Interview with the Artistic Director Marco Somadossi

In the spirit of unstoppable evolution, I present the 26th edition of the International Flicorno d'Oro Competition, an event that for over a quarter of a century has represented a privileged place of encounter, comparison and growth for the world of wind orchestras.

The 2026 edition marks a particularly significant milestone with the introduction of the new Educational section, designed to structurally enhance the formative path of young ensembles. This is not simply a new category, but a vision: recognizing the competition as an integral part of a broader pedagogical project, capable of profoundly impacting musical quality, group identity and the artistic awareness of young musicians.

The central element of the Flicorno d'Oro remains the opportunity to engage with European excellence, not in a merely competitive logic, but through musical dialogue that emerges from the evaluations, observations and advice of a jury of the highest artistic and cultural profile. The adjudication thus becomes an instrument of interpretation, guidance and growth, offering concrete insights for the future work of conductors and orchestras.

Participating in the International Flicorno d'Oro Competition also means “planning”: prepare a program, rehearse a repertoire methodically, define clear and shared objectives. It is a journey that requires time, responsibility and vision, but yields lasting results well beyond the days of the competition. The fruits of this preparation manifest in the sound, in the ensemble's discipline and in the musical and human growth of each musician.

Above all else, I wish to reaffirm a principle that guides our work: success is not exhausted in the score or ranking but finds its most authentic meaning in the journey. It is in the time dedicated to artistic development, in the quality of the exchange and in the ability to transform an objective into shared growth that the true value of an experience is measured.

The Flicorno d'Oro is not merely an annual milestone, but an accelerator of vision, a European laboratory of quality and artistic responsibility. It is a space where orchestras choose to challenge themselves to evolve. Because evolution is not an event: it is a choice. And every orchestra that decides to undertake this journey makes, from the very start, the most significant gesture towards its own future.