Rules of the
Valletta International Piano Competition
Malta
7th – 11th February, 2018
General regulations
- The Competition is open to pianists of all nationalities from 7 - 28 years old of age.
- The application to the Valletta International Piano Competition can be completed online or submitted by post. All applications must be received, or postmarked, not later than 1st December 2016. If you are late after the deadline please ask for availability in your age category.
- The playing order of competitors will be determined by ballot on the opening ceremony. In the Gala Final, the order may be changed for reasons of programme planning.
- All competitors should arrive in Malta on Wednesday, 7th or Thursday 8th February 2018. Departure from Malta should be Monday, 12th February 2018 Competitors must arrive at the venue of the Competition in time.
- All competitors who are under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
- Competitors must remain in Malta for the duration of the period in which they are competing. The six finalists are obliged to perform in the Gala-Concert on Sunday, 11th February 2018.
- Competitors who are not ready to perform when called upon to do so may be disqualified.
- The Jury retains the right to stop a performance if the competitor exceeds the allotted time.
- Competitors cannot appeal against the decisions of the Jury.
- Competitors who make any attempt (or on whose behalf an attempt is made) to communicate with any member of the jury will be disqualified.
- Rights in any competition performance, recordings or films, belong to Valletta International Piano Competition and no fee is payable to any competitor on account of these performances or any recordings or broadcasts of them (whether live, streamed, on the internet or otherwise).
- Competitors acknowledge and agree that Valletta International Piano Competition shall be entitled to edit, copy, add to, adapt or translate any recording of their performances in the Competition at its discretion and, in respect of such performances, competitors here by irrevocably waive in favour of Valletta International Piano Competition, it's assignees and licensees the benefit of all moral rights and performers’ rights arising under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or similar rights arising under the laws of any jurisdiction.
- All prize winners can be required to return to Malta before the 2018 Competition to give an unpaid recital in aid of the Competition.
- No contact with the media must be made by any competitor for the duration of the Competition.
- Taxes will be deducted from prizes according to Malta tax laws in effect at the time of payment.
- The Competition reserves the right to amend any of the rules stated.
- The English text of the rules is definitive.
Deadline for applications
! Deadline for applications is: 1st December 2017.
Categories & Programme
Young: Category A - 7 - 9 years programme duration: 4 min
Category B - 10 - 12 years programme duration: 8 min
Junior: Category C - 13 - 15 years programme duration: 12 min
Category D - 16 - 18 years programme duration: 15 min
Senior: Category E - 19 - 23 years programme duration: 20 min ( 1st Round ), 20-25 min ( 2nd Round )
Category F - 24 - 28 years programme duration: 20 min ( 1st Round ), 20-25 min ( 2nd Round )
Repertoire
Programme must include 2 ( two ) contrasting piano works of 2 ( two ) different styles: baroque, classical, romantic or contemporary. For example:
1 option: classical movement and modern work
2 option: baroque and romantic work
Competitors may also include a piece written by any of Maltese composer.
Full details of each piece/work of the applicant's repertoire must be listed and should include:
Repeats are left to the artistic discretion of the competitor. Repertoire preferred to be performed from memory.
Each participant can have an acoustic rehearsal in the Concert Hall (not longer than 10 minutes).
An application Fee
An application fee of 100 EUR ( Category A, B ) and 120 EUR ( Category C, D, E, F ) should be paid at the time of registration to the Competition by cheque or online by credit card. In case of participants' resignations application fees will not be refund. All bank charges/fees are the responsibility of the applicant and are not to be deducted from the
EUR 100 and EUR 120.00 entrance fee. Applicants will be asked to pay any short fall if a total amount of application fee is not received.
Documents
- Applicants should retain copies of all material sent, as the Competition cannot return any materials or accept responsibility for any documents lost.
- The Competition takes no responsibility if applications are lost; applicants are encouraged to use recorded delivery or registered post.
- An acknowledgement will be sent to each applicant by email upon receipt of the completed application.
- The selection panel reserves the right to request additional information from an applicant.
- Biographical details will be checked by the selection panel. Inaccurate or misleading biographical information may lead to a Competitor’s disqualification.
- Only fully completed applications will be submitted to the selection panel.
- All parts of the application, including any references must be completed in English.
Application documents:
1. An application form
2. Copy of the Receipt of payment an application fee to be paid to
Valletta Piano Festival with YOUR NAME indicated !
3. Photocopy of your Passport
4. 2 (two) Photos in high resolution
5. Brief artistic CV ( not more then 80 words ! )
6. link in youtube ( or other Video portals like Vimeo, IPhone video ) with your performance of 2 different pieces of your choice ( free choice ) approx. 10 -20 min ( for Categories: C, D, E, F, G )
which was recorded not later then 6 month ago.
All documents sent by participants to the Organising Committee will not be returned.
Selection of Competitors
All applicants will be informed of their acceptance or rejection after the deadline by 1st December 2017.
Some of the participants may receive an official confirmation letter for acceptance before the deadline.
The Organising Committee will send an official invitation for the VISA only when completed set of application documents and participation fee from the participant has been PAID and received by the Committee.
No further correspondence can be entered into after the decision of the selection panel has been made.
International Jury
The International Jury selects its prize winners based on a combination of factors; musical refinement, versatility, sensitivity and passion, as well as commitment and the strength to take on an international concert career.
The Jury has the right to stop a participant's performance or shorten the programme of the participant if it doesn't match the program regulations, exceeds the time limit or if the performance doesn't reflect the level of the Competition by common agreement of all members of the Jury. The numbers of competitors entering Gala-Concert will be decided by the Jury. All auditions of the Competition are open to the public.
Prizes & Awards
Each category will have 3 Prize Winners - I, II, III Place.
All prize winners will receive diploma & trophy award.
Both the participants, who do not receive a prize, will receive a diploma of participation.
According to the results of auditions and depending on the established number of prizes, the Jury reserves
the right:
- not to award all of the prizes
- to divide prizes among bigger number of participants
Grand Prix Winner - will receive CERTIFICATE FOR 1.000 EURO This Certificate can be used for the development of the piano career ( shall be discusses with organizers )
Grand Prix of the Competition also can be awarded to one person in two ways:
If the Grand Prix winner will be non-Maltese - he/she will be invited to Malta to perform a solo recital.
If the Grand Prix winner will be Maltese - he/she will be invited to other country to perform a concert tour in the one of the philharmonic or conservatory concert halls.
Laureates of the Competition are obliged to participate in the final Gala-concert, which will take place in the Concert Hall on the 11th February 2018.
State and non-government organisations, artistic associations, public medias, authorities, companies and individual persons, with the concurrence and approval of the Organising Committee, may endow special prizes and awards.
Accommodation
The Competition shall not cover the costs of accommodation and meals for competitors.
Only Organising Committee will make for the participants and their accompanying persons hotel reservations.
TV/ Photo and Video Recording
The competition Organizing Committee reserves the right to organize performances related to the competition. All performances of the competition may be recorded or videotaped for subsequent transmission. All tapes or recordings will be the exclusive property of the Competition Organizing Committee. No payment will be given to any competitor for the said performances or recordings.
All rights of audio-video recordings of the Competition (audition, opening and Prize giving ceremony, Gala-concert etc.) and its dissemination belong to the Organising Committee of the Competition. The Valletta International Piano Competition shall be the sole owner and copyright holder of any audio and/or video recording of activities or events sponsored by the competition.
Yamaha is the official piano brand of the Valletta International Piano Competition.
Categories & Programme
Young: Category A - 7 - 9 years programme duration: 4 min
Category B - 10 - 12 years programme duration: 8 min
Junior: Category C - 13 - 15 years programme duration: 12 min
Category D - 16 - 18 years programme duration: 15 min
Senior: Category E - 19 - 23 years programme duration: 20 min ( 1st Round ), 20-25 min ( 2nd Round )
Category F - 24 - 28 years programme duration: 20 min ( 1st Round ), 20-25 min ( 2nd Round )
Repertoire
Programme must include 2 ( two ) contrasting piano works of 2 ( two ) different styles: baroque, classical, romantic or contemporary. For example:
1 option: classical movement and modern work
2 option: baroque and romantic work
Competitors may also include a piece written by any of Maltese composer.
Full details of each piece/work of the applicant's repertoire must be listed and should include:
- Name of composer
- Full title of the piece
- Catalogue/Opus Number
- Movement
- Approximate Timing
Repeats are left to the artistic discretion of the competitor. Repertoire preferred to be performed from memory.
Each participant can have an acoustic rehearsal in the Concert Hall (not longer than 10 minutes).
An application Fee
An application fee of 100 EUR ( Category A, B ) and 120 EUR ( Category C, D, E, F ) should be paid at the time of registration to the Competition by cheque or online by credit card. In case of participants' resignations application fees will not be refund. All bank charges/fees are the responsibility of the applicant and are not to be deducted from the
EUR 100 and EUR 120.00 entrance fee. Applicants will be asked to pay any short fall if a total amount of application fee is not received.
Documents
- Applicants should retain copies of all material sent, as the Competition cannot return any materials or accept responsibility for any documents lost.
- The Competition takes no responsibility if applications are lost; applicants are encouraged to use recorded delivery or registered post.
- An acknowledgement will be sent to each applicant by email upon receipt of the completed application.
- The selection panel reserves the right to request additional information from an applicant.
- Biographical details will be checked by the selection panel. Inaccurate or misleading biographical information may lead to a Competitor’s disqualification.
- Only fully completed applications will be submitted to the selection panel.
- All parts of the application, including any references must be completed in English.
Application documents:
1. An application form
2. Copy of the Receipt of payment an application fee to be paid to
Valletta Piano Festival with YOUR NAME indicated !
3. Photocopy of your Passport
4. 2 (two) Photos in high resolution
5. Brief artistic CV ( not more then 80 words ! )
6. link in youtube ( or other Video portals like Vimeo, IPhone video ) with your performance of 2 different pieces of your choice ( free choice ) approx. 10 -20 min ( for Categories: C, D, E, F, G )
which was recorded not later then 6 month ago.
All documents sent by participants to the Organising Committee will not be returned.
Selection of Competitors
All applicants will be informed of their acceptance or rejection after the deadline by 1st December 2017.
Some of the participants may receive an official confirmation letter for acceptance before the deadline.
The Organising Committee will send an official invitation for the VISA only when completed set of application documents and participation fee from the participant has been PAID and received by the Committee.
No further correspondence can be entered into after the decision of the selection panel has been made.
International Jury
The International Jury selects its prize winners based on a combination of factors; musical refinement, versatility, sensitivity and passion, as well as commitment and the strength to take on an international concert career.
The Jury has the right to stop a participant's performance or shorten the programme of the participant if it doesn't match the program regulations, exceeds the time limit or if the performance doesn't reflect the level of the Competition by common agreement of all members of the Jury. The numbers of competitors entering Gala-Concert will be decided by the Jury. All auditions of the Competition are open to the public.
Prizes & Awards
Each category will have 3 Prize Winners - I, II, III Place.
All prize winners will receive diploma & trophy award.
Both the participants, who do not receive a prize, will receive a diploma of participation.
According to the results of auditions and depending on the established number of prizes, the Jury reserves
the right:
- not to award all of the prizes
- to divide prizes among bigger number of participants
Grand Prix Winner - will receive CERTIFICATE FOR 1.000 EURO This Certificate can be used for the development of the piano career ( shall be discusses with organizers )
Grand Prix of the Competition also can be awarded to one person in two ways:
If the Grand Prix winner will be non-Maltese - he/she will be invited to Malta to perform a solo recital.
If the Grand Prix winner will be Maltese - he/she will be invited to other country to perform a concert tour in the one of the philharmonic or conservatory concert halls.
Laureates of the Competition are obliged to participate in the final Gala-concert, which will take place in the Concert Hall on the 11th February 2018.
State and non-government organisations, artistic associations, public medias, authorities, companies and individual persons, with the concurrence and approval of the Organising Committee, may endow special prizes and awards.
Accommodation
The Competition shall not cover the costs of accommodation and meals for competitors.
Only Organising Committee will make for the participants and their accompanying persons hotel reservations.
TV/ Photo and Video Recording
The competition Organizing Committee reserves the right to organize performances related to the competition. All performances of the competition may be recorded or videotaped for subsequent transmission. All tapes or recordings will be the exclusive property of the Competition Organizing Committee. No payment will be given to any competitor for the said performances or recordings.
All rights of audio-video recordings of the Competition (audition, opening and Prize giving ceremony, Gala-concert etc.) and its dissemination belong to the Organising Committee of the Competition. The Valletta International Piano Competition shall be the sole owner and copyright holder of any audio and/or video recording of activities or events sponsored by the competition.
Yamaha is the official piano brand of the Valletta International Piano Competition.