Photo: Huub de Jong
On Sunday 18th of October the final of Ricciotti's Grand Arranging Competition 2026 took place at the Verhalenhuis in Haarlem. The jury, consisting of Hugo Bouma, Damiano Pascarelli, and our artistic director Douwe Nauta, received 32 submissions and selected the top three arrangements. The winner was Octavian Taborski, the second prize went to Tuomas Pajari, and the third prize and audience prize (a special celebratory bell made by orchestra members during the rehearsal period) went to Sara Brink Nielsen.
Below, you can read the jury’s comments on the pieces. Curious to hear how all the arrangements sound? They are still available to listen to until October 22 during our Ricciotti’s Recycle Rondgang.
First prize and Ricciotti’s Radio Prize:
Octavian Taborski – Romanian Folk Dances no. 3: In One Spot
(after Béla Bartók)
In his stylish and stylistically assured arrangement, Octavian Taborski manages to distil from Bartók’s naïve and innocent-sounding original a darkness that may have been there all along. The orchestration, layout and notation are clear and effective, and the composition has an organic arc of tension, with special mention for the tastefully integrated saxophone solo. The jury found the use of the orchestra’s different colours particularly tasteful. The new coat in which Bartók’s piece has been presented preserves and develops the essence of the original in a personal and artistically accomplished way, seemingly without effort, yet never casually. All in all, this interpretation is precisely the kind of Recycling that Ricciotti stands for.
Second prize:
Tuomas Pajari – Boléro
(after Maurice Ravel)
Of all the works from the classical top 400, Ravels Boléro has been recycled most frequently across the submissions. Given its enduring recognisability, any arrangement of the piece would fit thematically with this Ricciotti tour. Nevertheless, Tuomas Pajari’s arrangement stands out for its contemporary, jazzy approach. The stylistically consistent treatment of the material and impeccable, highly practical notation demonstrate an arranger with extensive experience in the genre. Pajari is an arranger who can create lush, evocative atmospheres and genuinely paint with the colours of the orchestra. Everything in this arrangement feels natural and guided by a clear musical thread - as if it had always been intended this way.
Third prize:
Sara Brink Nielsen – And the Swallows
(after Caroline Shaw)
And the Swallows is an ambitious and atmospheric arrangement that fits well with Ricciotti’s adventurous spirit and the climate-conscious theme of this tour. The free, soundscape-like passages filled with bird sounds are well thought out and clearly notated, and overall the orchestration is highly refined. The arranger appears to be not only someone with a strong sense of craftsmanship, but unmistakably also an artist - someone with a clear vision who is able to embrace a concept in depth and translate it into music in a surprising and personal way.
