Introduction

The International French Horn competition "Federico II di Svevia" started in Sannicandro di Bari in 2006 thanks to both the members of the musical association Amici della Musica "Giuseppe Verdi" and Prof. Pinuccio Loiacono, the chairman of the Education committee of Sannicandro di Bari. Since 2004 the beatiful castle of Frederic II, recently open and wholly avalaible, has been a wonderful setting for two editions of MasterClass for French horns and brass held by M° Konstantin Becker, French horn soloist in "La Fenice" Theatre of Venice. Charmed by the stateliness of the castle and its ancient history, M° Becker wanted to give impulse to the organization of the event to become an international musical event for French horns.
The participation of 27 musicians from 18 different countries and 4 continents in the first edition was a remarkable result which rewarded the competition's organizers. Boys and girls coming from Japan, Korea, China, Australia, Venezuela, Finnland and many other Europeans countries have decided to meet in Sannicandro to challenge each others and show their abilities. The music knowledge as a universal language has been effectual to get over the difficulties linked to different spoken languages.