The XII edition of the Concorso Flautistico Internazionale “Severino Gazzelloni” culminated in a glittering finale at the Conservatorio “San Pietro a Majella” in Naples — the institution hosting the competition for the second time. The weeklong event, which brought together over 300 competitors from 46 nations across 4 continents, was a stirring affirmation of the competition’s growing stature in the flute world.
A rich tradition continues
The Gazzelloni Competition, organized by the Associazione Flautisti Italiani (AFI Falaut ETS) in cooperation with the Conservatorio San Pietro a Majella, is now firmly established as a landmark event in the international flute calendar. Past editions have awarded outstanding flutists. Over the years, the contest has offered not only prestige but meaningful career support: winners often receive instrument‐purchase vouchers, special prizes, and invitations to concert engagements.
The competition repertoire is demanding and varied: preliminary rounds, semifinals, and finals include solo repertoire, concertos, and — in the higher categories — concerto with orchestra. The official program lists compulsory and optional works spanning Baroque to contemporary idioms.
The 2025 Jury and Organizing Team
The jury for 2025 included distinguished flutists from Italy and abroad:
- Massimo Mercelli (Italy)
- Sunghyun Cho (South Korea)
- Francesco Loi (Italy)
- Dejan Gavric (Serbia)
- Nicola Mazzanti (Italy)
The organizing committee also expressed warm gratitude to:
- M° Gaetano Panariello, Director of the Conservatorio San Pietro a Majella
- Carla Ciccarelli, President
- Carlo Mormile, Vice-Director
- Pianists Amedeo Salvato and Raffaele Maisano
- Conductor Vittorio Coviello and the Orchestra Filarmonica di Benevento
- All participants who contributed to the artistic vitality of the competition
Winners and Special Prizes (2025)
Below is the official list of laureates, by category, with special prize recognitions:
Category “Piccolo”
- 1st Prize: Yun Seulgi Stella (South Korea)
- 2nd Prize: Davilla Cabanillas Pedro (Spain)
- 3rd Prize: Tu Sijing (China)
Category A
- 1st Prize: Not assigned
- 2nd Prize (ex aequo): Liu Xihe (China) & Sophia Ivanova (Bulgaria)
- 3rd Prize: Ekaterina Ivanova (Russia)
- Special Prize “Glauco Cambursano”: Liu Xihe (China)
Category B
- 1st Prize: Iza Stih (Slovenia)
- 2nd Prize: Francesco Femia (Italy)
- 3rd Prize (ex aequo): Michelangelo Arrigucci (Italy) & Ángel Carriòn Serrano (Spain)
- Special Prize “Ernesto Köhler”: Iza Stih (Slovenia)
Category C
- 1st Prize: Jorge Rodriguez (Honduras)
- 2nd Prize: Javier Gutierrez (Venezuela)
- 3rd Prize: Alessandra Orlando (Italy)
- Special Prize “Concert in Termoli Musica”: Alessandra Orlando (Italy)
These results highlight a wide geographic spread among winners — from Asia to Eastern Europe to Latin America — affirming the truly international nature of the contest.
Reflections and Forward Momentum
The decision not to award a first prize in Category A underscores the competition’s high standards: instead of lowering the bar, the jury opted to award second prize ex aequo for those who met excellence criteria. This reinforces that the Gazzelloni is not a competition of quantity, but of scrupulous artistic quality.
Special prizes like the “Glauco Cambursano” and “Ernesto Köhler” continue to offer additional recognition and incentive to emerging artists, enhancing their visibility within the flute world.
Looking ahead, the competition’s increasing scale and reputation suggest it will continue to attract top flute talent globally. The presence of a strong jury and robust organizing support in Naples provides a solid foundation for continued growth.
A brief note on Severino Gazzelloni’s legacy
Severino Gazzelloni (1919–1992), born in Roccasecca, Italy, remains one of the most influential flutists in 20th-century music. As principal flute of the RAI National Symphony Orchestra for three decades and as a dedicatee of works by composers such as Luciano Berio, Boulez, Maderna, and Stravinsky, his artistic presence reshaped modern flute repertoire.
This competition carries forward Gazzelloni’s spirit of musical daring, technical refinement, and international outreach.
