Toru Takemitsu Composition Award

The Tōru Takemitsu Composition Award is an international prize for contemporary classical music named in honor of renowned Japanese composer Tōru Takemitsu. Administered by the Tokyo Opera City Cultural Foundation, the award invites orchestral scores from emerging composers around the world. Each year, a single invited judge (a prominent contemporary composer) selects a shortlist of works, which are then performed in Tokyo by a professional orchestra before final judging. This is a professional-level composition award rather than a high school–specific competition: there is no formal minimum age, but most successful entrants are advanced composition students or early-career composers. Finalists receive performances of their work, feedback from an international judge, and the chance to compete for substantial prize money and international recognition. High school students with exceptional composition skills may follow the award, study past winning scores, and, if sufficiently advanced and eligible under that year’s rules, consider submitting in the future.