The 12th Arturo Toscanini International Conducting Competition concluded on Sunday, 7 September 2025, at the Auditorium Paganini in Parma with the victory of Stepan Armasar. The 25-year-old Russian conductor also received the Audience Prize “Emanuela da Castelbarco” after an intense week of competition.
Second prize and the Orchestra Prize went to Richard Octaviano Kogima (Brazil/Switzerland), while Leonard Weiss (Australia) received third prize.
Founded in 1985 and a member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions, the Toscanini Competition is considered one of the most important international events for young conductors. Past participants have included Kirill Petrenko, now chief conductor of the Berliner Philharmoniker.
The winner: Stepan Armasar
Born in the Moscow region and based in St. Petersburg, Stepan Armasar (25) is currently completing a Specialist degree in orchestral and operatic conducting at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. He has conducted the Saint Petersburg Conservatory Symphony Orchestra and appeared with ensembles such as the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Moscow Philharmonic, the Concert Symphony Orchestra of the Moscow Conservatory, and the Karaganda Philharmonic Orchestra in Kazakhstan.
He was awarded First Prize at the “Territory of Creativity” International Competition (2025) and Second Prize at the “Great Silk Road” International Competition (2023).
The other finalists
- Richard Octaviano Kogima (34, Brazil/Switzerland) – pianist and conductor trained in São Paulo, Paris, and Zurich, with further studies at the Järvi Conducting Academy. He has worked with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra and the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, and was invited by Herbert Blomstedt to join a U.S. tour. His prizes include the Nelson Freire Award and multiple first prizes in chamber music and piano competitions.
- Leonard Weiss (32, Australia) – recently completed a residency at the Deutsche Oper Berlin through the Berlin Music Opera Award. He has been a finalist for the Assistant Conductor position at the Royal Swedish Opera and participated in the Concours de Genève. He previously received the Faber Conductor Fellowship at the Salzburg Festival and several fellowships in the United States and Australia.
The jury
The international jury was chaired by Ruben Jais, Superintendent and Artistic Director of the Fondazione Arturo Toscanini, and included:
- Han-Na Chang – Trondheim Symphony Orchestra & Opera
- Lü Jia – China NCPA Orchestra
- Sandra Parr – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
- Cristina Rocca – Chicago Symphony Orchestra
- Marian van der Meer – Het Concertgebouw Amsterdam
- Mónica Lorenzo – Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España
The first prize carries €20,000, in addition to engagements with the Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini.
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