institution they represent. The fee is 37 euros per duo (payment page). The award follows the jury’s average score: in the JUNIOR and MIDDLE JUNIOR sections Gold is given from 90 points, Silver from 80, Bronze from 70 and a Diploma from 65; JUNIOR ARTIST (32.50–50 points) and the SENIOR sections (16.25–25 points) use their own scales, described in the rules. Both partners get a certificate, and teachers may download a letter of appreciation. Everything else is in the rules.
Frequently asked questions
Can two identical instruments enter as a duo here?
No. This nomination is for two different instruments; a duo of two identical instruments follows the rules of the solo nomination for that instrument.
Can the duo perform with an accompanist?
Yes, but with only one accompanist. The accompanist’s age is not included when the category is calculated.
Does a duo have to play from memory?
No, duos are not obliged to perform by heart.
Which category applies if we were born in different years?
Calculate the average age of the two partners: the category is determined by that average, not by the older or the younger player.
When are the results published?
This page gives April 05 for spring, June 15 for summer and December 15 for winter; results appear on the results page.
See also: Chamber Ensemble for groups of three or more, Piano Ensemble, and participants.