Applications are now open for the fifth edition of the Nestlé and Salzburg Festival Young Conductors Award. The competition, which aims to promote young, highly talented conductors, is chaired by Ingo Metzmacher, and includes prize money of €15,000 for the winner.

Up to eight candidates will be given the opportunity to rehearse 20th century repertoire with the Austrian New Music Ensemble (oenm) in the presence of the jury in Salzburg on December 19, 2013. The three best candidates will then have the opportunity to conduct a public concert with one of the three partner orchestras – Camerata Salzburg, the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg and the Symphony Orchestra Vorarlberg – during the Award Concert Weekend, which takes place in the Felsenreitschule in Salzburg from February 28 to March 2, 2014. The award winner will conduct the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester in a Salzburg Festival concert on August 17, 2014.

Previous winners of the competition are: David Afkham, 2010; Ainars Rubikis, 2011; Mirga Gražinyte-Tyla, 2012; and Ben Gernon, 2013.

Applications close on October 10, 2013. For full details visit salzburgerfestspiele.at/nestle_yca2014.