WORLD OPEN Online Competition: French Horn
- Next edition
- Winter Edition 2026
- Applications until
- December 1
- Entry fee
- €37
- Format
- online, video
RULES FOR PARTICIPANTS IN «FRENCH HORN» NOMINATION 2026
French horn competition online: who can enter and how it works
The French horn nomination is the WORLD OPEN Online Music Competition’s French horn competition online. Horn players send a video of their programme, and an international jury evaluates the recording.
Entries come from soloists of every age section, duos, Student – teacher pairs and horn ensembles from any country. There are three editions a year – spring, summer and winter – with applications accepted throughout the year, so a recording made in a lesson or at a school concert can be entered when it is ready.
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. Soloists, duos and ensembles are not obligated to perform compositions by heart. It is allowed to perform parts (sonata, suite, concert…) as two pieces.
Participants
Right to participate is given to all competitors from all the countries in the world.
Soloists:
JUNIOR
- Category I: born in 2020 – maximum 5 minutes
- Category II: born in 2019 – maximum 5 minutes
- Category III: born in 2018 – maximum 6 minutes
MIDDLE JUNIOR
- Category IV: born in 2017 – maximum 6 minutes
- Category V: born in 2016 – maximum 7 minutes
- Category VI: born in 2015 – maximum 7 minutes
- Category VII: born in 2014 – maximum 8 minutes
- Category VIII: born in 2013 – maximum 8 minutes
JUNIOR ARTIST
- Category IX: born in 2012 – maximum 10 minutes
- Category X: born in 2011 – maximum 12 minutes
- Category XI: born in 2009 and younger – up to 12 minutes
SENIOR ACADEMIC
- Category XII: born in 2007 and younger – maximum 13 minutes
- Category XIII: born in 2005 and younger – maximum 13 minutes
- Category XIV: born in 2003 and younger – maximum 13 minutes
- Category XV: born in 2001 and younger – maximum 13 minutes
SENIOR ARTIST
- Category XVI: born in 1999 and younger – maximum 15 minutes
- Category XVII: born in 1998 and older – maximum 15 minutes
DUO (two similar or two different instruments)
Duo can perform with only one accompanist. Age category is defined by average age of all participants, without illustrator or accompanist.
- Category XVIII: born in 2018 and younger – maximum 5 minutes
- Category XIX: born in 2016 and younger – maximum 5 minutes
- Category XX: born in 2014 and younger – maximum 7 minutes
- Category XXI: born in 2012 and younger – maximum 10 minutes
- Category XXII: born in 2010 and younger – maximum 10 minutes
- Category XXIII: born in 2008 and younger – maximum 12 minutes
- Category XXIV: born in 2006 and younger – maximum 12 minutes
- Category XXV: born in 2003 and younger – maximum 13 minutes
- Category XXVI: born in 2000 and younger – maximum 13 minutes
- Category XXVII: born in 1999 and older – maximum 15 minutes
Student – teacher
In the section “Student – teacher” the age group is determined by the age of the student.
- Category XXVIII: born in 2014 and younger – maximum 7 minutes
- Category XXIX: born in 2012 and younger – maximum 10 minutes
- Category XXX: born in 2010 and younger – maximum 10 minutes
- Category XXXI: born in 2008 and younger – maximum 10 minutes
- Category XXXII: born in 2006 and younger – maximum 12 minutes
- Category XXXIII: born in 2005 and older – maximum 12 minutes
ENSEMBLE (of 3-12 members)
The ensemble must contain at least 50% of homogeneous instruments of this nomination. Ensemble can perform with only one accompanist and/or one illustrator. Age category is defined by average age of all participants, without illustrator (accompanist).
- Category XXXIV: born in 2016 and younger – maximum 5 minutes
- Category XXXV: born in 2014 and younger – maximum 7 minutes
- Category XXXVI: born in 2012 and younger – maximum 10 minutes
- Category XXXVII: born in 2009 and younger – maximum 12 minutes
- Category XXXVIII: born in 2006 and younger – maximum 12 minutes
- Category XXXIX: born in 2003 and younger – maximum 13 minutes
- Category XL: born in 2000 and younger – maximum 13 minutes
- Category XLI: born in 1999 and older – maximum 15 minutes
Repertoire for French horn: what to choose
Prepare two pieces of your choice, preferably contrasting – for example a singing slow work and a quick piece with clear tonguing or hunting-call figures. In this nomination playing by heart is not compulsory for soloists, duos or ensembles, so a music stand may stay in the frame. A movement of a sonata, suite or concerto counts as one piece, and two movements of the same work make a full programme.
Keep the total playing time within the limit of your category. Some favourite works are single pieces of several minutes, such as Schumann’s Adagio and Allegro or Dukas’s Villanelle; with one of these, choose a short second work.
Suggested repertoire by section (not compulsory):
- JUNIOR and MIDDLE JUNIOR: Saint-Saëns, The Swan (arrangement); Glière, Intermezzo; a short Handel air.
- JUNIOR ARTIST: Saint-Saëns, Romance; the rondo of a Mozart horn concerto; Glière, Nocturne.
- SENIOR ACADEMIC: Richard Strauss, first horn concerto (movements); Dukas, Villanelle.
- SENIOR ARTIST: Schumann, Adagio and Allegro; Hindemith, Sonata; Glière, Concerto (one movement).
Recording the video: tips for horn players
Record one continuous take with no cuts or pauses, keeping the player clearly visible. At the start, give your name, year of birth and the competition name, or show an A4 sheet with them for 3–5 seconds.
The horn bell points backwards, and listeners normally hear the sound reflected from the wall behind the player. Leave some space between the bell and that wall and set the camera in front of you, slightly to the left, so the face and the valve hand are in view; the right hand in the bell is expected to be partly hidden. Use landscape orientation and check in a test recording that loud stopped notes do not distort. Further tips: how to record a video and the rules.
Application, fee and certificates
Horn entries are submitted through the online application. A soloist pays 37 euros; duos and ensembles pay one fee of 37 euros per group (payment page). The jury’s average score decides the award: in the JUNIOR and MIDDLE JUNIOR sections from a Gold award at 90–100 points to a Diploma at 65–69,99 points; JUNIOR ARTIST (32,50–50 points) and the SENIOR sections (16,25–25 points) use their own scales, described in the rules. After the edition, participants download certificates and teachers letters of appreciation. Full rules, including video requirements and identification, documents, fee and scoring system, are on the rules page.
Frequently asked questions
Do horn players have to play from memory?
No. According to this nomination’s programme rules, soloists, duos and ensembles may play with music.
Can I enter more than one edition in a year?
Yes. The general rules allow a participant to choose one or more of the three editions.
How is the age category of a horn duo set?
By the average age of both players. An accompanist or illustrator is not counted, and a duo may perform with only one accompanist.
What awards can a horn player receive?
In the JUNIOR and MIDDLE JUNIOR sections: Gold award for 90–100 points, Silver for 80–89,99, Bronze for 70–79,99 and a Diploma for 65–69,99 points. JUNIOR ARTIST (32,50–50 points) and the SENIOR sections (16,25–25 points) use their own scales, described in the rules. The number of awards is not limited.
Can a horn student perform together with the teacher?
Yes. The Student – teacher section has its own categories, from Category XXVIII to Category XXXIII, and the age group is determined by the student’s age.
Related pages: trumpet nomination, chamber ensemble, results and participants.