The International Conducting Competition Rotterdam (ICCR) Presents the Winners for 2025

Luis Castillo-Briceño and Miguel Sepúlveda win joint First Prize at the International Conducting Competition Second Edition.

The Grand Prix of the Second Edition of the International Conducting Competition Rotterdam (ICCR), which took place from 1 – 13 June, was awarded to Luis Castillo-Briceño, 1996  and Miguel Sepúlveda, 1998.

Six designated winners were selected to participate in the Final round following the Semi-Final round in June 2024, which featured performances from 24 selected candidates in the first round, which was reduced to 12 in the second round from which the final six were selected to perform in this year’s final.

All six conductors performed a mammoth programme during the Finals in June 2025, where they will work during public rehearsals and five different concerts with various orchestras.

These finalists were selected from 175 applicants from more than 50 countries, a number that was narrowed down to 24 for the first round of live performances from which 12 advanced to the second round, with six contestants remaining after.

Luis Castillo-Briceño is a Costa Rican conductor and 2024/25 Dudamel Fellow with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He has held prestigious fellowships with the London Philharmonic and worked closely with Barbara Hannigan and other leading figures. His international engagements include debuts with the Philharmonie Luxembourg and Sinfonieorchester St. Gallen. Originally trained as a flautist and pianist, he now continues advanced conducting studies in Zurich and Vienna.

Miguel Sepúlveda, born in Lisbon in 1998, studied conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music with Mark Heron and Clark Rundell and is currently the Runnicles Fellow at the Dresdner Philharmonie. His engagements include the BBC Philharmonic and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and he was a semifinalist at the 2024 Malko Competition. In 2022, he won Portugal’s prestigious Prémio Jovens Músicos.

Rodrigo Sámano Albarrán (1994) was presented with The Audience Award and the Codarts Award was given to Miguel Sepúlveda, 1998.

Speaking on Miguel Sepúlveda, jury member Vimbayi Kaziboni describes him as “an extremely sophisticated musician, I sense that he has an innate interpretation for each moment of the music”.

Another member of the jury, Eric Whitacre, described Luis Castillo-Briceño performance as “a joy, it’s just electric, he’s just so excited about the music that the players immediately respond to him”.

The Prize Giving Ceremony followed the Symphonic Round, which took place on 13 June at the De Doelen Main Hall with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. Specialist Prizes were also awarded for each of the Final Rounds, details are listed below:

• Jakub Pryzbycien & Sam Weller:
  • Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances – Movement I
  • Debussy – La Mer – Movement III
  • Florence B. Price – Dances in the Canebrakes Movement I: Nimble Feet
• Miguel Sepulveda & Yukuang Jin
  • Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances – Movement II
  • Debussy – La Mer – Movement I
  • Florence B. Price – Dances in the Canebrakes Movement II: Tropical Noon
• Rodrigo Samano & Luis Castillo-Briceno
  • Debussy – La Mer – Movement II
  • Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances – Movement III
  • Florence B. Price – Dances in the Canebrakes Movement III: Silk Hat and Walking Cane

Founded in 2018, ICCR is organised by the foundation of the International Conducting Competition Rotterdam in close cooperation with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and De Doelen. ICCR offers more real opportunities for young conductors to practise and perform on their instrument with the gift of time on stage and a career development programme where the six finalists get to build a network with the premier orchestras and opera companies in The Netherlands.

To find out more about the International Conducting Competition Rotterdam you can visit the website here.