8^th RIGA INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION FOR YOUNG PIANISTS 2019

October 12^th – 15^th

General Rules 

The 8^th Riga International Competition for Young Pianists takes place on October 12^th – 15^th 2019 at Small Guild Hall, Amatu Street 5 Riga, Latvia. The competition is open to pianists of any nationality from 5 to 21 years (born after October 15, 1997) in categories for Solo and Four Hands performance.

Competition Schedule

September 15^th        Application Deadline   

October 12^th    8.40 - 11.50 Music Teacher Seminar at Riga Music School Nr.3 MASKAVAS STREET 166     

 

October 13^th    9.15 Competition: Junior Group Four Hands and Junior Group Solo audition at Small Guild Hall, Amatu 5 (entrance free) 

October 13^th 18.00 Jurors Concert and Junior Group Award Ceremony at Small Guild Hall, Amatu 5 (entrance free)

 

October 14^th   10.00 Competition: Debut Group and Senior Group A-B-C I Round at Small Guild Hall, Amatu 5 (entrance free)

 

October 15^th   10.00 Competition: Senior D audition and Senior A-B-C II Round at Small Guild Hall, Amatu 5 (entrance free)

October 15^th 18.00 Gala Concert and Senior Group Award Ceremony at Small Guild Hall, Amatu 5 (entrance free)

 

Competition Aim & Tasks

Develop the traditions of academic piano performance in Latvia and promote the popularization of folk tunes, classical ballet and opera music in academic piano genres. Promote the development of the academic piano skills for young pianists in Piano Solo and Four Hands performance; enrich the pedagogical repertoire of academic piano performance with forgotten and less known pieces; provide young pianists with a professional experience and stage performance.

PARTICIPATION

1. Contestants’ Groups

1.1.        Debut, 5-6 years 

1.2.        Junior A, 7-8 years

1.3.        Junior B, 9-10 years 

1.4.        Junior C, 11-12 years

1.5.        Junior D, 7-13 years

1.6.        Senior A, 13-15 years 

1.7.        Senior B, 16-18 years

1.8.        Senior C, 19-21 year

1.9.        Senior D, 13-18 years

2. Competition Categories

2.1. Piano Solo (One or Two Rounds depending on the Group)

2.2. Piano Four Hands

3. Repertoire

 

All contestants are required to perform their programs by memory. All program time limits mean entire performance length, including breaks between the pieces. The competitor may choose the order of the pieces played.

Contestants will not be permitted to make any repertoire changes after September 15^th.

3.1. Piano Solo

3.1.1. Debut (5-6 years)

Up to 5 minutes in total: a set of contrasting folk tune arrangements native to the contestant OR a set of contrasting folk tune arrangements by Janis Kepitis (1908-1990) Kokletajs OR Janis Norvilis (1906-1994) Field of Songs http://rigapiano.info/en/portfolio-314961/luse-nora-2011-in-the-field-of-janis-norvilis-isbn-978-9984-49-512-5-317151/notis-un-audio-317171/beginners-level-317311 OR piece/pieces from any composer and genre. The best performance of arrangements by Janis Kepitis, Janis Norvilis will be awarded.  

3.1.2. Junior A (7-8 years)

Up to 6 minutes in total:

1. contrasting folk tune arrangements native to the contestant OR contrasting folk tune arrangements by Ilze Arne (1953) http://rigapiano.info/en/portfolio-314961/luse-nora-2012-ethno-didactics-in-piano-practicing-50-arrangements-solo---------isbn-978-9984-49-511-8-317281/scores-and-audio-318481/beginners-level-1-14-318491 OR piece/pieces from any composer and genre;
2. one folk tune arrangement by any composer OR piece/pieces from any genre;
3. one etude of contestant’s choice.

The best performance of arrangements by Ilze Arne will be awarded.

3.1.3. Junior B (9-10 years)

Up to 7 minutes in total:

1. contrasting folk tune arrangements native to the contestant OR contrasting folk tune arrangements by Janis Norvilis (1906-1994) Field of Songs http://rigapiano.info/en/portfolio-314961/luse-nora-2011-in-the-field-of-janis-norvilis-isbn-978-9984-49-512-5-317151/notis-un-audio-317171/advanced-level-317331 OR piece/pieces from any composer and genre;
2. contrasting folk tune arrangements native to the contestant OR contrasting folk tune arrangements by Romualds Kalsons (1936) 12 Latvian Folk Tune Arrangements http://rigapiano.info/en/portfolio-314961/luse-nora-2012-ethno-didactics-in-piano-practicing-50-arrangements-solo---------isbn-978-9984-49-511-8-317281/scores-and-audio-318481/intermediate-level-15-28-318501 OR piece/pieces from any composer and genre;
3. one etude of contestant’s choice.

If competitor’s program includes a highly virtuosic piece (I. Berkovich Variations on Paganini), is not necessary to play Etude

 

The best performance of arrangements by Janis Norvilis, Romualds Kalsons will be awarded.

3.1.4. Junior C (11-12 years)

Up to 8 minutes in total:

1. contrasting folk tune arrangements native to the contestant OR contrasting Latvian Folk Tunes for Piano op. 29, op. 32 by Jazeps Vitols (1863-1948) http://rigapiano.info/en/portfolio-314961/luse-nora-2012-ethno-didactics-in-piano-practicing-50-arrangements-solo---------isbn-978-9984-49-511-8-317281/scores-and-audio-318481/advanced-level-29-50-318511 OR by Olgerts Gravitis (1926-2015) 50 Latvian Folk Tunes, OR piece/pieces from any composer and genre;
2. one OR several, OR a set of Baroque period pieces (e.g. Fugues, Inventions, Sinfonias, movements from the French Suites by J. S. Bach, movements from the Suites by G. F. Haendel, D. Scarlatti Sonatas etc.);
3. one virtuoso concert style (programmatic) study by A. Arensky OR F. Burgmüller, OR A. Diabelli, OR I. Moscheles, OR M. Moszkowski, OR E. MacDowell, OR E. Neupert, OR L. Rozycki (but not C. Czerny).

The best performance of arrangements by Jazeps Vitols, Olgerts Gravitis will be awarded.

3.1.5. Junior D (7-13 years)

Only for pupils of General Education schools with piano classes (non-professional students).

Up to 6 minutes in total:

1. contrasting folk tune arrangements native to the contestant OR by Janis Kepitis (1908-1990) Kokletajs, OR piece/pieces from any composer and genre;
2. contrasting folk tune arrangements native to the contestant OR by Pauls Dambis (1936) 10 Small Pieces for Children http://rigapiano.info/en/portfolio-314961/luse-nora-2012-ethno-didactics-in-piano-practicing-50-arrangements-solo---------isbn-978-9984-49-511-8-317281/scores-and-audio-318481/beginners-level-1-14-318491 OR piece/pieces from any composer and genre; 
3. one etude of contestant’s choice.

The best performance of arrangements by Janis Kepitis, Pauls Dambis will be awarded.

3.1.6. Senior A (13-15 years): Two Rounds

I Round: performance from 9 – 12 minutes

1. a piece with folk tune elements (Variations OR Ballade, OR Fantasy, OR Mazurka, OR Paraphrases, OR Rhapsody, OR Rondo e.g. J. Brahms Rhapsody, F. Chopin Polonaise, B. Martinu Tango etc.);
2. one OR several, OR a set of Baroque period pieces (e.g. movements from the English or French Suites, Partitas, Toccatas by J. S. Bach, movements from the Suites by G. F. Haendel, J. Ph. Rameau, A. Soler, D. Scarlatti Sonatas etc.);
3. one virtuoso concert style study (P. Tchaikovsky, S. Maykapar, F. Mendelssohn, S. Lyapunov, F. Liszt, S. Rachmaninoff, A. Scriabin, J. Vitols etc.).

II Round: performance from 12 – 15 minutes

1. a piece or a set of pieces of contestant’s choice composed UNTIL 1900 and NOT performed in the I Round,
2. a piece or a set of pieces  of contestant’s choice composed AFTER 1900 and NOT performed in the I Round. 

In the 1^st Round the best performance of folk tune arrangement by Marija Druste (1984) Folk Impression I http://rigapiano.info/f/uploads/Druste_I.pdf will be awarded.

 

 3.1.7. Senior B (16-18 years): Two Rounds

I Round: performance from 12 – 15 minutes

1.    a piece with folk tune elements;

2.    one OR several, OR a set of Baroque period pieces;

3.    one virtuoso concert style study;

4.    a piece of contestant’s choice.

II Round: performance from 15 – 20 minutes

1. a piece or a set of pieces of contestant’s choice composed UNTIL 1900 and NOT performed in the I Round,
2. a piece or a set of pieces  of contestant’s choice composed AFTER 1900 and NOT performed in the I Round. 

In the 1^st Round the best performance of folk tune arrangement by Marija Druste (1984) Folk Impression II http://rigapiano.info/f/uploads/Druste_II.pdf will be awarded.

 

3.1.8. Senior C (19-21 year): Two Rounds

I Round: performance from 15 – 20 minutes

1. a piece with folk tune elements;
2. one OR several, OR a set of Baroque period pieces;
3. one virtuoso concert style study;
4. a piece of contestant’s choice.

II Round: performance from 20 – 25 minutes

1. a piece or a set of pieces of contestant’s choice composed UNTIL 1900 and NOT performed in the I Round,
2. a piece or a set of pieces  of contestant’s choice composed AFTER 1900 and NOT performed in the I Round. 

In the 1^st Round the best performance of folk tune arrangement by Marija Druste (1984) Folk Impression IV http://rigapiano.info/f/uploads/Druste_IV.pdf will be awarded.

 

3.2. Piano Four Hands

3.2.1. Junior A (7-8 years)

Up to 5 minutes in total: contrasting folk tune arrangements by any composer AND/OR classical ballet music, AND/OR opera music transcription/transcriptions.

The best performance of contrasting folk tune arrangements by Janis Kepitis (1908-1990) http://rigapiano.info/en/portfolio-314961/luuse-nora-2013-etnodidaktika-klavierspeeles-maaciibaas-apdares-ansamblim-isbn-978-9984-49-850-8-482221 will be awarded.

3.2.2. Junior B (9-10 years)

Up to 6 minutes in total:

1. folk tune arrangement / arrangements by any composer;
2. a classical ballet music AND/OR opera music transcription / transcriptions.

The best performance of contrasting folk tune arrangements by Alfreds Kalnins (1879-1951) http://rigapiano.info/en/portfolio-314961/luuse-nora-2013-etnodidaktika-klavierspeeles-maaciibaas-apdares-ansamblim-isbn-978-9984-49-850-8-482221 will be awarded.

3.2.3. Junior C (11-12 years)

Up to 7 minutes in total:

1. folk tune arrangement / arrangements by any composer;
2. a classical ballet music AND/OR opera music transcription / transcriptions.

The best performance of contrasting folk tune arrangements by Harry Ore (1885-1972) http://rigapiano.info/en/portfolio-314961/luuse-nora-2013-etnodidaktika-klavierspeeles-maaciibaas-apdares-ansamblim-isbn-978-9984-49-850-8-482221 will be awarded.

3.2.4. Junior D (7-13 years)

Only for pupils from General Education schools with piano classes (non-professional students). Up to 6 minutes in total: contrasting folk tune arrangements by any composer AND/OR classical ballet music, AND/OR opera music transcription / transcriptions.

The best performance of contrasting folk tune arrangements by Georgs Pelecis (1947) http://rigapiano.info/en/portfolio-314961/luuse-nora-2013-etnodidaktika-klavierspeeles-maaciibaas-apdares-ansamblim-isbn-978-9984-49-850-8-482221 will be awarded.

3.2.5. Senior D (13-18 years)

Up to 12 minutes in total:

1. a piece or a set of pieces composed UNTIL 1900,
2. a piece or a set of pieces  composed AFTER 1900.

Advisable include a folk tune arrangement/s by any composer AND/OR classical ballet music, AND/OR opera music transcription/s (F. Chopin Variations D-dur B.12a, J. Brahms Hungarian Dances, I. Paderewski Tatra Album, A. Dvorzak Slavonic Dances, M. Glinka Capriccio on Russian Themes etc.)

4. Jury

The Jury is composed of internationally recognized pianists. Competitors will be evaluated on a 100 – point system, each performance will be awarded the arithmetic mean from the overall sum of points. Adjudication of competitors’ is only the Jury’s prerogative. Judging criteria are: degree of repertoire difficulty, technical quality of performance, stylistic adequacy and text preciseness, clarity and diversity of musical expression, and artistic stage presentation. The Jury reserves the right to stop the performance exceeding the time limit. All decisions of the Jury are final and cannot be appealed by anyone.

Students of the Jury members are allowed to take part at the competition; the Jurors may not vote for their own students.

From Senior Group A/B/C Jury will choose up to 9 Finalists in total to proceed to II Round of the competition. In case of several candidates in the same category and group obtaining an equal number of points, the Jury President has the final vote.

5. Additional

Application fee

Debut and Junior A/B/C/D group is 40.00 EUR

Senior A/B/C/D group is 80.00 EUR

On the payment, full Name and Group of competitor should be given. The fee will not be returned. Bank charges should be made by the contestants. Please make the payment until September 15^th, 2019 to:

RIGAS STARPTAUTISKAIS JAUNO PIANISTU KONKURSS RIGA INTERNATIONAL CYP

Address: Pulkveza Brieza 8-17, Riga LV-1010, Latvia

Bank account / IBAN: LV64 HABA 0551 0361 72008

BIC / S.W.I.F.T.: HABA LV22

Bank address: SWEDBANK, Balasta dambis 15, Riga LV-1048, Latvia

You may find the payment details on the competition website http://rigapiano.info/en/nolikums-314941/payment-details  

With signing the Application Form, contestants agree to competition’s General Rules. The travel and accommodation expenses are to be paid by the contestants. At the competition the contestant under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, a teacher, or other person over 18 years of age. The competition schedule, order of rehearsals and stage appearances in competition will be notified by E-mail to competitors AND posted on the competition website. Formal concert dress is required.

The rights for audio and video recording, photography and broadcasting of the performances belong to the Competition. The Riga International Competition for Young Pianists may not be held liable for any payments to pianists arising out of materials derived from any Competition events. The scores by Latvian composers are available for free download according to competition’s educational tasks on the website: http://rigapiano.info/en/portfolio-314961

6. Prizes and Awards

The contestants will be provided with 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd Prize Winners’ Diplomas and Participants’ Diplomas.

In Piano Solo category the winners in Debut and Junior A/B/C/D group will be awarded the Ilze Arne, Pauls Dambis, Olgerts Gravitis, Romualds Kalsons, Janis Kepitis, Janis Norvilis, Jazeps Vitols Award.

In Four Hands category the winners in Junior A/B/C/D group will be awarded the Alfreds Kalnins, Janis Kepitis, Harry Ore and Georgs Pelecis Award. 

Money prizes in Piano Solo category for Senior Group:

Category: "Piano Solo SENIOR A"

1.Prize 200 €

2.Prize 150 €

3.Prize 100 €

Category: "Piano Solo SENIOR B"

1.Prize 300 €

2.Prize 200 €

3.Prize 150 €

Category: "Piano Solo SENIOR C"

1.Prize 500 €

2.Prize 300 €

3.Prize 200 €

Money prize via bank transfer is payed after 16.10.2019.

Special prizes: Juris&Regina Lusis in Memoriam Award, Theo Bikis in Memoriam Award, Marija Druste Award, Ballet and Dance Guild of Latvia Award, Einbeck Award, Bach Award, Chopin Award, Scarlatti Award.

Results of the Senior A/B/C/D group will be announced on October 15, 2019 at 6 p.m. at the Small Guild Hall in Riga where the Awards Ceremony and Prizewinners’ Gala Concert will take place. The Winners are obliged, according to the decision of the Jury, to participate at the Awards Ceremony and perform at the Gala Concert, otherwise they will lose their right to the money prize and special prize awarded. Formal concert dress is required. The Jury has the right to decide upon the amount of the Prizes given.  

Contestants’ piano teachers will receive the Certificate of advanced professional training program (12 h) coordinated with Riga Municipality and the Riga Music School Nr.3.

7. Application

Application Deadline: September 15^th, 2019.

Please apply online at: http://rigapiano.info/en/nolikums-314941/application-form

If an online application is not possible, please fill in clearly the printed Application Form 2019 http://rigapiano.info/en/nolikums-314941/application-form

Scanned documents as PDF files (a filled Application Form, a confirmation of the birth date) can be sent by e-mail to rigapiano@gmail.com   

Only complete applications with a paid application fee will be processed. To identify the application fee payment, please make sure the Name and the Group of the contestant is entered correctly.

The organizers reserve the right to limit the number of contestants.