Rompetrol – KMG International has a long-standing tradition of supporting prestigious cultural events and has been a partner of the George Enescu International Festival and Competition for 17 years.
Between August 23 and September 19, 2026, Bucharest will host the 20th anniversary edition of the George Enescu International Competition, held under the theme “In Pursuit of Excellence”. The event stands as an international benchmark for artistic excellence, mentorship, and intergenerational dialogue among musicians, in the spirit of George Enescu’s legacy.
The competition includes four sections – Cello, Violin, Piano, and Composition – and is complemented by a series of masterclasses led by Maestro Cristian Măcelaru, designed to give each participant the opportunity to fully discover and develop their artistic potential.
This year’s edition marks a new all-time record in the history of the competition: 645 young musicians from 55 countries have registered for the instrumental sections – Violin, Cello, and Piano. This is the highest number of competitors since the first edition, held in 1958, further confirming the Enescu Competition’s status as one of the most important international platforms dedicated to discovering and promoting the next generation of classical music artists.
For the first time, the competition will introduce Play-Conduct semifinal rounds for the Violin, Cello, and Piano sections, giving contestants the opportunity to perform alongside a chamber orchestra. The program is further enriched by dedicated wellbeing sessions designed specifically for musicians.
Maestro Cristian Măcelaru, the artistic director of the George Enescu International Festival and Competition, is proposing for this edition six chamber recitals and six symphonic concerts, performed by established artists and laureates of previous editions.
Rompetrol – KMG International remains a committed partner in supporting culture and excellence, contributing to the development of an environment in which new generations of artists can build their future on the international stage.
Since 2024, Rompetrol-KMG International, in partnership with the Romanian Association of Luthiers Artists (AALR), has been contributing to the equipping of music schools with musical instruments – violins, violas, and double basses – thus supporting the education and development of future generations of artists. The project will continue in the coming years, with additional arts education institutions across the country set to receive handcrafted instruments made by master luthiers, offering more young talents the opportunity to develop their skills under the best possible conditions.
