The International Festival of Sacred Music, Fribourg (FIMS) is pleased to announce the launch of the 15th edition of its Composition Competition for small voice and horn ensembles.

The FIMS International Composition Competition dates back to 1985. Its aim is to encourage the creation of original works inspired by sacred texts or themes. For the 15th competition, composers may submit, by 15 October 2025, an original work written exclusively for 8 voices (2 sopranos, 1 alto, 3 tenors, 1 baritone, and 1 bass) and two natural French horns (from around 1820), in the horn’s different keys (low B flat, C, D, E flat, E, F, G, A flat, A, high B flat and high C) and played using the hand-stopping technique.
The composition should draw inspiration from the Gregorian chant ‘Media vita in morte sumus’.

The winning work will be performed by the Ensemble Graindelavoix at FIMS Fribourg 2026. The winning composer will also be awarded a cash prize of CHF 10,000; the runner-up will receive CHF 2,000.

The jury of the 15th edition of the Competition comprises the following internationally acclaimed composers:

Xavier Dayer, President of the Jury (Switzerland), composer
Chaya Czernowin (Israel), composer
Isabel Mundry (Germany), composer
Alberto Posadas (Spain), composer
Björn Schmelzer (Belgium), Graindelavoix artistic director

The members of the jury will meet in Fribourg from 3 to 5 November 2025 to deliberate and select the winning works.

The 2025 Composition Competition rules and additional information are available on the FIMS website: www.fims-fribourg.ch.