MA Competition

In 2026, the next edi­tion of MA Competition for Harpsichord takes place.
Applications closed. The first round will be streamed online on 15, 16 and 17 May 2026.
Watch the first round?
Stream the first round of the competition here:
Video MA competition
If you have any ques­tions, do not hes­i­tate to con­tact us on 

competition@​mafestival.​be.

About MA Competition

The MA Competition, founded in 1964, has grown into an unrivalled talent pool and a prestigious international music competition. Each year, talented young musicians from around the world get the chance to connect with leading professionals in early music and refine their artistic performance.

Over the past decades, the MA Competition has launched the international careers of renowned musicians such as Christophe Rousset (°1961), Kristian Bezuidenhout (°1979), Dmitry Sinkovsky (°1980), Jean Rondeau (°1991) and Justin Taylor (°1992)

MA Competition is a unique platform for the training and professional integration of young artists. Its mission: discover new talent and spark meaningful artistic encounters. This distinct position is strengthened by its close connection to the MA Festival.

The first round takes place digitally, ahead of the festival. Candidates are introduced to both the jury and the public via an online streaming platform. These online pre-selections in May have become an important moment for participants to present themselves to a wider audience.

The winner receives a cash prize, a series of concert invitations in Belgium and abroad, a place in the next edition of MA Festival, and the opportunity to record a CD with the internationally renowned Ricercar label.

In 2027 the MA Competition will be for Pianoforte.

Jury MA Competition 2026

During MA Competition 2026, the jury will be:

Korneel Bernolet (president)
Jean Rondeau
Béatrice Martin
Richard Egarr
Mitzi Meyerson

Applications

Find the timeline of MA Competition 2026 here.

rules & regulations
Applications open
23.02.2026, 00:01 — 08.03.2026, 23:59
First round
15 — 17.05.2026
Online
Rehearsals semi-final
03.08.2026
in Bruges
Semi-final
04.08.2026
in Bruges
Rehearsals final
05.08.2026
in Bruges
Final
06.08.2026
in Bruges

Hall of fame

Ontdek de winnaars van MA Competition door de jaren heen.
2003 | Ensembles
Laureates
L'Ornamento
First prize
Rossi Peceno Baroque Ensemble
Second prize
Ensemble Esperanto
Third prize
La Loge Olympique
Third prize
L'Ornamento
Audience Award
Ensemble RosaSolis
Laureate
't Andernaken Consort
Laureate
Members of the jury
Florian Heyerick
Johan Huys
President of the jury
Maria Cristina Kiehr
Agata Sapiecha
Stevie Wishart
2003 | Organ
Laureates
Marketa Reindlova
First prize
Maude Gratton
Second prize
Benjamin Righetti
Third prize
Els Biesemans
Fourth prize
Francesco Saverio Pedrini
Fourth prize
Marketa Reindlova
Audience Award
Roland Dopfer
Laureate
Gregor Knop
Laureate
Sylvia Maria Kraut
Laureate
Jean-Philoippe Merckaert
Laureate
Maria Mokhova
Laureate
Andrze Szakdejko
Laureate
Ben Van Nespen
Laureate
Members of the jury
Johannes Geffert
Johan Huys
President of the jury
Andrea Marcon
Joris Verdin
David Yearsley
2002 | Vocal & instrumental soloists
Laureates
Fiorenza De Donatis (violin)
First prize
Makot Sakurada (tenor)
Second prize
Yosemeh Adjei (altus)
Third prize
Georges Barthel (traverso)
Fourth prize
Alexander Schneider (altus)
Fifth prize
Marian Minnen
Sixth prize
Seung-Hee Park (tenor)
Sixth prize
Stefanie Troffaes (traverso)
Sixth prize
Georges Barthel (traverso)
Audience Award
Runa Baagoe (violin)
Laureate
Peter Barany (alto)
Laureate
Julian Fricker (recorder)
Laureate
Anna Fusek (recorder)
Laureate
Michael Hell (recorder)
Laureate
Mareike Hug (recorder)
Laureate
Thomas List (recorder)
Laureate
Etienne Mangot (cello)
Laureate
Ayako Matsunaga (violin)
Laureate
Sascha Mommertz (recorder)
Laureate
Satoko Ota (traverso)
Laureate
Ilaria Toriani (soprano)
Laureate
Satomi Watanbe (violin)
Laureate
Inge Zutterman (soprano)
Laureate
Members of the jury
Masahiro Arita
Patrick Beuckels
Diego Fasolis
Johan Huys
President of the jury
Eva Legêne-Andersson
Marcel Ponseele
Barbara Schlick
Jaap ter Linden
Lucy Van Dael
2001 | Harpsichord
Laureates
Isabelle Sauveur
Third prize
Michael Sponseller
Fourthe prize
Stéphane Guion Fuget
Fourth prize
Jhannes Hämmerle
Fifth prize
Isabelle Sauveur
Audience Award
Oksana Delaforge
Laureate
Matthieu Depouy
Laureate
Vital Julian Frey
Laureate
Akiko Fujita
Laureate
Anna Karpenko
Laureate
Oki Kazune
Laureate
Edita Keglerova
Laureate
Mami Kurumanda
Laureate
Yago Mahugo Carles
Laureate
Silvia Marquez Chulilla
Laureate
Sawako Nakatani
Laureate
Naoa Otsuka
Laureate
Julian Perkins
Laureate
Eva Maria Pollerus
Laureate
Ian Pritchard
Laureate
Bruno Procopio
Laureate
Takashi Watanabe
Laureate
Members of the jury
Borbala Dobodzy
Gustav Leonhardt
Johan Huys
President of the jury
Davitt Moronay
Ludger Rémy
Jesper Christensen
Christophe Rousset
2001 | Pianoforte
Laureates
Kris Bezuidenhout
First prize
Jerry Jantunen
Second prize
Chie Hirai
Third prize
Remy Cardinale
Fourth prize
Kris Bezuidenhout
Audience Award
Linda Dobbay
Laureate
Jacques Knut
Laureate
Wiebke Weidanz
Laureate
Members of the jury
Wolfgang Brunner
Johan Huys
President of the jury
Linda Nicholson
Ludger Rémy
Bart van Oort

Partners

MA Festival Brugge can count on the sup­port of these artis­tic part­ners for the organ­i­sa­tion of MA Competition:

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