Piotr Perkowski Competition Dedicated to Film Music
This is a well-established event that has supported the development of young artists and promoted contemporary music in Poland for many years. The 8th Nationwide Piotr Perkowski Composition Competition is organized by the Foundation for the Support and Development of the Music Schools Complex in Toruń and the Karol Szymanowski Music Schools Complex in Toruń. This year’s edition has received support from the budget of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region.
In 2026, the competition takes on special significance as it is being held as part of the celebrations of the Year of Film People. It is the audiovisual context that gives the event its interdisciplinary character — music meets image, and young composers take on the creative challenge of composing original soundtracks for animated films. The project is carried out in cooperation with the Faculty of Fine Arts at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, further strengthening the dialogue between different artistic disciplines.
Participants face a demanding task — their compositions must be closely synchronized with a selected animated film. The music should not only accompany the image but also reflect its dramaturgy, narrative, and changing moods. Precision is essential: the duration of the composition must match the length of the film, and both the beginning and ending must be perfectly aligned with the visuals. The use of synchronization points is allowed, bringing young creators closer to professional standards in the film industry.
The competition includes two categories: composition for symphony orchestra and a solo classical guitar piece. An important aspect is also adjusting the level of difficulty to the performance abilities of upper-secondary music school students, who will interpret the submitted works. Each participant may submit up to three compositions in one or both categories.
The educational and promotional dimensions of the project are also highly significant. The resulting audiovisual works are the outcome of cooperation between young artists from various disciplines and may be used in activities promoting musical and film culture. The competition fosters integration within artistic communities and strengthens Toruń’s position as an important center supporting the development of art and artistic education.
The competition final is scheduled for December 11, 2026. During the closing concert, selected compositions will be presented together with their accompanying visual layer. The event will serve not only as the culmination of the competition but also as one of the key highlights of the Year of Film People celebrations.
Promotion Department
Paweł Jankowski
May 6, 2026