Call for Applications: 2026 Pisar Prize

Music

In partnership with the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées (Paris), The Juilliard School (New York), and Villa Albertine (USA), the Pisar Prize, in memory of John Cage and Merce Cunningham, aims to strengthen cultural ties between France and the United States by promoting a work by a young contemporary composer each year.

The laureate, designated alternately by the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Villa Albertine, and The Juilliard School, will receive support for the composition of a new work to be premiered at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées by Les Siècles orchestra on November 6, 2027.

Profile and Project Requirements

For its fifth edition, the Pisar Prize will support

a composer between the ages of 21 and 40, regardless of nationality
who will conceive an orchestral work of approximately 12 minutes
inspired by the United States (a place, a myth, a real event, a tradition, a work, an author, a historical figure…)
requiring an immersive stay in the United States.

The project should strive to inspire an active dialogue with key local actors that the laureate meets during their residency.

The winner is required to score for the orchestration already in place for the program featuring the premiere. The specific instrumentation available to the prize-winning composer will be communicated no later than November 2026.

Villa Albertine – The Juilliard School Residency (First Semester of 2027)

The residency will be divided into two phases:

A four- to six-week Villa Albertine residency based mainly in New York, during which the resident will develop their project, with the possibility to extend the stay further in the US North-East if required for the need of the project.
During this time period, a two-to-three-week residency at The Juilliard School, during which the prize-winner will present their work in a composition seminar and will workshop a reduced version of the piece in collaboration with conductor Jeffrey Milarsky and the Juilliard AXIOM ensemble.

Calendar

Draft due to Juilliard Orchestra Library: February 11, 2027
Music due (reduced version) to Juilliard Orchestra Library: February 25, 2027
Music release to musicians: March 11, 2027
Reading date with AXIOM: April 1, 2027

World Premiere at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées

The work will make its world premiere at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées on November 6, 2027, as part of a concert performed by Les Siècles orchestra, which the laureate will be invited to attend.

The winner is required to deliver their score (full orchestra) no later than August 15, 2027.

Endowment of the Pisar Prize

In addition to the residency and the premiere of his work, the winner will receive an honorarium of 10,000 euros from the Foundation of the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants should possess the following qualities:

Professional experience in their field of artistic or intellectual creation demonstrated in a CV (less than 6 pages) that presents their career and work. 
The ability to easily communicate in English, as demonstrated in a short video already available online, or recorded for the application. In the video, the applicant should present themselves and their project in under three minutes.
The candidate must be at least 21 years old and no more than 40 years old before the planned date of departure for their residency.

Support from Villa Albertine

Villa Albertine will also support the resident in their assessment of material and logistical requirements for the project to be carried out properly. Villa Albertine will organize the resident’s stay and cover related travel and living expenses.

This includes: 

Residency allowance covering daily expenses (meals, local transport, phone and banking fees, ESTA or visa costs, etc), which amounts to approximately $100 per day.
International and domestic travel costs
Accommodations
Car rental, as appropriate to the project and location
Health, liability, and repatriation insurance

Villa Albertine cannot commit to covering expenses other than the aforementioned travel costs and living expenses.

Application Process

All applications materials (project description, resume or CV, video in English, and recordings and scores of representative compositions) should be addressed to: PrixPisarPrize@gmail.com

Application deadline: October 9, 2026
Announcement of results: November 6, 2026

In partnership with

Théâtre des Champs-Élysées

The Théâtre des Champs-Élysées is one of the most elegant performance venues in Paris. Designed in 1913 by a group of artists (Henry Van de Velde, the Perret brothers, Antoine Bourdelle, Maurice Denis), it was the first Parisian theatre to be entirely built of reinforced concrete, and has perpetuated for the past century a tradition of eclectic programmes of a high standard (opera, recitals, orchestral concerts, dance). Its opening is still vividly remembered for the ‘scandal’ of the premiere of Le Sacre du Printemps, whose impact on the public derived as much from Stravinsky’s music as from Nijinsky’s choreography. The artistic adventure of the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées has been distinguished by the presence, for over one hundred years now, of the most prestigious creative figures in the history of music, opera and dance.

The Juilliard School

Founded in 1905, The Juilliard School is a world leader in performing arts education. The school’s mission is to provide the highest caliber of artistic education for gifted musicians, dancers, and actors, composers, choreographers, and playwrights from around the world so that they may achieve their fullest potential as artists, leaders, and global citizens. Juilliard is led by Damian Woetzel, seventh president of the school, who has prioritized affordability and access to the highest level of artistic education while championing Juilliard’s tradition of excellence.

Located at Lincoln Center in New York City, Juilliard offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in dance, drama (acting and playwriting), and music (classical, jazz, historical performance, and vocal arts). More than 800 artists from 42 states and 50 countries and regions are enrolled in Juilliard’s College Division, where they appear in more than 700 annual performances in the school’s five theaters; at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully and David Geffen halls and at Carnegie Hall; as well as at other venues around New York City, the U.S., and the world. The continuum of learning at Juilliard also includes nearly 400 students from elementary through high school enrolled in the Preparatory Division—Pre-College and Music Advancement Program (MAP); MAP serves students from diverse backgrounds often underrepresented in the classical music field. More than 1,200 students are enrolled in Juilliard Extension, the flagship continuing education program taught both in person and remotely by a dedicated faculty of performers, creators, and scholars. Beyond its New York campus, Juilliard is defining new directions in performing arts education for a range of learners and enthusiasts through a global K-12 educational curricula and preparatory and graduate studies at The Tianjin Juilliard School in China.

Learn more