Abu Dhabi Names Winners of First Composition Competition

Abu Dhabi, UAE – January 2026:

The Abu Dhabi Festival, the flagship initiative of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF), has announced the winners of the inaugural Abu Dhabi International Competition for Composition (ADICC), the Middle East’s first international music composition competition.

Held under the honorary founding patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Patron of Abu Dhabi Festival, the competition reflects Abu Dhabi’s growing role as a global centre for music and creativity.

Daniele Gasparini was awarded first place in the Orchestra Category for his composition En el Aire, while Andrey Zubets won first place in the Piano Category for his work Mirror Preludes. Both composers were named laureates of ADICC and will premiere their winning compositions at the 23rd Abu Dhabi Festival in April 2026, with performances streamed worldwide.

The competition received 165 submissions from 47 countries, highlighting strong international participation and diverse musical voices. Launched in May 2025, ADICC supports Abu Dhabi’s vision as a UNESCO-designated City of Music, promoting innovation, contemporary composition, and emerging global talent.

Her Excellency Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder of ADMAF and Founder and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Festival, said the competition was created to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as a global hub for music and creative exchange. She noted that ADICC provides a platform for young composers, supports artistic innovation, and connects new musical voices with international audiences.

The winners were selected by an international jury led by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Du Yun, alongside composers Shen Ye, Elmar Lampson, Aigerim Seilova, Naji Hakim, and producer Robert Townson. The jury praised the winning works for their technical excellence, emotional depth, and successful blending of musical traditions from different cultures. Submissions were also judged on their suitability for live performance by professional musicians.

As first-place winners, Gasparini and Zubets will each receive AED 130,000, a professional recording opportunity, and a world premiere performance at Abu Dhabi Festival 2026. Their compositions will also be recorded under the Abu Dhabi Festival Composers’ Platform, an initiative that has supported global composers for over 15 years and has produced 36 original works and 80 co-commissions to date.

Second place awards of AED 50,000 were presented to Nadim Tarabay for Sinfonietta en Spirale (Orchestra Category) and Tarek Yamani for Dabke in C Saba (Piano Category).
Third place awards of AED 25,000 went to Thomas Kornel for Fear, Rage, Fire (Orchestra Category) and Bruno Vlahek for Mirage Toccata (Piano Category).

Through initiatives like ADICC, ADMAF continues to support emerging artists, encourage cultural dialogue, and strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading global centre for music, arts, and creative excellence.