RACC

About

President's Remarks

The Rivers Awards International Composition Competition（RACC）aims to facilitate international and domestic exchanges on music and encourages young composers in composing for Chinese and Western instruments.RACC plays a leading role in enabling cooperation between composers and performers, promotes music criticism and cultivates theoretical research in the field of contemporary music. Emphasizing cultural fusion, RACC is distinct from other musical contests both inside and outside of China.

As one might expect from the original Chinese name of the competition, we strive to be inclusive. The composers are encouraged to embrace cultural diversity into their compositions and to harmonize with the distinctive era that we live in. I would hereby like to extend to all the finalists our sincere congratulations and best wishes on their compositions' premiere！

LIAO Changyong, President Shanghai Conservatory of Music
Introduction to the Rivers Awards

Since its inception in 2009, the Rivers Awards International Composition Competition has premiered over one hundred chamber music compositions of international caliber. It has established itself as a premier platform for emerging composers from around the globe to display their talents. As one of the key events hosted by the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, it has garnered substantial recognition both in China and abroad.

The Rivers Awards offers a stage for young talents from China and beyond to showcase their capabilities. The competition provides invaluable experience to these young musicians as they evolve into educators and established composers. Looking forward, we aspire for the competition to not only highlight the musical prowess of these artists but also to foster a broader spectrum of artistic achievements. We aim to make events like the Rivers Awards a pivotal element of Shanghai's cultural scene, thereby contributing significantly to the holistic development of the Rivers Delta region and advancing the national strategy of cultivating a robust cultural identity.

2024 RACC Shortlist

The 13^th Rivers Awards International Composition Competition (the RACC) has captured Chinese and international composers’ attention since it began in April 2024. This year, the Organizing Committee received a total of 95 compositions from 11 countries and regions in Asia, Europe and South America. According to the voting situation of the competition, after careful review by eleven judges (In alphabetical order) CHEN Musheng, GUO Ming, GUO Yuan, HAO Weiya, JIN Ping (U.S.), WU Yan, XU Zhibin, YIN Mingwu, ZHONG Juncheng, ZHOU Xianglin, ZHU Lin, the following 11 entries were shortlisted for the final round (In alphabetical order):

Bi Hua Jing Meng (bismite·The dreamland of crystal) (China)

For Pipa, Erhu, Piano, Violin,Viola, Cello and Double Bass

Chan Ming Yu Feng De Lun Hui (The Wind Echoed With The Cicadas) (China)

For Pipa, Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass

Chao Ran Zhi Jing II (The Transcendent Realm II) (China)

For Dizi, Pipa, Violin, Cello and Piano

Chao Xi·Lian Yan (Tidal Glimmer) (China)

For Bangdi, Pipa, Erhu, Piano, Violin, Viola and Cello

Flowing Light in the Rainy Night (China)

For Dizi, Piano, Erhu, Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass

Kong·Kong Kong (Sunyata, Sunyata, Sunyatasvabhava) (China)

For Dizi,Pipa,Piano,Violin, Cello, Viola and Double Bass

Kui (Holland）

For Erhu, Pipa, Piano, Dizi, Pipa, Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass

Ru Meng (Like dream)(China)

For Dizi, Pipa, Piano, Violin, Viola and Cello

Shan Shui Lie Bian (Landscape Fission) (China)

For Dizi, Pipa, Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass

Yin Yi (China)

For Dizi, Pipa, Erhu, Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass

Zui Ba Xian (Eight Drunken Immortals) (China)

For Dizi, Pipa, Erhu, Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass

The final concert and awards ceremony of the 13^th Rivers Awards International Composition Competition will be held on Friday, November 22, 2024 at 19:30 at the He Luting Concert Hall of Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

Congratulations to the 11 finalists, and we’re looking forward to the wonderful presentation of your works in the final concert!

Organizing Committee of the 13^th RACC

Septemper 2024

Download Rules

The 13th Rivers Awards International Composition Competition (RACC) 2024.PDF

2024 Performing Ensemble

Ensemble L'Itinéraire

The French Ensemble L'Itinéraire is one of the most prominent avant-garde music ensembles in Europe. Since its founding in 1973, the Ensemble L'Itinéraire has had a huge impact on the emergence of spectral music. Initially, it brough together many composers and artists to bring about new compositions and through the continuous efforts of several generations of musicians it is also closely related to the development trend of spectral music. Since its establishment, the orchestra, cooperating with highly skilled performers, has produced hundreds of contemporary classic works and has provided a platform for countless composers, such as Grisey, Lévinas, Murail, Dufourt, Tessier, Scelsi, Harvey, Romitelli, etc. The ensemble’s artistic philosophy believes that spectral music is first and foremost an attitude toward music, based on sound and listening experience, which challenges the traditional understanding of notions such as sound through certain practices that are not originally related to cultural aspects, e.g. the amplification of instrumental sounds, the use of electronic instruments, synthesizers, etc. These practices amount to a huge musical revolution, opening up an unparalleled sound universe, continuing to promote music creation around the world today.