Regulations 2026

1. Overview

The Premio Bonporti “Period Instrument Ensemble” Competition is  dedicated to vocal-instrumental music from the period 1600c.-1750c. The aim is to:

• Enhance the creative aspects of historical music;
• Encourage extemporaneous ornamentation;
• Perform music in its historic acoustic environment (18th century church, 18th century palazzo);

Awards:

• 5 cash prizes (see point 4);

The winning group will record a promotional DVD in sites of historic value in the region. This DVD will be known as the Bonporti HIP (Historically Informed Performance) Testimonial, as the best testimony and dissemination of historical musical practice. A DVD copy of the video with a presentation booklet will be sent by the Premio Bonporti to the major international Early Music Festivals and organisations.

2. The Jury

Alfredo Bernardini (Italy) – President

Gloria Banditelli (Italy)

Mechthild Karkow (Germany)

Takashi Watanabe (Japan)

Romano Vettori (Italy)

3. Admission requirements

All vocal-instrumental groups that simultaneously meet the following requirements can participate in the Competition:

• They use original instruments or copies of original instruments;
• They are made up of a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 6 members with at least one singer (see points 5.2-3, 7.2);
• They include at least two melodic instruments, in pairs or separately, (violins, recorders or transverse flutes, oboe) and one or more basso continuo instruments;
• The individual members of the group must have been born after 30 June 1990.

If there is a family relationship between a candidate and a member of the jury, the latter will abstain from voting;

If a participant has been a student of, or played with a member of the jury in the last two years, the latter will abstain from voting.

1. Prizes

• First prize:
  • € 1.500
  • Recording in regional locations of historical value a promotional DVD, the  Bonporti HIP (Historically Informed Performance) Testimonial (see point 1. Awards)
• Second prize: € 1.000
• Third Prize: € 800
• Rovereto City of Peace” Audience Prize: € 500
• Online Audience Prize: € 200

The prizes are indivisible and, at the sole discretion of the Jury, they may not be awarded.

2. Scholarships

Each member of the 3 admitted groups will receive:

• € 150 as a contribution to expenses for their stay in Rovereto (see also point 11 “Hospitality”)
• € 20 (voucher) for participation in the lunch after the Awards Ceremony (25 October).

5. Procedure and Programme for the “Period Instrument Ensemble” Competition

The Competition takes place in three stages: Admission, “Da Chiesa, “Da Camera”.

1. Selection for Admission by sending audio-video material (deadline 30 June 2026 – see point 7.1-2, 9). 
2. Live performance in “Da Chiesa” (max. approximately 30′) ; performance in an 18th century church in Rovereto – programme of vocal-instrumental music from the Baroque period 1600c.-1750c.; some pieces may have a variable number of members and may  be only instrumental; this programme must contain one motet by F.A . Bonporti chosen from the following: 
   • Claræ stellæ (op. III, n.1)  OR
   • Mittite dulces (op. III, No. 2)

The scores can be downloaded from the Premio Bonporti website (Archive>Scores and Materials menu section) – Violin parts can  be replaced totally or partially by wind instruments; in this case the instrumental parts may have some small adaptations but not undergo tonal transpositions;

3. Live performance in “Da Camera” (max. approximately 30′); performance in an 18th century palazzo in Rovereto; programme of vocal-instrumental music from the Baroque period 1600c.-1750c.; some pieces may have a variable number of members and may be only instrumental.

6. Musical Instruments

During the Competition, the following instruments will be available for participants (only in the places and times of the official tests – see point 10 “Calendar”):

• 1 Italian claviorgan at  415Hz (mesotonic temperament);
• 1 Italian harpsichord with one keyboard at 415Hz (1/6 comma synt. temperament).

7. Application for “Period Instrument Ensemble” Competition

THE ENSEMBLES must by 30 June 2026:

1. Send the completed registration form online on the website www.premiobonporti.it
2. Send as an attachment to the form:
   1. Audio-video recording (MP4 format) with complete musical pieces from the period 1600c.—1750c. (maximum total duration approximately 10-12′;
      • the video must contain the complete performance of the pieces, without cuts
      • the video can also be uploaded to a YouTube channel (as “private”) or transmitted by sharing service, in both cases by putting the link in the registration form);
      • the pieces must be listed on the sheet and must be different from the two programmes presented for the live performances (see points 5.2 and 5.3);
      • the participating groups must consist of the same people, both in the selection video and (if admitted) in the live performances in Rovereto;
      • in the video and in both parts of the live performances some pieces may have a variable number of musicians and be only instrumental, but at least one must be with a singer;
   2. Detailed descriptions (in the space “Choice of Programs” ) of the two programmes for the live performances (see points 5.2 and 5.3)
      • In particular, specify for each piece: a) composer; b) title; c) instruments/voice used; d) approximate duration;
   3. The group’s CV (max 20 lines);
   4. Artistic photo (.jpg format min. 300 dpi) of the group;
   5. Scan of the registration fee payment receipt (in .jpg min. 300 dpi or .pdf format) – see point 8;
   6. Scan of the identity document or passport of each member of the group (in .jpg min. 300 dpi or .pdf).

All the aforementioned documents must be sent exclusively in electronic format using the registration form on the website www.premiobonporti.it

Only the 3 groups admitted must send by 30 September to info@premiobonporti.it (in .pdf format) all the scores of the programmes proposed for live performance in Rovereto (see points 5.2 and 5.3).

8. Registration fees

“Period Instrument Ensemble Competition”: € 50 for each member of the participating group, in a single cumulative sum;

Payment must be made by bank transfer to the following account:

Account holder: Accademia di Musica Antica – Piazza San Marco, 7 – 38068 Rovereto TN – Italy
Bank name: Cassa Rurale AltoGarda Rovereto
IBAN: IT34T0801620800000041207953
Swift/BIC code: CCRTIT2T57A

REASON: Registration fee for Premio Bonporti  2026 (specify the name of the group, the number of members)

A copy of the receipt for payment of the registration fee must be attached to the online registration form. The registration fee will not be refunded in case of non-admission.

The registration fee will not be reimbursed in case of withdrawal.

9. Deadline

The deadline for sending the registration form and attachments (see point 7) and for paying the registration fee (point 8) is:

“Period Instrument Ensemble” Competition

June 30, 2026

10. Calendar

The competition will take place with the following Calendar:

• Wednesday 15 July 2026: Communication via email and on the website www.premiobonporti.it  of the 3 groups admitted to the for “Period instrument Ensembles”Competition;
• Thursday 22 October 2026:
  • 2.00pm-6.30pm: Group check-in at the Competition Secretariat (see point 13);
  • 3.00pm – 9.30pm: Group acoustic rehearsals in a 18th century church (2h each)
• Friday 23 October 2026:
  • 10.00am -5.00pm: Group acoustic rehearsals in a 18th century church (2h each)
  • 8.30pm: Performance of “Church Music” with Jury
• Saturday 24 October 2026:
  • 10.00am – 5.00pm: Group acoustic rehearsals in an 18th century palazzo (2h each)
  • 8.30pm: “Chamber music” performance with Jury
• Sunday 25 October 2026:
  • 11.00am: Prize Giving Ceremony
  • 1.00pm: Lunch for participants and Jury.

The Performances in front of the Jury will be public and can be broadcast online in international video streaming on the Premio Bonporti website, Facebook page and YouTube channel.

The organization reserves the right to disseminate and use the recordings or part of them for promotional purposes even after the Competition has taken place. By registering for the Competition, all competitors renounce any form of compensation connected with publications, recordings and their dissemination.

11. Hospitality

The organization offers each participant of the groups admitted to the live performances a scholarship for the stay in Rovereto (see point 4.2) which will be delivered on the day of check-in, and 1 voucher for lunch on the day of the awards ceremony (25 October).

For information:
Ostello di Rovereto
Via delle Scuole 18
I – 38068 Rovereto TN

tel. +39.(0)464.486757 or mob. +39 342 7431378
or fax +39.(0)464.400959
info@ostellorovereto.it – www.ostellorovereto.it

Information about Rovereto and nearby towns and villages may be found on the following websites:

www.visittrentino.it
www.visitrovereto.it
www.apt.trento.it

12. Controversy

All participants accept these Regulations;

The organisation may decide to make minor changes to these regulations without prior notice;

The Rovereto Court of Law will be competent for any legal controversy;

There is no appeal against the decisions of the Jury.

13. Competition Secretariat

ACCADEMIA DI MUSICA ANTICA
Premio Bonporti

Palazzo Carpentari von Mittenberg
Piazza San Marco, 7
I – 38068 Rovereto TN

tel. +39.(0)464.480186
mob. +39.333.4813958
info@premiobonporti.it