I
The First Ljubljana Festival International Piano Competition (hereinafter called Competition), organised by Festival Ljubljana (hereinafter called Organiser), will be held in Ljubljana from February 25 to March 4, 2023.
II
Competition is open to professional pianists of all nationalities who were born between 1992 and 2006.
III
Pianists wishing to enter Competition will have to submit the required application documents by September 15, 2022 and, if accepted by the Preliminary Round Jury, participate in Competition held in Ljubljana from February 25 to March 4, 2023. Round 1 performances will begin on February 25 lasting until February 27, 2023. Round 2 will take place on February 28 and March 1, 2023, and Finals with Orchestra in Round 3 on March 3 and 4, 2023.
IV
Applications must include:
- A link to a 30-MINUTE VIDEO RECORDING of the applicant’s performance. The applicant needs to upload the video recording to their YouTube channel and make it private. The video must be recorded with high audio quality, fixed filming angle, visible hands and face. The program used for the video recording can eventually be included in the following rounds of Competition. The video recordings should not be older than four months prior to submission.
- Birth certificate or equivalent PROOF OF AGE showing the applicant was born between 1992 and 2006.
- Three current PHOTOGRAPHS, including at least one portrait photo, to be used in Competition publications (electronic version 300–1200 dpi; accepted formats – jpg, gif, bmp, jpeg).
- Short BIOGRAPHY in English including musical education, performances and awards if any.
- The COMPLETE LIST OF THE REPERTOIRE to be performed in the Preliminary Round (video selection) and Rounds 1, 2, 3 of Competition with accurate timings for each piece.
- TWO LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION, one from the applicant’s current professor and one from a renowned pianist.
- PROOF OF PAYMENT of the non-refundable application fee of 120 EUR into Organiser’s account.
V
The application and all correspondence relating to the participation in Competition should be in English. If the applicant fails to meet the abovementioned requirements or does not provide complete information, Organiser may reject their application.
VI
The applications should be made using the electronic form available on the official Competition website. No other method of submission will be accepted. The applications should be submitted no later than September 15, 2022.
VII
By submitting the application, the applicant confirms their acceptance of all the Rules. The applicant will receive a formal confirmation of their application by e-mail.
VIII
It is the applicant’s responsibility to take all the necessary steps so that the application can be submitted by the deadline. Organiser cannot be held responsible if an application is not received on time.
IX
If an applicant encounters technical problems during the online application process, they must inform Organiser of Competition about the problem as soon as possible by sending an e-mail to info@ljubljanafestival-pianocompetition.si so that the problem can be solved, and the application received on time.
X
All applications will be overviewed by the Jury of the Preliminary Round, consisting of three renowned musicians, based on the Preliminary Round Rules. Organiser of Competition will appoint the members of the Preliminary Round Jury.
XI
The Jury of the Preliminary Round will in principle admit no more than 30 applicants into Round 1 of Competition. The results will be published on Organiser’s website (under the “News” section) no later than October 31, 2022.
XII
Competition will consist of three separate rounds. Competition Jury consists of a distinguished international panel of nine musicians who are appointed by Organiser of Competition. Competition Jury will in principle advance no more than 12 competitors to Round 2, and 6 competitors to Round 3.
XIII
Organiser will make practice pianos available to all competitors at the Conservatory of Music and Ballet Ljubljana. The pianos will be available from February 23 to March 4, 2023.
XIV
Steinway & Sons, Fazioli and Yamaha pianos will be used in all rounds of Competition. One day prior to Competition, each competitor will have a 15-minute time slot to choose one of the pianos to perform on in all the rounds. Once they decide, further changes will not be allowed.
XV
Organiser will not assist the competitors in obtaining Slovenian visas. If needed, Organiser will provide a note in the form of an invitation letter confirming their participation in Competition.
XVI
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all competitors must show a relevant proof of compliance with the vaccinated-tested-recovered (VTR) requirements (if applicable in 2023).
XVII
On the day before the Competition begins, February 24, 2023, there will be an introductory meeting at which all competitors must be present. The exact time and location of the meeting will be announced later.
XVIII
The order of performances of competitors for Round 1 will be determined by drawing at the introductory meeting and published on Competition website. The order of performances in Round 2 and Round 3 will follow the order of Round 1.
XIX
The Jury can interrupt the competitors during any stage of their performance.
XX
Competitors are not permitted to have contact with any jury member during their participation in Competition. Failure to observe this rule may lead to disqualification of the competitor.
XXI
Competition will be open to the public. All rounds of Competition and interviews will be livestreamed.
XXII
Competitors must play from memory.
XXIII
In the Preliminary Round, each applicant will perform a program that should last no less than 25 and no longer than 30 minutes. The program must include one virtuoso Etude by Frédéric Chopin (except for op. 10, no. 3, 6, 9 and op. 25, no. 1, 2, 7), one Etude by Franz Liszt, one complete Sonata by Joseph Haydn or Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (repeats may be taken at applicant’s discretion) and one or more complete works of the applicant’s choice.
XXIV
In Round 1, each competitor will perform a recital that should last no less than 45 and no longer than 50 minutes. The program must include one complete Sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven (except for op. 10, no. 1, 2, op. 14, no. 1, 2, op. 49, no. 1, 2, op. 54, op. 78 and op. 79; repeats may be taken at competitor’s discretion) and one or more complete works* of the competitor’s choice. If the competitor exceeds the time limit, the Jury is allowed to stop their performance.
*Complete work only refers to sonata.
XXV
In Round 2, each competitor will perform a recital that should last no less than 55 and no longer than 60 minutes. The program must include one important Romantic work, one important 20th Century work and one or more complete works* of the competitor’s choice. The pieces may be performed in any order. All the pieces performed must be published works. If the competitor exceeds the time limit, the Jury is allowed to stop their performance. Competitors cannot include any works already performed in Round 1.
*Complete work only refers to sonata.
XXVI
The competitors who wish to compete for the Special Prize for the best performance of a work by a Slovenian composer have to include at least one piece not shorter than 8 minutes chosen from the works by Lucijan Marija Škerjanc, Vilko Ukmar, Marijan Lipovšek, Alojz Srebotnjak, or Janez Matičič in any of the first two rounds.
XXVII
In Round 3 each finalist will perform a Piano Concerto with the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra chosen from the following list:
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-flat major, K. 271
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K. 467
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K. 491
- Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
- Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73
- Frédéric Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11
- Robert Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54
- Johannes Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15
- Johannes Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 83
- Sergei Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18
- Sergei Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30
- Sergei Rachmaninoff: The Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43
- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major, Op. 44
- Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 16
- Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26
- Béla Bartók: The Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major, Sz. 95, BB 101
XXVIII
The pieces may be performed in any order. Potential program changes must be sentno later than October 31, 2022. After this date, the repertoire of any of the three rounds cannot be changed.
XXIX
All the pieces performed must be published works.
XXX
Competitors must provide one copy of the score for all the pieces that will be performed in all three rounds to the Jury.
XXXI
Competitors who advance to Round 3 will have one rehearsal with the orchestra before their final performance.
XXXII
Organiser of Competition reserves the right to change the order of a day’s performances for organisational or program-related reasons. In the event of an illness or accident, officially confirmed by a medical service, the competitor may be permitted to perform outside the established order, at the end of the current round.
XXXIII
The competitors must arrange their own travel and accommodation. After the beginning of Competition, they will be refunded 800 EUR to cover their costs of travel to and from Ljubljana to participate in Competition and to cover the accommodation. This amount is subject to tax deductions determined by law.
XXXIV
The following main prizes may be awarded to the six finalists:
1st Prize: 30,000 EUR
2nd Prize: 20,000 EUR
3rd Prize: 10,000 EUR
4th Prize: 5,000 EUR
5th Prize: 3,000 EUR
6th Prize: 2,000 EUR
Special diplomas may also be awarded for the following best performances:
- Best performance of a Baroque work: 500 EUR
- Best performance of a Classical Sonata: 500 EUR
- Best performance of a Romantic work: 500 EUR
- Best performance of a 20th Century work: 500 EUR
- Best performance of a 21st Century work: 500 EUR
- Best performance of a work by a Slovenian composer: 500 EUR
- The youngest finalist in Competition: 500 EUR
- The highest ranked pianist representing Slovenia: 500 EUR
XXXV
The sums above are subject to the applicable tax deductions as required by law.
XXXVI
Competition Jury’s decisions are final and they are not subject to appeal.
XXXVII
The members of the Jury reserve the right:
- not to award all prizes and special diplomas,
- to divide prizes between competitors.
XXXVIII
The results of Competition will be officially presented at a ceremony on March 4, 2023 after the Jury has reached the final decision. Right after that the results will also be made public on Competition website.
XXXIX
Organiser is in the process of negotiating a number of major recital and orchestra engagements for the three top prize-winners. The concerts are to be performed within the two-year period after Competition.
XXXX
Each competitor:
- Agrees with potential local radio/television broadcasts.
- Agrees with live audio-video broadcasting and with broadcasting of the recording of the entire performance on the official Organiser website and Facebook page and usage of the entire video recording of all their performances for the promotional purposes of Organiser (promo videos, YouTube channel, Vimeo, social networks, official Competition website, and so on).
- Agrees that Organiser can share the promotional video recordings with their partners/sponsors which they can use on their websites and social media accounts.
- Will transfer to Organiser all property rights to the related photographs, statements, and interviews.
XXXXI
Any matter not provided for in the rules will be subject to Slovenian law. Any legal disputes will be negotiated mutually, and disputes arbitrated in the local court in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
XXXXII
In case of doubt, the Slovenian language version of the rules will be used in interpreting and clarifying their provisions.
