International Concerto Competition 2024
International Concerto Competition is open to all instruments, including strings, piano, voice and winds.
Participants are required to submit video recording materials for the audition.
Eligibility
We invite school students and adults to participate in the Competition. There is no age limit for the adult participants.
Multiple winners will be chosen in each of the following age groups:
| School Students: | Adults (19 and older): |
| 12 and under | Amateur without professional degree |
| 13 – 18 | College students and professional musicians |
Awards
Since the situation with COVID-19 Global Health Crisis is still uncertain, winners will be offered to perform at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in November and December of 2024 on the dates to be announced, or to receive a Winner’s Package by mail.
$300 Scholarship and other Special Awards may be granted based on the judges’ recommendations.
Judges
International panel of qualified judges will evaluate audition materials. All judges are independent, and their students are not allowed to apply this season. The concert pianist and teacher Ms. Irina Kaufman-Brookes (U.K./Russia) was invited as a Chairwoman of the Concerto Competition 2024. A graduate from the Gnessin Academy of Music, classes of Prof. E. Lieberman and Prof. L. Naumov, Ms. Kaufman-Brookes won a number of the International Competitions and performed as a solo and chamber ensemble pianist with the Bolshoi Theater, Stanislavskiy and Nemirovich – Danchenko Opera Theatre, and many orchestras across the Europe and USA.
How to Apply
To apply for the Competition participants must submit:
1. Completed online Application Form.
2. YouTube (or other video sharing sites) link to the video recordings of the performance.
3. Biography of the applicant in MS Word format (not to exceed 150 words). Include past participation in competitions, festivals and other public events. Portrait photo in electronic format, to be used for the Competition brochure printing. Examples could be found in the Recital Booklet Sample.
4. Biography and photo should be uploaded with an application form or e-mailed to info@americanprotege.com.
5. Application fee.
Mailing Address
American Protégé, P.O. Box 287476, New York, NY 10128
For express shipping services please use the following street address: American Protege, Attn: Irina Ionova, 245 East 93rd Street, #22E, New York, NY 10128.
Application Deadline
Application materials acceptance will be closed by the end of the day on February 20, 2024.
Application Fee for solo performers – $200
Application Fees for Ensembles is $150 per Member.
Application Fees are not refundable.
U.S. participants should make a check or money order payable to American Protégé and mail it to American Protégé, P.O. Box 287476, New York, NY 10128. A PayPal option below could be used with an additional fee added to cover PayPal service charge.
International participants may use:
- Certified bank check or international money order payable to American Protégé. International participants must use express shipping services and provide the tracking number.
- PayPal option (Additional fee will be added to the payment amount to cover PayPal service charge). To pay the Application Fees online please select the payment amount from the drop-down window and click on the “Pay Now” button below. By clicking on the button you will be re-directed to PayPal.
Repertoire Requirements. Applicants must submit video recording of:
– One single movement or complete Concerto (no time limit) and
– One solo piece (to be performed at the Winners Recital). For the Solo piece any work from the Standard Repertoire can be chosen (Baroque, Classical, Romantic or Contemporary Periods). The performance time limit for the solo piece:
School students 6 to 12 years old – under 5 minutes;
School students 13 to 18 years old – under 6 minutes;
Amateur without professional degree – under 6 minutes;
College students and professionals – under 6 minutes
1. Applicants who submitted a solo piece longer than time limit will be requested to provide another video within performance time limit. An additional charge of $50 must be paid for the second audition. Extra performance time up to 1 minute can be accepted for the Winners Recital with $100 additional fee.
2. Vocalists should perform an opera aria or folk/traditional work. Selections must be performed from memory with orchestra or piano accompaniment.
3. Only un-edited video can be accepted for the audition (parts of video connected together or video clips are not acceptable).
4. Recordings should be a fair representation of the Contestant’s abilities, but need not be of a professional quality. Applicant’s name and exact title of the audition piece must be included in the description of the video on YouTube (Vimeo, etc.).
5. Contestants must perform from memory.
6. The decisions of the Judges are final and cannot be appealed.
7. Comments made by the Judges will not be disclosed.
8. First Prize Winners may not submit the same audition program should they wish to compete in the following season.
9. The final selection of winners will be based solely on the video recordings submitted.
10. Each participant will be notified about the Competition results after the Chairwoman releases the Competition placements. Winners list will be published on the American Protégé web-site on March 25, 2024.
11. Certificates of Recognition will be granted to the performing winners only, after the Winners Recital. Winners who have chosen not to participate in the Winners Recital for any reason will be disqualified.
12. In addition to the Competition Rules, American Protégé General Policy provisions apply to all applicants and winners. Please read carefully American Protégé Policy before applying to the Competition.
1. Winners will be selected from each of the four instrument categories (piano, strings, voice, winds) and in each age group. Multiple winners will be chosen. Special prizes may be awarded based on judges’ recommendations.
2. Winners of the Competition will perform one solo piece from the audition repertoire with the following performance time limit:
School students 6 to 12 years old – 5 minutes;
School students 13 to 18 years old – 6 minutes;
Amateur without professional degree – 6 minutes;
College students and professionals – 6 minutes.
3. Extra performance time up to 1 minute can be accepted for the Winners Recital with $100 additional fee.
4. Concertos with full orchestra can’t be performed at the Winners Recital. For vocalists, strings and wind instruments, performance at the Weill Recital Hall will be with piano accompaniment. Only one grand piano will be available at the Weill Recital Hall. In case of any doubt as to selection, please contact the American Protégé Organizational Committee.
5. Each Winner will perform at one Recital. Recital date and time will be offered to the Winner based on the Competition results. Each participant will be notified about the Competition results after the Chairwoman releases the Competition placements.
6. Participants must bring their own piano accompanist. American Protégé does not provide piano accompanist, but can recommend one after enrollment into the program.
7. Photo or video recording during the recital is strictly prohibited per the Carnegie Hall policy. A professional photographer will be taking pictures of the performers.
8. Organizational Committee collects short biographies to introduce the performers at the Winners Recitals. American Protégé reserves the rights to edit, reduce and re-format any submitted biographies as it seems appropriate and fit into the Recital Brochure.
9. During the COVID-19 Health Crisis, U.S. participants, who are unable to or unwilling to travel to NYC for the health safety reasons or due to other restrictions, may request a Competition Winner’s Package with a non-refundable $300 fee. The Package includes online recognition, Winner’s Certificate, Teacher’s Diploma, four Booklets with biographies and photos, and participation Plaque Trophy. International participants may arrange a shipment to the friends or relatives residing in the U.S. We do not mail packages internationally.
10. All fees are not refundable.
11. All participants are responsible for their own expenses (travel, housing accommodations, etc.).
12. Detailed Winners Recital Guidelines will be emailed to the participants.