Albanian composer awarded Grand Prize at International Music Competition

Albanian violinist and composer Ina Kosturi has won the Grand Prize in the “Original Composition” category at the fourth season of the Saint-Saëns International Music Competition in England.

Kosturi, an associate professor of violin at the University of Arts in Tirana, was awarded the top honour for her work Concerto for Violin and Orchestra and ranked first across all competition categories for 2025, CE Report quotes ATA.

The international jury was composed of prominent figures from the global music scene. The award highlights the international recognition of Albanian artistic talent and sets a new benchmark for classical music in the country, organisers said.

The Saint-Saëns International Music Competition serves as a global platform recognizing excellence in musical performance, composition and academic research. It is part of the World Online Music Competitions Organisation (WOMCO), which publishes juries, winners and interviews with Grand Prize laureates.

Kosturi is the first Albanian artist to receive a top award at WOMCO competitions, following a series of successes at international contests in Slovenia, Vienna, Malta and Switzerland, as well as participation in Hartford, Connecticut, in the United States.

Her compositions have been published by Vienna-based music publisher Universal Edition and featured in its Winter Catalogue 2024-2025.