The competition is organised with the following criteria:

- Offer a monetary prize that will help a young composer to continue working in a field where an immediate economic return is difficult to achieve. 

- Premiere the winning score in order to introduce the new composer to the public. The awarding of a prize that is not performed in public might be considered rather useless by many composers.

- Publish the score for a wider dissemination among musicians.

Carme Bravo, the widow of composer Frederic Mompou, recalled the enthusiasm of Mompou for the activities that encouraged young people, especially Composition Competitions, since it is a thrill for young musicians to hear their work performed, and a help in furthering a future career.