Piano Competition 2023 – Rules

International Piano Competition

„PRO PIANO – ROMANIA”, XXVII Edition, June 15 – 18, 2023

I. About Competition:  

The International Piano Competition “Pro Piano – Romania”, was initited and organized by the Cultural Foundation  „PRO PIANO-ROMANIA” in 1997. Since then, this  competition has been a great success. Now, we already  reached the 27th edition. Thank you very much for your support!

The annual „PRO PIANO-ROMANIA”” International Piano Contest is open to young pianists of all nationalities, with ages between 6 and 30 ( born after January 1st  1993), who are able to achieve remarkable performances and are eager to estimate their technical and artistic abilities in an international context.

The Competition has 4 sections: 

A – Junior(with 4 categories), B – Secondary(with 8 categories), C Professional and D (four hands on a single piano). There are additional subdivisions into categories, depending on the year of birth of the competitors:

SECTION A – Junior (one stage) :

Category A1 – born in 2016 (and after)

Category A2 – 2015

Category A3 – 2014

Category A4 – 2013

Piano repertoire (three pieces):

  • one piano study;
  • two pieces in different style (pre-classical/baroque piece, classical, romantic, modern or Romanian). 

SECTION  B – Secondary – 8 categories (two stages). The specified minutes is the maximum allowed for stage two (for stage one, there is no mandatory limited timing).

First Category born in 2012 –  ten minutes maximum for stage two;

Second Category– born in 2011;

Third Category – born in 2010;

Fourth Category– born in 2009;

Fifth Category– born in 2008 – fifteen minutes maximum for stage two;

Sixth Category– born in 2007;

Seventh Category– born in 2006 – twenty minutes maximum for stage two;

Eighth Category– born in 2005-2004

Piano Repertoire Section B (two stages):

First stage (eliminatory examination):

  • one piano study
  • a pre-classical/ baroque piece: Bach, Haendel, Scarlatti, Rameau etc. In the case of Suites or Partites – only two or three parts.

Second stage:

  • a classical piece (J. Haydn, W. A. Mozart or L. van Beethoven): Sonata( only first part), or theme with variations, or Rondo(a stand-alone piece, not a sonata part)
  • a romantic, modern or romanian piece (only one of your choise)

SECTION C – Professional(two stages) born after 1993

Piano Repertoire:

First stage (eliminatory examination):

  • two virtuosity studies (Chopin, Liszt, Schumann, Rahmaninov, Debussy, Skriabin, Prokofiev, etc)
  • J. S. Bach – Preludes and Fugues or two or three moves (parts) from Suites or Partitas

Second stage (final round of the competition) – thirty minutes maximum

  • Recital with pieces of your choice: to choose(for 30 minutes) between classical sonata, romantic piece, modern piece (from the universal or romanian repertoire) 

You can compete and in two categories: the age of the competitor and a higher category, but with different repertoires.

SECTION  D – Four-handed ensemble on a piano – one stage

First Category – born between 2015 (and after) – 2010

Second Category – born between 2008 – 2004 

Third Category – born between 2003 – 1993 (as an age, one of the partners may exceed the limit by one or two years, on the condition the other is up to 30 years).

Piano Repertoire for sction D: pieces of your own choise, with the following maximum length:                                                                 first category – seven minutes  / second category – fifteen minutes  / third category –thirty minutes

The order of entry in the competition is alphabetical for each age category.

The candidates can choose the order of interpretation of the pieces. All the pieces must be memorized (played without using sheet music). In case of exceeding the maximum duration set for second stage, the jury reserves the right to interrupt the candidate’s performance. All evidence is public.

II. REGISTRATION :

Registering procedure: only online, par e-mail propiano@gmail.com

The registration shall include 3 documents:  1. Application form,   2. the receipt certifying the participation fee.    3. Copy of birth certificate or ID/Passport, that will be sent(all together) through the e-mail address: propiano@gmail.com :

  1. Application form  (located on the Website: http://www.propiano.org/english/competition/Piano Competition 2023 Registration)

This Application form which will be completed with all the required data and definitive repertoire.

Please be careful and enter your names correctly (if it contains diacritics), This is how is going to be written on your diploma!

For section D (four hands) the names of both performers will be registered on the same form (with the respective data).

2. The receipt certifying the following payment of the participation fee: for category A – 80 EURO; category B – 90 EURO;  category C – 100 EURO;  category D – 100 EURO(50/person), payable only by Bank transfer,  to the account opened at BCR sector 3, Bucharest, Romania, IBAN Code: RO65RNCB0074029148620010, SWIFT CODE: RNCBROBU, for : Stela Avesalon. You  must specify, on the payment order: the Name of the competitor and Contest name  PRO PIANO

In case of withdrawal or non-participation, the donation will not be returned (for any reason ).

Only complete will be registered, with the three documents (separate references are not allowed).

You will receive a receipt no later than two days after sending! If you do not receive confirmation, please report it to us (it means the documents have not been received).

The nominal list of those enrolled will be posted on the website on June 1st (in the evening) in the third link Piano Competition 2023  –  Schedule.  If there are any mistakes in names or omissions, please report them, but only by SMS or e-mail (not by phone).

III. To follow the data:

  1. Registration – until June 1st , 2023;
  2. Displaying participants list – June 3rd   , 2023:
  3. The schedule for the competition presentation – June 5th , 2023( at night).

Other important competition data:

  • The entry in the competition is alphabetical order for each age category!
  • The candidates can choose the order of interpretation of the pieces.
  • All the pieces must be memorized (played without using sheet music).
  • In case of exceeding the maximum duration set for second stage, the jury reserves the right to interrupt the candidate’s performance.
  • All evidence is public.
  • Transportation, accommodation and meals will be covered by the participants exclusively.

IV. Awards:

  • TROPHY – THE GRAND PRIZE of the „Pro Piano – Romania” International Competition;
  • Five awards in each category, including the first Excellence Award;
  • Special awards: for the exceptional interpretation of a Romanian piece or another piece from the presented repertoire;
  • „GEORGETA  SANDU” Award, offeret by Mr. Constantin Sandu (from Porto- Portugal);
  • Awards from sponsors.

 Even if they did not qualified for the second stage or received a prize, all participants will receive a

Participation Diploma (upon request).

All the prizes for this competition will given to the winners in person during the awards ceremony that will take place on June 18th, 2023, 11 AM at ARCUB.

All laureates are required to arrive wearing gala attire at the awards ceremony (please note this is a mandatory rule in order to be accepted in the group).

Special warnings: in case of personal non-presentation at the gala, it is mandatory to delegate another person to pick up the prize. This person will represent and sign for receiving the prize in the name of the competitor. The Foundation will not offer other opportunities to collect the prize (in person or mail if not received during gala).

VI. The jury of the competition will include Romanian and international music personalities.

The Jury decision are final and indisputable.

By entering in the competition, all candidates are accepting these rules and the authority of the jury. For any audio-video recordings, competitors will not be able to request/ claim any fees or payments.

Further information can be obtained at:  

Mobile phone: +40722.38.26.26 (outside the 14:00 – 17:00 hours)

E-mail : propiano@gmail.com

Web page: www.propiano.org