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The 14th International Tchaikovsky Competition

The International Tchaikovsky Competition has been regarded internationally as one of the major events in the global music community for more than 50 years. Over the course of the past half century, it has continued to reaffirm itself as one of the leading opportunities for extraordinary young musicians to gain international recognition and establish their careers. In Russia, the event is considered one of the most valuable cultural assets. Each time the Competition is held in Moscow, it becomes the most prominent event in the country’s musical life.

Introduction

Fulfilling its goal of discovering new talent, the competition has helped to identify, those, who over the last 50 years have become some of the world’s foremost performers. Under the competition chairmanship of such luminaries as Dmitri Shostakovich and Mstislav Rostropovich, past jury members have included such legendary names as Sviatoslav Richter, Aram Khachaturian, David Oistrakh, Gregor Piatigorsky, Heinrich Neuhaus, Nadia Boulanger, Krzysztof Penderecki, Dmitri Kabalevsky, Irina Arkhipova, George London, Lev Oborin, Pierre Fournier, Maria Callas, Leonard Rose, Eugene List, Georgy Svirdov, Mario Del Monaco, Leonid Kogan, Carlo Zecchi, Joseph Szigeti, Fiorenza Cossotto, Natalia Gutman, Shlomo Mintz, Bidu Sayao and Magda Tagliaferro.

Among the competition winners who have achieved worldwide recognition are: pianists Van Cliburn, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Mikhail Pletnev, Grigory Sokolov; violinists Viktor Tretiakov, Gidon Kremer, Vladimir Spivakov, Viktoria Mullova; cellists David Geringas, Nathaniel Rosen, Antonio Meneses, Natalia Gutman, Mario Brunello; and singers Evgeny Nesterenko, Paata Burchuladze, Elena Obraztsova and Deborah Voigt.

The International Tchaikovsky Competition is held once every four years. The first, in 1958, included two disciplines – piano and violin. Beginning with the second competition, in 1962, a cello category was added, and the vocal division was introduced during the third competition in 1966. In 1990, a fifth discipline was announced for the IX International Tchaikovsky Competition — a contest for violin makers which traditionally comes before the main competition.

Objective

Submit your application to the 14th International Tchaikovsky Competition.

The Competition disciplines are:

  • piano,
  • violin,
  • cello and
  • voice (male singers and female singers).

Prizes

The Organizing Committee for the XIV International Tchaikovsky Competition will announce five prizes for piano, five prizes for violin, five prizes for cello, four prizes for male singers and four prizes for female singers. Only one Grand Prix winner among all first prize winners might be announced.

  • Grand Prix €10,000 will be granted in addition to the First Prize;
  • First Prize €20,000 and Gold Medal;
  • Second Prize€15,000 and Silver Medal;
  • Third Prize €10,000 and Bronze Medal;
  • Fourth Prize €5,000 and Diploma;
  • Fifth Prize €3,000 and Diploma;
  • Best chamber concerto performance €2000 and Diploma;
  • Best performance of the work specially written for the Competition €2000 and Diploma;

The First Prizes are always to be awarded.

All prize amounts are indicated net of Russian national and local taxes.

Rules

  • The Fourteenth International Tchaikovsky Competition is open to musicians of all nationalities. First-prize winners of previous Tchaikovsky Competitions are not eligible to compete.
  • The Fourteenth International Tchaikovsky Competition (hereinafter the Competition) will be held in Moscow, Russia, from June 14 to 2 July 2011, under the auspices of the Russian Federal Government and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.
  • The Competition disciplines are piano, violin, cello and voice (male singers and female singers).
  • Applicants must be between sixteen and thirty years of age at the time of the Competition (instrumentalists). For singers, the ages are nineteen through thirty-two.
  • Competitors must not have any other professional commitments during the time of the Competition.
  • The Organizing Committee will pay the competitors for a round-trip economy class air ticket or train ticket from their place of residence to Moscow in an amount not to exceed 700 Euro, on the condition that they submit a receipt or invoice.
  • All competitors and their accompanists (pianists) will be provided with hotel accommodations and meals during the period from June 12 until two days following their official participation in the Competition. However, competitors will be responsible for their own accommodations on any days falling outside of this time period.
  • Foreign competitors will be responsible for obtaining their passports and any necessary visas. They should apply at the nearest Russian Consulate upon receiving a formal invitation to the Competition.
  • The Organizing Committee will not secure any insurance for competitors, their accompanists and other accompanying persons.
  • In the event that a competitor has arrived in Moscow but refuses to participate in the Competition the competitor will be responsible for all travel and hotel expenses.

How to enter?

Submit your Application Form by post or by email. You can also fill-in an online Application Form. It must be completed, signed, and sent with all the necessary enclosures to the Organizing Committee and postmarked no later than 1 December 2010.

All correspondence and application forms should be addressed to:

The Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation
Department of Contemporary Art and International Cultural Relations
7/6, M. Gnezdnikovsky per., bldg. 1,2
Moscow 125993 Russia

application@tchaikovsky-competition.com
info@tchaikovsky-competition.com

The following supplementary materials must accompany each Application Form:

  • A photocopy of the applicant’s birth certificate, or equivalent proof of age;
  • A current one-page biography or resume;
  • List of concerti in the applicant’s repertoire, together with indication of at least four concerti that will be ready for performance during the 2011-2012 season (for pianists, violinists and cellists);
  • Two full recital programs that will be ready for performance in the 2011-2012 season;
  • List of major solo works and chamber music (or opera roles for singers) in the applicant’s repertoire, together with the dates most recently performed (if applicable);
  • Color photographs, preferably in digital format with a resolution of 300 dpi, including one head-shot, approximately 13 cm x 17 cm (5 inches x 7 inches), suitable for publicity purposes. These can be submitted on CD, emailed, or physical copies can be mailed;
  • Photocopies of any awards from other competitions;
  • An unedited DVD of a fifty-minute recital recorded between November, 2009 and November, 2010. Screening by an international jury will take place in Moscow prior to 20 February 2011.

Entry fee

Together with the completed application, or not later than 1 December 2010, all applicants must submit a nonrefundable application fee of €100 or equivalent in Russian rubles by bank wire.