Rules

Violin 2023: RULES

Violin 2023 - All content

 

ELIGIBILITY OF CANDIDATES 

The Concours musical international de Montréal (CMIM) is an elite-level international competition open to classical musicians who are in the early stages of a professional performing career.

For the Violin 2023 edition, we invite violinists of all nationalities, born between January 1, 1993, and December 31, 2006, to apply.

Please note that First Prize laureates from previous CMIM editions are not eligible to apply.

 

PRIZES, AWARDS, AND GRANTS

More than $156,000 CAD in prizes, awards, and grants will be awarded for the Violin 2023 edition.

  

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications must be submitted online via the site https://getacceptd.com before midnight on November 15, 2022 (Montréal / New York time).

An application is comprised of the following:

  • A completed online application form
  • A non-refundable application fee of $150 USD
  • Two (2) high-resolution colour photographs (including one headshot) suitable for publication and CMIM promotional use
  • Contact information for two (2) musical references willing to provide, upon request, a letter of recommendation in support of the applicant
  • A list of proposed repertoire for the three rounds of the competition
  • Four (4) audition videos (one video per work):
  1. A work by J.S. Bach: The Fugue plus one additional movement from the following solo sonatas for violin: BWV 1001 in G minor, BWV 1003 in A minor, or BWV 1005 in C major
  2. The first movement of a violin concerto by W.A. Mozart (with piano accompaniment)
  3. A movement from 24 Caprices for Solo Violin, Op.1 by N. Paganini
  4. A work of the candidate’s choice

NOTES:

– All programs are subject to the approval of the Concours once the candidate’s participation is confirmed in February 2023.

– All audition videos must be of high-quality with excellent audio, shot from one angle with a single fixed camera (no zooming, tilting, or panning). The violinist’s face must remain fully visible at all times. Videos must not be edited, enhanced, or modified in any way. Videos recorded at other competitions are also accepted.

– All recordings must have been made after July 1, 2021.

  

SELECTION PROCESS

CMIM officials will review all applications to ensure they are complete, eligible, and meet the required technical standards.

The CMIM reserves the right to disqualify any candidates who have failed to fulfill all of the application requirements.

A preliminary selection committee, appointed by the CMIM, will review and evaluate the audition videos.

A maximum of 24 candidates will be selected to compete in the Violin 2023 edition of the CMIM.

Selected candidates and all applicants will be notified of the preliminary selection results by February 1, 2023.

 

COMPETITION ROUNDS

ROUNDS

Repertoire selected for performance at the competition may include works recorded for the audition videos. No other duplication of repertoire is permitted during the competition rounds.

The jury will take into account the difficulty and artistic merit of the programs for each round.
First Round

The twenty-four (24) competitors selected must each present a programme of 25 to 30 minutes of music with piano accompaniment.

The repertoire for the First Round must comprise a minimum of three (3) works, including the following elements:
- A work by J.S. Bach
- A virtuosic work by one of the following composers: A. Bazzini, N. Paganini, M. Ravel, C. Saint-Saëns, P. de Sarasate, P.I. Tchaikovsky, F. Waxman, H. Wieniawski, E. Ysaÿe
- A work of the candidate’s choice

The twelve (12) violinists who receive the highest scores from the international jury will move on to the Semi-Final Round.
Semifinal

The (12) semi-finalists must each perform a program of 55 to 60 minutes of music with piano accompaniment.

The repertoire for the Semi-Final round must comprise a minimum of three (3) works, including the following elements:

- A complete sonata by one of the following composers: B. Bartók, L. van Beethoven, J. Brahms, C. Debussy, G. Enescu, G. Fauré, C. Franck, L. Janáček, S. Prokofiev, M. Ravel, A. Schnittke, R. Schumann, F. Schubert, or R. Strauss
- The imposed Canadian work for solo violin (approximately 4 minutes in length, available two months in advance of the competition)
- A work of the candidate’s choice

The six (6) violinists who receive the highest scores from the international jury will move on to the Final round.
Final

The six (6) finalists will present a major concerto for violin and orchestra with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. Said concerto must be selected from the works listed in Appendix 2 of the official application document - available online on the CMIM website. Any other choice of concerto is subject to prior approval from the Concours.

Each finalist is entitled to a 50-minute rehearsal with the conductor and piano, as well as a 50-minute rehearsal with conductor and orchestra.

   

COLLABORATIVE PIANISTS

It is strongly recommended that competitors present themselves at the Concours with their own collaborative pianist.

If unable to do so, an official CMIM pianist will be assigned for all events requiring piano accompaniment.

 

TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION

All selected competitors are required to be free of all engagements and available to perform in Montreal between April 24 and May 4, 2023 (inclusive).

The CMIM will provide return economy-class travel to Montreal for all Violin 2023 candidates.

The CMIM will arrange free accommodation with a volunteer host family in the Montreal area for all competitors and collaborative pianists.

The CMIM will also contribute up to $500 CAD towards travel expenses for collaborative pianists.

Competitors and pianists who wish to make other arrangements for travel and/or accommodation may do so at their own expense.

Travel expenses for any additional person accompanying a competitor will not be assumed by CMIM.

 

COVID-19 AND FORCES MAJEURES

All participants (candidates, pianists, members of the jury, guests, partners, and Concours personnel) must agree to comply with public health measures in effect in Montreal and at the competition performance venues at the time of scheduled CMIM – Violin 2023 events.

If applicable, and to the extent that it is reasonably possible to do so, the CMIM will advise the affected parties prior to their departure for Montreal of any known public health measures in effect at the time that Violin 2023 events are scheduled.

In the event that additional costs will or must be incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic for entry into Canada, Quebec, Montreal, and/or any location where the CMIM – Violin 2023 competition is being held, a prior arrangement must be reached between the CMIM and the competitor prior to their departure for Montreal.

The Competition reserves the right to postpone or cancel an edition that could be compromised due to events of a force majeure.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Véronique Desjardins
Coordinator, Recruitment and Applications
vdesjardins@concoursmontreal.ca

Shira Gilbert
Director of Artistic Development
sgilbert@concoursmontreal.ca

 

Note: CMIM officials reserve the right to make changes to the information in this document.

 

APPENDIX – 1

RULES AND CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION – VIOLIN 2023

 

GENERALITIES

  1. By completing the Concours musical international de Montréal (CMIM) official application form, candidates agree to comply with the CMIM’s rules and conditions of participation and with the jury’s decisions for the duration of the agreement.
  2. CMIM officials reserve the right to request additional information from any competitor.
  3. The CMIM will disqualify any candidates who have not paid their application entry fee of $150 US by November 15, 2022, or who have not provided the guarantees necessary for payment.
  4. The CMIM will disqualify any candidates who have not responded to the official invitation of participation by the prescribed deadline.
  5. Competitors must be free of all other professional activities for the entire duration of the competition—from April 24 to May 4, 2023 (inclusive). In case of absence, refer to clause 6 of the Rules and Conditions of Participation.
  6. Failure to comply with the Rules and Conditions of Participation may result in a candidate’s disqualification, without right of appeal.
  7. Should a candidate withdraw from the competition after the CMIM has booked his or her travel arrangements, or choose to modify or cancel arrangements, the candidate agrees to cover the costs and reimburse the CMIM.

ORDER OF APPEARANCE

  1. The order of appearance of selected candidates will be determined by a random draw. CMIM officials reserve the right to modify the order of appearance to avoid scheduling conflicts for competitors taking part in both divisions of Violin 2023.
  2. Competitors who are unable to perform at the designated time will be disqualified, unless their absence can be justified in advance to CMIM officials, who may choose at their discretion to modify the order of appearance. 

MUSICAL PROGRAMS

  1. Competitors must provide the CMIM with the order of the works on their programs for all rounds in a timely manner when requested.
  2. Competitors must perform all works from memory, except for the imposed work by a Canadian composer, and Sonatas for Violin and Piano and other long-form chamber works.
  3. Competitors must respect the specified program durations for each round of the competition.
  4. Competitors must refer to the document “General Information for Applicants” for all information regarding the competition rounds and repertoire.
  5. The competition comprises three rounds. All competitors must perform a different selection of works in each round. Competitors may choose to include one (1) work from their programme in the preliminary (audition) round.
  6. Competitors may choose whether to perform any repeats (dal segno) indicated on scores.
  7. In making its decisions, the jury will consider the difficulty and artistic merit of the programs for each round.

RIGHTS CLEARANCES AND ENGAGEMENTS

  1. Competitors forfeit all recording, broadcasting, and distribution rights of any kind to the CMIM, as well as all artists’ resale rights, for an indefinite period. By completing the CMIM application form, candidates agree to release all rights regarding the future use of recordings of their performance(s).
  2. Competitors are required to make themselves available for all interviews, videos, and/or promotional meetings relating to the CMIM, in the weeks leading up to and during the competition.

LAUREATES AND WINNERS

  1. Only winners of the three main prizes can describe themselves as CMIM laureates.
  2. Laureates and winners of special prizes are required to make themselves available for all interviews, videos, and/or promotional meetings relating to the CMIM.
  3. Laureates and winners of special prizes agree to perform free of charge at a benefit activity for the CMIM and its Foundation, if requested by competition officials.
  4. Violin 2023 laureates and prizewinners will mention any prizes won at the CMIM on their websites and in their artist biographies.
  5. Violin 2023 laureates will inform the CMIM of key career accomplishments so that the CMIM can help promote said laureates using the tools and means at its disposal. 

USAGE

    1. This document was originally drafted in French. In the event of a dispute, the only text of legal value is the original French text.
    2. Competition officials reserve the right to amend the text of this document at any time.

* La direction du CMIM se réserve le droit d’apporter des changements au texte de ce document, et ce à tout moment.

 

*  *  *

APPENDIX – 2

LIST OF CONCERTS AUTHORIZED FOR THE FINAL WITH ORCHESTRA*

  • BARTÓK Concerto No. 2, Sz. 112
  • van BEETHOVEN Concerto in D major, Op. 61
  • BERG Concerto “To the Memory of an Angel”
  • BRAHMS Concerto in D major, Op. 77
  • DVORÁK Concerto in A minor, Op. 53
  • GLAZOUNOV Concerto in A minor, Op. 82
  • KORNGOLD Concerto in D major, Op. 35
  • MENDELSSOHN Concerto in E minor, Op. 64
  • PAGANINI Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 6
  • PAGANINI Concerto No. 2 in B minor, Op. 7
  • PROKOFIEV Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 19
  • PROKOFIEV Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63
  • SIBELIUS Concerto in D minor, Op. 47
  • SHOSTAKOVITCH Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 99
  • SHOSTAKOVITCH Concerto No. 2 in C sharp minor, Op. 129
  • I. TCHAIKOVSKY Concerto in D major, Op. 35
  • WIENIAWSKI Concerto No. 1 in F sharp minor, Op. 14
  • WIENIAWSKI Concerto No. 2 D minor, Op. 22

* Any other choice of concerto is subject to prior approval from the Concours.

 

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