The Paris Mozart Orchestra and the Philharmonie de Paris are delighted to announce the 4th edition of the La Maestra International Competition for Women Conductors, which will be held between 23-28 February 2026 at the Philharmonie de Paris.
Open to professional women conductors worldwide and of all ages, online application for participation in the competition will be available at www.lamaestra-paris.com from 8 March – 8 July 2025 (closes midnight CEST).
Since its inception in 2020 the competition has unveiled a wealth of orchestral conducting talent such as Israeli conductor Bar Avni, 1st Prize winner of the 2024 edition; Franco-British conductor Stephanie Childress, now principal guest conductor of the Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya; Polish conductor Anna Sułkowska-Migoń, 1st Prize winner of the 2022 edition; and Greek conductor Zoe Zeniodi, recently appointed Music Director of the Orquesta Filarmónica de Buenos Aires.
Building on this success, the 2026 edition aims to be even more ambitious, with a number of major features and enhancements:
Opening up the competition to even more candidates
The 4th edition rolls out a significant new feature, with 16 candidates selected (compared to 12 in 2020 and 14 in 2022 & 2024). The trend continues through each stage of the competition, with 8 semi-finalists (compared to 6 in 2020 and 7 in 2022 & 2024); and for the first time, 4 finalists will be selected rather than the 3 of previous editions.
A broader repertoire and a two-stage final with two orchestras: the Paris Mozart Orchestra and Orchestre de Paris
For the quarter-finals and semi-finals, candidates will conduct the Paris Mozart Orchestra in repertoire ranging from Mozart to Sofia Gubaidulina. The final will take place in two parts – and with two orchestras, as the Orchestre de Paris joins the competition following its integration into the Philharmonie de Paris. This new configuration will broaden the repertoire for the finalists, who will conduct the Paris Mozart Orchestra in the world premiere of a piece by Singaporean composer Diana Soh alongside Romantic works by Beethoven and Brahms, before conducting the Orchestre de Paris in a grand symphonic program of Stravinsky and Ravel.
A strengthened selection committee
Candidate selection will be undertaken by an expanded committee composed of representatives of the Paris Mozart Orchestra and the Philharmonie de Paris, musicians from the Paris Mozart Orchestra and Orchestre de Paris, and distinguished figures from major French and international orchestras.
Oksana Lyniv as president of the jury
Following in the footsteps of Nathalie Stutzmann in 2024, the 2026 competition will be chaired by internationally renowned Ukrainian conductor Oksana Lyniv, Music Director of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Principal Guest Conductor of the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra and founder of the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. The jury, with gender parity, will include conductors, directors of international orchestras, and leading musicians.
An outstanding competition supported by over 50 partners
With the support of over 50 partners, including prestigious orchestras and venues committees worldwide, the competition once again demonstrates its scope and influence. In addition to Jury Prizes, several awards will be given out by the committees, reflecting the strong support of the musical industry for La Maestra and its candidates.
International broadcasting by our loyal media partners
Arte.tv, media partner of La Maestra since its inception, will cover the competition alongside Philharmonie Live, providing unique visibility for the candidates.
The La Maestra Academy – support beyond the competition
The mission of La Maestra extends far beyond the competition final. As participants in the 2026–28 Academy, the laureates of the 2026 La Maestra Competition will benefit from personalised professional support. This will include concerts, assistantships with prestigious orchestras, masterclasses, mentoring, professional networking, and recordings. For reference, the 2022–24 Academy provided the participants with over 45 concerts, 25 weeks of assistantships, 14 masterclass days, an Arte.tv recording, a France Télévisions recording, mentoring sessions and webinars, and the leadership of an educational and social project.
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Supporting women conductors and giving them greater visibility is a cause we pursue with passion. While their presence in musical programming is improving, equality must still be consolidated to establish itself permanently in the global musical landscape.
The La Maestra Competition and Academy are co-directed by Claire Gibault (Artistic and Musical Director of the Paris Mozart Orchestra) and Olivier Mantei (General Director of the Philharmonie de Paris).
