2nd edition – January 2026

Final

These are the canddiates admitted to the final:

Christian Lorca
Orhan Murat Cem
Tibone Federico

Semifinal

These are the canddiates admitted to the semifinal:

Christian Lorca
Göbel Franz
Griffiths Nathaniel
Kuo FangJu
Orhan Murat Cem
Sáez Sergio
Smeets Joost
Tibone Federico

Second Round

These are the canddiates admitted to the second round:

Boischio Matteo
Christian Lorca
Göbel Franz
Griffiths Nathaniel
Guo Hancheng
Hendrickx Kevin
Hoesel Annalena
Kuo FangJu
Lasbaher Črt
Orhan Murat Cem
Orlandi Lorenzo
Rossetti Camilla
Sáez Sergio
Segura Enrique Francisco
Smeets Joost
Tibone Federico

Candidates admitted

First Round, 5th, 6th, 7th January 2026

In alphabetical order:

Boischio Matteo, Borgogelli Noris, Böttcher Gregor, Bramo Anar, Bychkov Iaroslav, Carrasco Pablo, Christian Lorca, Crisanaz Federico, Davis Guy Bernard, Del Bo Arturo, Des Boscs Florent, Dimitrov Dorian, Escanuela-Caparros Alejandro, Garayusifli Farhad, Garcia Duenas Tomas, Gaudiano Julian, Gennaro Francesco, Göbel Franz, Gonghui Yang, Griffiths Nathaniel, Guo Hancheng, Hasaj Daniel, Hawer Ruben, Hendrickx Kevin, Hoesel Annalena, Huang Dou, Ijas Kaapo, Kuo FangJu, Lasbaher Črt, Lin Wilbur, Matthiaß Alban, Méndez-Chaves Luis Miguel, Orhan Murat Cem, Orlandi Lorenzo, Pavlov Simon, Piskunov Vladimir, Polowczyk Olga, Rossetti Camilla, Rożek-Jaworska Ewelina, Sáez Sergio, Schur Adrian, Segura Enrique Francisco, Siarkowski Ignacy, Slasnaya Vera, Smeets Joost, Solar Andreja, Tamm Niklas, Tibone Federico, Tortarolo Carlo Emilio, Töws Manuel, Tse Leif, Vallone Marco Orazio, Velychko Oksana, Verlan Cezar, Villarruel Guiñazú Gonzalo, Vlagkouli Ioanna, Walter Pierre, Wu Yike, Zhang JingYi, Zhang Xincao.

1st edition – September 2024

Results

DEUN LEE (South Korea)

WINNER OF THE COMPETITION

After winning the 1st Plovdiv Opera International Conducting Competition Deun Lee has been invited to take the position of Assistant Conductur of Plovdiv Opera and conducted two prémiéres and one symphonic concert and has also been hired by Korea National Opera, the most important opera house in the country, beginning a cooperation that continues today.

A statement from Deun Lee and his wishes to the participants to the Second edition of the competition:

Dear participants of the Second edition State Opera Plovdiv International Conducting Competition,

My name is Lee Deun, first prize winner of the first edition of the competition, and it is my great pleasure to write this letter to all of you. The impression and feeling about the competition are that it is very competitive and high-level organized. The organization truly understands what the necessary is for a conductor’s future, and how to develop throughout the competition. You will face direct contact with the professional State opera orchestra in front of you each round, where you can show your talent and, in advance, you will meet professional singers who will be led by your conducting to achieve the most beautiful music possible. The competition opened new chapters in my career and helped me to be engaged by
different professional opera companies and theaters. This competition, which will be a real dream come true for all conductors. I wish you all the best for the competition.

In bocca al lupo a tutti.

Matteo Castelli (Italy)

SECOND PRIZE

As second prize of the competition, Matteo Castelli conducted the Premiére of a production of “La Bohéme” in Plovdiv and a Symphonic Concert with the Dohnányi Symphony Orchestra in Budapest .

Peter Tuleshkov (Bulgaria)

THIRD PRIZE

As third prize second prize of the competition, Peter Tuleshkov conducted a Symphonic concert with Pazardjik Symphony Orchestra and have been later hired as Assistant Conductor by State Opera Plovdiv, a position that he still holds today.

Joost Smeets (The Netherlands)

SPECIAL PRIZE

Joost Smeets was invited by Orchestra Regionale del Friuli Venezia Giulia.

Semifinal, Friday 29th

Candidates in alphabetical order:

Biagi Lorenzo – Castelli Matteo – Durupt Remi – Garayusifli Farhad – Lee Deun – Smeets Joost – Tuleshkov Peter – Van Yperen Sebastian

Second Round, Thursday 28th

Candidates in alphabetical order:

Aprea Giuseppe – Bettac Johannes Pierre – Biagi Lorenzo – Castelli Matteo – Chapolard Noé – Durupt Remi – Ferrer Etienne – Garayusifli Farhad – Huth Benjamin – Lee Deun – Musa Nicola – Sieber Joseph – Smeets Joost – Tse Leif – Tuleshkov Peter – Van Yperen Sebastian

First Round, 25th, 26th, 27th

Candidates admitted:

Bettac Johannes Pierre, Buck Dean, Chapolard Noé, Diakov Iliia, Dombrowner Gaddiel, Huth Benjamin, Koltun Felix, Lee Deun, Mattoli Michelangelo, Mazzon Raimondo, Platt David, Prudnikov Ivan, Romanul Myron, Seo Jimin, Ueba Hiroaki, Walter Pierre, Zerpa Simón; Castelli Matteo, Chrysostomou Dimitrios, Dolci Jan-Philip, Duisen Ilyas, Durupt Remi, Eliot Christophe, Ferrer Etienne, Garayusifli Farhad, Lai Kam Hung Harry, McCracken Chris, Qinami Olsi, Shin Inchul, Sieber Joseph, Smeets Joost, Torboli Stefano, Tse Leif, Velychko Oksana; Aprea Giuseppe, Biagi Lorenzo, Bychkov Iaroslav, Casleanu Christian, Jassan Alejandro, Kim Pilwoo, Marino Emanuele, Musa Nicola, O’Shaughnessy Catherine, Oh Yeeun, Pambianchi Justin, Rességuier Pauline, Šolar Andreja, Tuleshkov Peter, Van Yperen Sebastian, Vazquez Abdiel, Vázquez Salvador