Abu Dhabi Festival Announces Inaugural Winners of AED 130,000 Award, Advancing Abu Dhabi’s Musical Leadership

The Abu Dhabi International Competition for Composition (ADICC) – the Middle East’s first music composition competition – receives 165 submissions from 47 countries

First place winners to premiere their work at the 23rd Abu Dhabi Festival in April 2026, with the performance to be streamed globally.

The international jury included renowned composers Du Yun, Shen Ye, Elmar Lampson, Aigerim Seilova, Naji Hakim and producer Robert Townson.

Abu Dhabi, UAE – Abu Dhabi Festival, the flagship initiative of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF), has announced the first-ever laureates of the Abu Dhabi International Competition for Composition (ADICC), the Middle East’s first international competition dedicated to contemporary music composition.

Held under the honorary founding patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Founding Honorary Patron of Abu Dhabi Festival, and under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, the competition marks a significant milestone in Abu Dhabi’s cultural journey as a UNESCO-designated City of Music.

Italian composer Daniele Gasparini was named first-place winner in the Orchestra Category for his composition En el Aire, while Andrey Zubets claimed first place in the Piano Category for Mirror Preludes. Both composers were crowned laureates of the inaugural edition of ADICC.

Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder of ADMAF and Founder and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Festival, said the competition reflects the emirate’s belief in music as a universal language for dialogue, creativity and cultural exchange. She noted that ADICC was launched to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s global presence as a hub for musical innovation and to support emerging composers shaping the future of contemporary music.

First Place winner for Orchestra Daniele Gasparini. (Image Credit: Supplied)

The competition attracted more than 165 submissions from 47 countries, highlighting its immediate global reach and artistic diversity. Works were evaluated by an internationally acclaimed jury chaired by Pulitzer Prize–winning composer Du Yun, alongside leading composers and producers from across the world.

Speaking on behalf of the jury, Du Yun praised the exceptional quality and diversity of submissions, describing them as a powerful convergence of regional musical identities and global artistic vision. She said the competition has established a vital new platform on the international music stage.

As inaugural laureates, Gasparini and Zubets will each receive AED 130,000, a professional recording, and a world premiere performance with internationally renowned partner orchestras during the 23rd Abu Dhabi Festival in April 2026.

Second-place winners Nadim Tarabay (Orchestra) and Tarek Yamani (Piano) were awarded AED 50,000 each, while third-place recipients Thomas Kornel and Bruno Vlahek received AED 25,000.

First Prize winner for Piano Solo _ Andrey Zubets — First Prize winner for Piano Solo Andrey Zubets. *(Image Credit: Supplied)*

The winning compositions will also be professionally recorded under the Abu Dhabi Festival Composers’ Platform, an initiative that has supported global composers for more than 15 years, producing dozens of original works and co-commissions.

Through ADICC and its wider cultural initiatives, ADMAF continues to empower emerging artists, foster creative excellence and strengthen Abu Dhabi’s role as a leading global centre for artistic exchange and contemporary music innovation.