RULES

9^th International Adolphe Sax Competition - Extract from the rules

The 9^th edition of the Dinant International Adolphe Sax Competition will take place from 25 October to 6 November 2027.

Registration for the video selection will be open from 15 October 2026 to 24 February 2027 (1 p.m. GMT).

You can already view the extract from the rules and the musical programme, either by downloading the PDF or directly below: 

 EXTRACT OF THE RULES - DINANT COMPETITION 2027

This is only an extract of the General Rules of the Competition, which will be available on October 15, 2026 on sax-dinant.be. Any dispute relating to the application of these rules will be submitted to the Arbitration Committee. 

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. Organizers

The 9^th International Adolphe Sax Competition is an organization of the non-profit International Adolphe Sax Association.

The Competition Organising Team, a collegial delegation appointed by the Board of Directors of the International Adolphe Sax Association, has drawn up this excerpt from the rules.

The Board of Directors of the International Adolphe Sax Association has commissioned an international musical committee to elaborate the musical programme for the various rounds of the competition. 

2. Calendar

2026

• 15 Oct.: opening date for online applications

2027

• 24 Feb. by 1 pm (GMT): closing date for online applications
• 20 April (at the latest): notification to the candidates of the results of the video selection
• 20 May by 1 pm (GMT): for selected candidates, deadline for registration and payment of participation fee for public rounds in Dinant
• 25 Oct. to 06 Nov.: 9^th International Adolphe Sax Competition - Public rounds in Dinant 

3. Registration fees

The registration fee for the video selection is €60 (non-refundable).

In case of selection for the public rounds, the additional registration fee is €220 (see Art.14). 

4. Travel and accommodation expenses

Travel costs to Dinant are at the expense of the candidate.

Accommodation expenses, other than with a host family, are the candidate’s own responsibility.

The Competition Organising Team arranges accommodation for candidates (and only for candidates) if they request it and if it proves possible.

This accommodation is offered free of charge by families in and around Dinant. This accommodation is only provided to the candidate during the rounds in which he or she is still in competition, unless there is a direct and extended proposal from the host families.

Personal pianists will be offered the same accommodation conditions as candidates, subject to availability. 

5. Honours and Awards

Participation in the finals confers the title of 'Laureate of the 9th International Adolphe Sax Competition – Dinant 2027'. 

Six prizes are divided among the six laureates:

• First Prize "Grand Prix International Adolphe Sax ": €10,000
• Second Prize: €7,000
• Third Prize: €5,000
• Fourth Prize: €4,000
• Fifth Prize: €3,500
• Sixth Prize: €3,000 

Each laureate will receive an alto saxophone generously offered by our partner, Henri SELMER Paris, along with a trophy and an official diploma created by Belgian artists. 

A sum of €500 is awarded to each of the semi-finalists not admitted to the finals.

Any additional prize awarded to a candidate at the official prize-giving ceremony must have been agreed in advance with the Competition Organising Team.

The Competition Organising Team may award special prizes to certain (un)ranked candidates. 

6. Laureate Concerts

After each round, laureates may be officially invited - through the International Adolphe Sax Association - to give concerts or masterclasses, or to make recordings for various organisations. These invitations may only be declined in cases of illness or other exceptional, unforeseeable circumstances.

For thirty days after the results are announced, laureates may not give any public performance in Belgium without the prior approval of the Competition Organising Team. 

7. Recordings

The Competition Organising Team reserves the right to record and broadcast the public rounds of the competition, in Belgium and abroad, via radio, television (live or deferred), or any other medium, including digital formats such as streaming, online platforms, or social media (or any similar medium, whether existing or developed in the future). Any recording or broadcast of the public rounds by third parties requires the prior approval of the Competition Organising Team. 

8. Cancellation of the competition

In case of force majeure (natural disaster, pandemic, etc.) forcing the Competition Organising Team to cancel the rounds taking place in Dinant, the registration fee for the public rounds (€220) will be refunded to the candidate. In all cases, the registration fee for the video selection (€60) will be retained by the organization. 

II. VIDEO SELECTION 

The competition begins with a video selection round. Candidates are ranked based on this video selection, and only the highest-ranked candidates are admitted to the public rounds in Dinant.

This selection is done behind closed doors. The performances are auditioned blindly by a jury composed of internationally renowned personalities and in the presence of members of the arbitration committee. 

9. Conditions of registration

The competition is open to saxophonists of all nationalities, including stateless persons. Candidates must be born on or after 1 January 1997.

First laureates of previous editions of the Adolphe Sax International Competition are not eligible to compete.

10. Registration

By 1 p.m. (GMT) on Wednesday 24 February 2027, each candidate must have: 

1. submitted the online form available on sax-dinant.be and paid the application fee of €60; 

2. uploaded their two videos for the video selection (see Art. 11) to the Competition's official Dropbox folder^*. 

^*Once the registration form and payment have been submitted, the candidate will automatically receive an e-mail containing the password required to access the Dropbox folder. No Dropbox account is required. 

On the registration form available on sax-dinant.be, the candidate is asked to provide the following documents:

1. a copy of the identity card/passport or any other official document^* justifying the candidate's nationality and date of birth, including as well an identity picture;
2. for underage candidates, a certificate from their legal representative; 

^*These documents may be replaced by a certificate issued by the embassy or consulate of the candidate's country of residence, if the candidate resides abroad. Stateless candidates shall produce certificates of identity and residence issued by the authorities of the place of residence. 

The Competition Organising Team reserves the right to request any original document. 

11. Videos

The two pieces to be performed for the video selection are : 

1. BOUTRY Roger, Sérénade, 3^rd (Sérénade), from n°26 to 28 (included), Publisher: Salabert
   The candidate is accompanied exclusively by the piano. 

2. DIRICQ Simon, Mad Stream for alto saxophone (from 3 Instantanés) - Publisher: Lemoine

These 2 video files (1 for each work) must be uploaded, using the password received by e-mail after registration, to the Competition's official Dropbox folder (link available on sax-dinant.be) by 1 pm (GMT) on February 24, 2027 at the latest. 

On the video, the candidate must be fully visible at all times on the screen and the camera angle must be fixed. The candidate must be filmed in single takes (one take for each work performed). No editing will be accepted. The video mustn’t contain any credits or indications aimed at artificially favouring the candidate. No mention of a music school may appear on the video. 

Technical specifications of the video:

• resolution: 1920 x 1080 px (Full HD) minimum (landscape format)
• format: mp4 H264/265 only
• file names: LAST NAME_FIRST NAME_BOUTRY and LAST NAME_FIRST NAME_DIRICQ
• the total of the 2 video files must not exceed 2Gb 

All videos are watched in confidence by the Competition Organising Team beforehand to ensure that no technical tricks have been used.

It is the responsibility of the Competition Organising Team to decide whether a video is inadmissible due to insufficient technical quality or failure to comply with the rules for capturing video as defined above. In this case, the Competition Organising Team reserves the right to ask the candidate to provide a new video. 

Until the end of the competition, the candidate is strictly forbidden to broadcast these videos on any medium whatsoever, including social networks, under penalty of exclusion. The video remains the property of the International Adolphe Sax Association until the end of the competition. 

! A candidate's application will only be taken into consideration after receipt of the duly completed application form, payment of the application fee (€60) and the uploading of the two videos. 

12. Technical problem

If a candidate encounters a technical problem during the online application, they must send an email right away to competition@sax-dinant.be.

To avoid technical problems, we strongly recommend that candidates complete their online application — including uploading all documents and videos — at least 48 hours before the deadline.

If a candidate waits until the last moment and a technical problem occurs, the application may not be accepted.

13. Communication of results

Results of the video selection will be notified to candidates by e-mail by April 20, 2027 at the latest.

Selection of a candidate creates a contract between the candidate and the Competition Organising Team. The ensuing rights and obligations are set out in the General Rules of the Competition.

If, at the end of the video selection, the candidate is not selected, both parties are then released from any obligation towards each other. 

III. PUBLIC ROUNDS 

14. Registration

Upon confirmation of their selection, candidates will receive further registration instructions. 

A new online form must be submitted by 1 pm (GMT) on Thursday 20 May 2027  at the latest, providing the following information and documents:  

1. choices for the musical programme;
2. a good-quality PDF copy of the score for the solo saxophone piece to be performed in the semi-finals;
3. name and contact details of the personal pianist or a request for an official pianist provided by the organisation (see Art. 17);
4. whether or not accommodation with a host family is required (including for the pianist), along with any important details (allergies, special dietary requirements, etc).
5. for the official programme: a recent high-resolution photograph of the candidate (head and shoulders, facing the camera, on a white background) and a biography of maximum 650 characters (including spaces). 

! No further changes will be allowed, particularly in relation to the musical programme. 

The selected candidates are required to pay a registration fee of €220, which includes a €100 deposit refundable in cash upon arrival at the competition venue. In the event of a candidate’s withdrawal, the registration fee will not be refunded. 

The Competition Organising Team reserves the right:

• to request any original document;
• to require candidates to modify their piece for solo saxophone because of non- compliance with the general rules. 

When the application is validated by the Competition Organising Team, a confirmation email is sent to the candidate. For organisational purposes, the Competition Organising Team reserves the right to use all or part of the details and information provided. 

15. Contractual commitment

A candidate admitted to the elimination round, the semi-finals or the finals in Dinant undertakes to take part in these rounds, except in the event of illness or unforeseeable circumstances.

Candidates not admitted at the end of the selection process, the first round, or the semi-finals no longer have any obligations to the Competition. 

The procedure for deciding the number of candidates to be selected is set out in the General Rules.

• At the end of the elimination round, 18 candidates are selected.
• At the end of the semi-finals, 6 finalists are selected.
• At the end of the finals, the 6 laureates are ranked. 

16. Order of passage

Before the competition begins, the order of performances will be determined by a random draw. Candidates will keep the same order throughout all rounds.

Candidates will receive the date and time of their elimination round by e-mail in due course. The order of appearance for each round, as communicated by the Competition Organising Team, will only be modified in the event of unforeseeable circumstances. Any such modification will only apply to the round concerned.

For organisational reasons (mostly relating to pianists), the Competition Organising Team may change the order of performances. However, under no circumstances will the day of a candidate’s performance in the elimination round or the semi-finals be changed. 

17. Pianists - Page turners

Candidates may choose a personal pianist to accompany them throughout the rounds and rehearsals, using the same pianist for the elimination round and semi-finals in Dinant. In this case, the candidate is responsible for the payment of the pianist's fees and expenses (if any). 

Pianist accompanists designated by the Competition Organising Team are, however, at candidates' disposal, free of charge, for the first two rounds. 

!  Each personal pianist may accompany a maximum of 8 candidates in the competition. It is the candidate's responsibility to confirm with their pianist, before registering, that this limit has not already been reached. In case of non-compliance with this rule, after verification with the pianist concerned, the Competition Organising Team will require a change of pianist from the last registered candidate(s). 

Only page-turners hired by the Competition Organising Team may be on stage during the public rounds, in addition to the candidate and pianist.

The only accompanying instrument allowed is the piano tuned to A 441 Hz. 

For the finals, the laureates are accompanied by the Liège Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (OPRL). 

18. Rehearsals

Only the candidate and pianist are allowed in the rehearsal room. Attendance at rehearsals with pianist is not compulsory. However, the candidate who does not wish to benefit from it must inform the Competition Organising Team. In case of non-respect of this clause, the arbitration committee will decide on possible sanctions. The rehearsals with the pianist or the orchestra have an equal duration for all the candidates.

19. Scores

For each round, candidates must provide scores that comply with Belgian copyright law (30 June 1994, and its implementing decrees). Photocopies are forbidden, except in cases of proven unavailability of published scores. Transcriptions and transpositions are forbidden, unless otherwise decided by the music committee when establishing the musical programme. The International Adolphe Sax Association is not liable for any copyright dispute between the composer (or copyright society) and the performer. 

20. Proclamations

! All candidates must be present at the announcement of the results of each public round.

Only absences due to illness or unforeseeable circumstances will be accepted, with supporting proof.

In this case, candidates have to designate someone to represent them.

At the end of each proclamation, the order and time of the next round will be communicated to each selected candidate. 

IV. MUSICAL PROGRAMME

A. Elimination round

Each candidate will present 3 works in the following order: 

1) A compulsory work without piano: 

• BACH J.-S. - Partita for Violin Éd. No. 1 in B Minor, BWV 1002, Mvt. 4. Double (Presto) - without repeat

For this piece only, the candidate has the choice of tonality, nuances and phrasing. The piece is played on the alto saxophone. It is not necessary to present a score for this compulsory piece.

 2) A compulsory work with piano, to be performed in full: 

• MERNIER Benoît - Work commissioned for the Competition -Publisher: Ed. XXI Music Publishing 

The title of the piece and the procedure for obtaining the score will be communicated by 28 Feb. 2027 at the latest

 3) One work with piano,to be chosen from the following list:

• DECRUCK Fernande – Pièces françaises - 4.Forlane | 6.Rondel | 7.Rigaudon | 8.Toccata - Publisher: Billaudot
•  HUSA Karel – Élégie et Rondeau - Publisher: Leduc
•  MATSUSHITA Isao – Atoll No.2 - Publisher: Ongaku-No-Tomo-Sha
•  PASCAL Claude – Sonatine - Publisher: Durand
•  PIAZZOLLA Astor – Tango Etudes - 4. Meditato Lento | 6. Avec Anxiété - Publisher: Lemoine
•  ZUPKO Mischa – In Transit - Publisher: Resolute Music Publications 

Unless otherwise specified, the movements are at the candidate's choice, and the candidate may also choose the starting point of each work. In any case, the duration of the performance in the elimination round will not exceed 20 minutes. The performance may be interrupted at any time by the President of the jury, without prejudice to the candidate's chances of being admitted to the semi-finals.

B. Semi-finals

Each candidate will present 3 works in the following order:

1) One work with piano, to be chosen from the following list:

• AUERBACH Lera - Saxophone Sonata - Publisher: Boosey & Hawkes 

• BIEDENBENDER David - Images for Alto Saxophone and Piano - Publisher: Bent Space Music 

• DENISOV Edison - Concerto for alto saxophone and orchestra (piano version) - 1^st and 3^rd mvts. - Publisher: Sikorski 

2) A compulsory work with piano,  to be performed in full:

• JOLIVET André - Fantaisie Impromptu - Publisher: Leduc

3) An original work of the candidate’s choice for solo saxophone (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass) 

Transcriptions or transpositions are not allowed. No external technical devices are allowed (e.g. soundtracks, amplification, other instruments). 

Unless otherwise specified, the movements are at the candidate's choice, and the candidate may also choose the starting point of each work. The duration of the performance in the semi-finals will not exceed 40 minutes. The performance may be interrupted at any time by the President of the jury, without prejudice to the candidate's chances of being admitted to the finals.

C. Finals

For the finals, the laureates are accompanied by the Liège Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The finals will consist of the following works in the order listed below:

1) A compulsory work written especially for this competition 

Selected candidates will be informed, by June 15, 2027 at the latest, of the procedure for obtaining the score.

The score will not be available before this date, and the cost of purchasing it is the responsibility of the candidate. The Competition Organising Team cannot be held responsible for any issues related to the transmission of the score.

2) A concerto, to be chosen from the following list, to be performed in full: 

• CRESTON Paul - Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra - Publisher: G. Schirmer 

• CONSTANT Marius - Concertante pour saxophone alto et orchestre - Publisher: Ricordi 

• TOMASI Henri - Concerto pour saxophone alto et orchestre - Publisher: Leduc