Rules

The rules of The Beethoven Young Musician 2024

Applications: February 12th – Application Deadline Extended to May 1st, 2024!
Results: From May 25, 2024 onwards.

Article 1.

The The Classical Music Company, organises The Beethoven Young Musician 2023 (hereinafter referred to as the competition). The competition takes place entirely over the Internet.

Article 2.

The competition is open to contestants of all nationalities and countries. Participants compete in categories based on the age. Only those born before 1983 or in this same year can participate.

Article 3.

The contestants will be judged based solely on the submitted recordings.

Article 4.

The application fee is € 120. For Chamber Music and Piano 4 Hands the fees are € 120 per ensemble. We provide the secure link for the payment. We will confirm your registration within 24 hours with payment instructions by email. Once the application fee is paid it cannot be refunded under any circumstances.

Article 5.

Repertoire: Free choice (one or more pieces) from the baroque, classical, romantic or contemporary periods. The performance should be solo, with piano accompaniment or performance with orchestra. Each participant can submit only one video. Total duration of the video recording is limited:

• Professional: Born between 1983 and 1998, both included / Up to 20 min
• Master Artist: Born in 1999/2000 / Up to 20 min
• Master: Born in 2001/2002 / Up to 15 min
• Advanced Artist: Born in 2003/2004 / Up to 15 min
• Advance: Born in 2005/2006 / Up to 12 min
• Junior Talent: Born in 2007/2008 / Up to 12 min
• Junior Artist: Born in 2009/2010 / Up to 10 min
• Junior : Born in 2011/2012 / Up to 10 min
• Young Artist: Born in 2013/2014 / Up to 7 min
• Young: Born in 2015/2016 / Up to 7 min
• Prodigy: Born in 2017/2018 / Up to 5 min
• Tiny Artist: Born in 2019 and younger / Up to 5 min

For the discipline of Chamber Music, the category will be determined by the average age of the members of a given group. (For example: Member 1 1996, Member 2 1994, Member 3 2001, the average year will be 1997. The age categorie will be Master A)

Article 6.

The video must have been recorded a maximum of 18 months before the deadline date.

Each piece must be performed in one take with no edits. If an applicant chooses to submit multiple pieces, they must be submitted together as one video file not to exceed the maximum time limits for the applicant’s age category. The competition reserves the right to immediately disqualify any applicant whose tapes show the edit within one piece.

The applicant must perform with an accompaniment unless the piece is written for solo/unaccompanied instrument. The competition will accept video tapes with piano, orchestra, chamber ensemble, wind band, percussion, guitar, electronics or any other accompaniment required by the composer in the published piece.

COVID-19 EXCEPTION. The competition will accept recordings with a pre-recorded accompaniment for those applicants who are not able to record with a live accompanist because of social distancing.

When you submit the Application Form, please include the piece/s you are applying with in the format: name of the piece and composer’s name. Video should be available for watching online – download links won’t be accepted.

Article 7.

If the duration of the submitted Video exceeds the time limits, as specified in the rules, the jury will only evaluate up to the time limit specified for each category.

The duration of the performed piece excludes applause and going onto or leaving the stage.

Article 8.

Registration is to be done exclusively through electronic means. During entering the website https://beethovenyoungmusician.com the competitor needs to provide the following:

• Filled the Online Application form in English.
• Youtube, Vimeo link, BiliBili or Youku.
• Make the payment of the administrative fees.

Article 9.

By participating in the competition, competitors automatically disown the right for any material (financial) remuneration regarding eventual publication and distribution of music video recordings on CD and DVD publications and Internet. 

By making your Aplication, you assign all rights in any submitted video to BYMC, including the grant to BYMC and The Classical Music Channel of permission to publicly display the video on its website, on YouTube or Social Media.

Article 10.

The work of the Jury is regulated by special Rules. Jury members are selected from a pool of renowned performing artists, conductors, composers, and pedagogues. All Jury decisions/comments are anonymous, final and irrevocable.

Article 11.

Competitors are qualified according to the average grade point of evaluations by the Jury:

• GRAND PRIZE – is to be awarded to the competitor who wins at least 99/100 points
• FIRST PRIZE – is to be awarded to the competitor who wins at least 93/100 points
• SECOND PRIZE – is to be awarded to the competitor who wins at least 86/100 points
• THIRD PRIZE – is to be awarded to the competitor who wins at least 79/100 points
• FOURTH PRIZE – is to be awarded to the competitor who wins at least 72/100 points
• SPECIAL MENTION– is to be awarded to the competitor who wins at least 65/100 points
• HONORARY MENTION – is to be awarded to the competitor who wins at least 55/100 points

Number of awards (prizes) are limited, but can be shared if more than one contestants reach the same mark.

Article 12.

The competitor or competitors who have obtained 99/100 points will be the Absolute Winner or winners and will be awarded with the Certificate “The Beethoven Young Musician 2024 Grand Prize”. 

The Absolute Winners will get his/hers picture and biography published on the website under the title “The Winners of Beethoven Young Musician 2023 Grand Prize”. The Absolute Winners also receives a special diploma.

In the case of several competitors-soloists in the category have the same number of points, advantage will be given to the younger competitor. In the case of several competitors in the different categories having the same number of points, final decision on the placement will be brought by the Jury.

Article 13.

The prizes will be awarded based solely on the submitted recordings. The competitors have no right to present any objections against the composition of the Jury.

Article 14.

Fund of prizes:

• All contestants will be awarded with diplomas
• Teachers and accompanists on request receive a certificate for a portfolio
• Some special awards “The Beethoven Young Musician 2022 Grand Prize” will be awarded to the winner earning a total score of 100 points, with a cash award of € 750/person for solo contestants and € 1.500/group for ensemble contestants.
• A selection of winners will participate in the WCMT European Concert Tour 2024
• The Absolute Winners will get his/hers picture and biography published on the website under the title “The Winner of The Beethoven Young Musician 2023″
• The Absolute Winners also receives a special diploma.
• We offer special acknowledgement of select 1st Place winning videos posted on THE CLASSICAL MUSIC CHANNEL Website,  Youtube channel (winners’ highlights video) and Facebook & Instagram.
• Esteemed Jury Members are offering Scholarships for private Master Classes available to select winners.

Article 15.

After all nominations competition are finished, Diplomas will be sent out.

Article 16.

By applying to the competition, participants automatically accept conditions from previous provisions of the online music competition rules, the terms and conditions and the privacy policy.