RULES

Terms and Conditions

Download the sheet music for the competition from here.

The Competition is open for pianists of all nationalities and will be held in a single age group. All participants must be born after 1 January 1993.

General Information

The Competition will be held as follows:

– A Pre-selection phase (online) will take place between 10 December and 20 December 2024. The deadline for registration is 1 December 2024.

– The live rounds include two solo rounds, a semifinal and an orchestra final to be held between 2 March and 9 March 2025 at Prof. Pancho Vladigerov National Academy of Music in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The Opening Ceremony will be on 1 March 2025 in the Concert Hall of The National Academy of Music.

The Pre-selection will be decided by an Expert Jury appointed by the organisers of the Competition. The Jury will select up to 24 pianists to participate in the live rounds. This decision will be announced on 20 December 2024. Four additional candidates will also be selected as substitutes in case of any participants’ withdrawal from the Competition.

All candidates are expected to upload a single video file onto Google Drive, OneDrive or any similar platform that allows downloading the file. Submissions (incl. the video recording) close on 1 December 2024.

The video must comply with the following criteria:

– The video must be created specifically for The 2024 Pancho Vladigerov International Piano Competition. At the beginning of the video recording, all candidates must introduce themselves in English – stating their full name, nationality – and  must specify that their recording is specifically made for The 2024 Pancho Vladigerov International Piano Competition. The introduction must also include the candidate’s chosen programme for the recording.

– Repertoire: one or more complete works from The Competition’s Repertoire, not exceeding the maximum duration allowed. The video must at all times show the participants hands and face and be of a good audio and video quality. Any post-production editing is prohibited. No cuts are allowed between movements of the same work (e.g. between the movements of a sonata). Duration: between at least 10 and a maximum of 15 minutes;

*The works performed in the video recording may be repeated during the live rounds of The Competition.

Up to 24 pianists may participate in the First Live Round.

12 participants will be chosen by the Jury for the Second Live Round.

6 participants will be chosen for the Semifinal.

3 participants will be chosen for the Final.

The chosen repertoire for all rounds must be specified in the Application Form. All changes in the chosen repertoire may occur no later than 1 February 2025.

– The order of appearance will be drawn at random;

– Participants may perform the works in any order they choose;

– Performing by heart is compulsory for all works.

Competition’s Repertoire

The live rounds of The Competition will be held in the Concert Hall of The National Academy of Music.

Round I, 2 – 3 March 2025

The programme must include:

1. J. S. Bach – Prelude and Fugue from WTC band I or II (at the discretion of the candidate).
2. One Virtuoso Etude from Fr. Chopin, F. Liszt, S. Rachmaninov, A. Scriabin,S. Prokofiev, G. Ligeti, etc.
3. One or more works at the discretion of the candidate.

Duration: between at least 20 and a maximum of 25 minutes.

Round II, 4 – 5 March 2025

А solo recital, which must include:
1. A whole classical sonata from Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert

2. A pair of works by Pancho Vladigerov from the following:
– Improvisation and Toccata, op. 36;

– Nocturne and Perpetuum Mobile, Op. 59;

– A Fairy Tale and A Balkan Dance, Op. 46;

– Autumn Elegy and Humoresque, Op. 15;

– or Sonatina Concertante, оp. 28.
*All scores can be downloaded from The Competition’s website.

3. One or more works at the discretion of the candidate.

Duration: minimum 50 and maximum 60 minutes.

Semifinal, 6 – 7 March 2025

One of the following Piano Concertos from W. A. Mozart which will be performed with Sofia Soloists Chamber Orchestra:

1. Piano Concerto No. 11 in F major, K. 413

2. Piano Concerto No. 12 in A major, K. 414

3. Piano Concerto No. 13 in C major, K. 415

4. Piano Concerto No. 14 in E flat major, K. 449

Final, 9 March 2025

One of the following Piano Concertos:

L. van Beethoven – Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15
L. van Beethoven – Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 19
L. van Beethoven – Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37
L. van Beethoven – Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
L. van Beethoven – Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73
Fr. Chopin – Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11
Fr. Chopin – Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21
E. Grieg – Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16
F. Liszt – Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, S. 124
F. Liszt – Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major, S. 125
C. Saint-Saëns – Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22
F. Mendelssohn – Piano Concerto No.1 in G Minor, Op.25
F. Mendelssohn – Piano Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 40
S. Rachmaninoff – Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18
S. Rachmaninoff – Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30
R. Schumann – Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54
P. Tchaikovsky – Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23
J. Brahms – Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15
S. Prokofiev – Piano Concerto No. 1 in D-flat major, Op. 10
S. Prokofiev – Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26
M. Ravel – Piano Concerto in G major, М. 83
P. Vladigerov – Piano Concerto No. 3 in B minor, op. 31
(this concert is a requisite work for the Special Prize for performing works by P. Vladigerov)

The results will be announced at the Gala Concert on 9 March 2025 in the Concert Hall of Prof. Pancho Vladigerov National Academy of Music.

Registration

Candidates can register online at https://vladigerovcompetition.com/registration by filling out the Application Form and submitting it along with all of the required documents:

Registration Documents

1) Up-to-date Photo
2) Copy of passport or ID card
3) Short CV
4) Bank confirmation of paid fees
5) Video recording(s) of the candidate (Pre-selection Phase)

Registration fees

Pre-selection (preliminary) round – EUR 50 (paid by 1 December 2024)
Follow-up rounds – EUR 100 (paid by 1 February 2025)

Bank Details

NATIONAL MUSIC ACADEMY “PANCHO VLADIGEROV”

Bank: Unicredit Bulbank
IBAN: BG46 UNCR 7630 3400 0011 20
SWIFT/BIC: UNCRBGSF

Results

Results of the Pre-selection (preliminary) online round will be announced on The Competition’s website ……….

Results of the live rounds will be announced after the jury’s assessment following every round.

Ranking

Assessment of the performances is carried out according to a point system, guaranteeing maximum level of fairness. The ranking of the candidates is determined by the points received listed in descending order.

Prizes

First Prize – Diploma and EUR 15 000

Second Prize – Diploma and EUR 10 000

Third Prize – Diploma and EUR 5 000

Special Пrize for Best Interpretation of Works by Pancho Vladigerov – EUR 2 000

Special Prize from Prof. Pancho Vladigerov National Academy of Music – EUR 1 000

Award Ceremony

Diplomas of the awarded participants will be presented during the Award Ceremony and the Laureates’ Concert at the end of The Competition.

The Jury

The selection of the Jury members is based on their international acclaim in the field of music, regardless of racial, ideological, political or linguistic considerations. The work of the Jury is organised according to previously adopted rules formulated by the Organising Committee.

Jury decisions are final and may not be appealed.

By applying for The Competition, all candidates agree to accepting the rules of participation in The Competition and to abide by these rules, and to challenge not the Jury’s decisions.

Performer’s Rights and Copyright

Participants waive all and any rights to audio/video recordings, radio/television or web broadcasts of the public sessions of The Competition and to any further use of photos or videos made during The Competition.

The participation of the laureates in the final concert is mandatory.

All concert participation in the Competition excludes remuneration.

Recording and Broadcast

By participating in The Competition, candidates agree to the following:

The organisers reserve the right to make audio and video recordings and photographs and to broadcast via radio, television or the Internet, all rehearsals, Competition rounds and concerts. Candidates are not entitled to remuneration for these recordings and/or their broadcast.

Additional information

All candidates’ accommodation, transport and per diem costs are at their own expense.

If a special written visa invitation is required, applicants must request it from the Organising Committee.

The Competition’s Organising Committee is not responsible for any expenses incurred by the candidates in case of illness and/or accident during their stay.

The Organising Committee is not responsible for lost or stolen personal belongings, documents or musical instruments during the time of the Competition.

The Organising Committee reserves the right to change the conditions of the Competition.

The participants agree to the Terms and Conditions of the Competition by submitting their registration.