Who are the candidates for the 59th Competition?

Registration for the pre-selection rounds of the 59^th Besançon International Competition for Young Conductors closed at 4pm on 16 January, just four hours after they opened. A new record!

Candidates could register online between 16 and 23 January 2025, within the limit of 304 places (275 en 2023) divided between the five pre-selection locations: Besançon, Seoul, Paris, Berlin and Montreal.

By 4pm on 16 January, all the slots had been filled. A waiting list was opened in case of cancellations, with over 250 potential additional candidates.

19% of applicants are women (56 in total).
This percentage is identical to that observed in 2023, following a decline in previous years (21% in 2021, 23% in 2019).

The average age of candidates is 29, compared with 30 in 2023. It should also be noted that the youngest candidate is 18.

37 nationalities are represented, with :

• France : 55 (53 in 2023)
• China : 51 (23 in 2023)
• Japan : 25 (31 in 2023)

47% of applicants come from Europe (compared with 50% in 2023), 40% from Asia and 12% from America.
We also have two candidates from Africa and three from Oceania.

Of the 304 candidates, 85 have already taken part in the Selections rounds organised in 2023 and 9 have taken part in the Final rounds of the 2023 edition.