2nd International Maestro Piano Competition

Rules and Regulations

ENTRY CONDITIONS

  1. The Competition is open to pianists of all nationalities, who are ready to embark upon an international career and who are born on or after 1 January 1993.

 APPLICATIONS

  1. All applications must be made using the form available on the International Maestro Piano Competition website (www.taiwanpianofestival.com). No other method of submission will be accepted.
  2. The application form, including all requested documents and video links, must be submitted online by 12 midnight (24:00 local time in Taiwan) on Friday 15 November 2024 at the latest.
  3. An incomplete application form cannot be submitted. Candidates will receive an e-mail confirming that their application has been submitted. Applicants should contact the Secretariat if they do not receive a confirmation email of receipt of their application within a week of submission.The Competition cannot be held responsible if an application is not received.
  4. If a candidate encounters technical problems during the online application, the candidate must inform the Competition secretariat about the problem as soon as possible by sending an email to [email protected].
  5. The application fee of TWD 5000 (USD 170) must be paid via bank transfer before the application deadline. Applicants are required to submit proof of payment in the online application form. The fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
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 EXAMINATION OF APPLICATIONS

  1. The applications will be examined by the Competition's organizers. If necessary, the Competition will ask the candidates to provide additional information. The videos of those candidates whose applications are not in order within the deadlines determined by the Competition will not be viewed during the preselection round and those candidates, accordingly, cannot be admitted to the Competition.
  2. The program will be examined by an Artistic Committee specially designated for this purpose. This committee will have the right to impose changes to the program in order to ensure that it complies with the rules and artistic requirements of the Competition. . The chosen repertoire can be changed before December 20, 2024. However, no changes can be made after December 20, 2024.
 
ROUNDS AND PROGRAMS

  1. The public rounds of the International Maestro Piano Competition are preceded by a video preselection round.
  2. The purpose of the preselection round is to choose the 32 candidates who will be admitted to the first round and eliminate candidates who have not attained the level required to participate in the public rounds of the Competition.
  3. Contestants who have won the 1st prize in competitions associated with the World Federation of International Music Competitions (WFIMC) since 2020 may proceed directly to the 1st round without the need to submit a preselection video.
  4. The purpose of the first round is to choose the 10 candidates who will be admitted to the second round.
  5. The purpose of the second round is to determine the 3 finalists.
  6. The purpose of the final round is to rank the top three prizes.
  7. In the different public rounds, the candidates will perform in the order established by the drawing of lots.
  8. Candidates are expected to treat each performance as a recital and should therefore put together their program with this in mind. The jury will look at each performance as a whole.
  9. In each public round all works must be performed from memory.
  10. Candidates may ask to perform some contemporary works using a score. The Artistic Committee has the authority to allow this. A request of this kind must be sent to [email protected] by 1 January 2025 at the latest.
  11. Unless otherwise specified in these rules, repeats are left to the discretion of the candidates, but candidates must take them into account when working out the timing of their programs.

 Preselection round : viewing of the videos

  1. The candidates will be informed individually of the results of the preselection process by 15 December 2025 at the latest.
  2. Applicants are required to submit a video recording via YouTube link, lasting between 20 to 30 minutes. The repertoire should include:
 
  • One fast and one slow movement from a classical sonata by J. Haydn, W. A. Mozart, L. v. Beethoven, or F. Schubert.
  • One concert etude by F. Chopin, F. Liszt, C. Debussy, S. Rachmaninov, A. Scriabin, S. Prokofiev, I. Stravinsky, or B. Bartok.
  • The rest of the program is of the applicant's choice.
 
  1. The recording must be unedited and uploaded via a YouTube link. The camera angle should remain constant, with the applicant's face and hands clearly visible. Edited or processed videos will not be considered.
  2. Recordings should demonstrate excellent technical quality, preferably professionally recorded.
  3. Recordings must be no older than 3 years prior to the application submission.
  4. Pieces can be recorded separately, but pieces within a cycle or a complete sonata must be filmed in one take without interruption or editing.
  5. The works performed in the preselection video may be included in the program for the public rounds of the Competition, but the program from the 1st and 2nd rounds cannot be repeated.
  6. Only piano solo pieces are allowed for the preliminary, first, and second rounds.
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Drawing of lots
Date: 12 January 2025
Venue: Crystal Court, Howard Plaza Hotel Kaohsiung

  1. The purpose of the drawing of lots is to establish the order in which the candidates will perform. Candidates admitted to the first round will be assigned an individual place in the order of appearance, which will apply to the three public rounds of the Competition.
  2. In the process, a letter of the alphabet will be drawn by lot, starting from which individual candidates will draw in turn, by alphabetical order, to establish their order of performance.
  3. All candidates are required to attend the drawing of lots and will be duly summoned by email.
  4. Candidates who cannot attend the draw owing to circumstances beyond their control must justify the absence in time (at least 48 hours before the draw). At the candidate's express and written request, a person designated by the candidate will draw lots on the candidate's behalf. Candidates are requested to find out immediately after the draw from the Competition secretariat the date and time at which they must present themselves for their performances for the first round.
  5. The order of appearance as determined by the draw may only be changed due to exceptional and unforeseeable circumstances, for which the candidate will have to provide justification. The Competition’s organizers will consider the reasons given and make a decision, which shall be final. Any alteration decided upon will only be valid for the round in question.
 
Registration of the candidates
  1. Candidates who are admitted to the first round will receive an individual registration document.
  2. Candidates must wear the badge provided in the document throughout the competition and present it upon request by the Competition's administrative services. Subject to availability, on presenting the badge, they will be given an entry ticket for the rounds of the competition.
 
First round
Date: 13 to 14 January 2025
Venue: Dadong Arts Center Kaohsiung

Candidates must present a free program lasting between 25 to 30 minutes, which should include:
  • One concert etude by F. Liszt, C. Debussy, S. Rachmaninov, A. Scriabin, S. Prokofiev, I. Stravinsky, or B. Bartok.
  • One concert etude by F. Chopin.
  • The rest of the program is of the applicant's choice.
 Number of candidates admitted to the second round: 10
 
Second Round
Date: 15 January 2025
Venue: Dadong Arts Center Kaohsiung

Candidates must present a free program lasting between 45 to 50 minutes.

Number of candidates admitted to final: 3
 
Final
Date: 16 January 2025
Venue: Dadong Arts Center Kaohsiung

3 finalists will perform with the Kaohsiung Symphony Orchestra. Each finalist must perform one piano concerto chosen from the following list:

  • L. v. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4, Op. 58
  • P. I. Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 23
  • F. Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 11
  • F. Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1, S. 124
  • F. Mendelssohn: Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 25
  • S. Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3, Op. 26
  • M. Ravel: Piano Concerto in G Major, M. 83
  • S. Rachmaninov: Paganini Rhapsody Op. 43
  • S. Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 18
  • S. Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 3, Op. 30
 
During the period leading up to the final, the finalists selected must take part in the meetings with the conductor and the rehearsals planned by the Competition’s organizers. No exemptions will be granted. Finalists who do not fulfill their obligations in this respect may be denied access to the final.
 
Awards Ceremony
Date: 16 January 2025
Venue: Dadong Arts Center Kaohsiung

The presence of the 3 finalists at this ceremony is mandatory.

PRIZES AND AWARDS
 There are three prizes:
  • First Prize : $10,000 USD and Recital tour in Asia
  • Second Prize : $5,000 USD
  • Third Prize : $3,000 USD
 
  1. Prize amounts will be subject to tax deductions in accordance with Taiwan's tax laws in effect at the time of the competition.
  2. The recital tour awarded to the First Prize Winner is arranged by the competition. When requested within the next three years, prize winners shall perform concerts managed by the Maestro Art Taiwan. For such performances, round-trip airfare as well as accommodation and board will be provided by the competition, but no additional fees will be paid or the fee for these concerts is fixed by the Competition’s management.
  3. The Executive Committee of the Competition is empowered to accept grants, and concert offers on behalf of the prizewinners.
  4. If there is an ex aequo in prizes, the prize money will be divided equally.

GENERAL CONDITIONS

THE CANDIDATES

  1. By applying to take part in the Competition, candidates indicate their acceptance of these rules. This agreement is a condition to be admitted for participation in the Competition.
  2. By applying for the Competition, candidates agree to participate in all the rounds as well as in all ceremonies and concerts for which they will be selected by the jury or the organizers of the Competition. 
  3. During the application process, the Competition collects detailed personal data on the candidates: this data is necessary for the various procedures of the Competition. The data is stored in a secure database and the following information is made public: family name, first name, date of birth, place of birth, nationality, biography, photographs, personal website, and social media pages. The unpublished information is not transmitted to third parties.
  4. If it is established, at any time, that a candidate does not fulfill the conditions for application to the competition, that candidate will be immediately excluded from it by the Competition’s organizers. 
  5. The candidates will not engage in any malicious behavior that could in any way damage the reputation of the International Maestro Piano Competition and/or of the organization’s sponsors, donors, or partners. If a candidate becomes involved in an event that brings the International Maestro Piano Competition into disrepute, its Executive Committee will have the right to take, from the preselection round on, any steps it judges to be appropriate; its decision will be final. Candidates may be disqualified from the Competition and/or be deprived of any benefits that may have been conferred on them. Should any damage be caused, the candidates agree to absolve the International Maestro Piano  Competition of all responsibility and undertake to indemnify the Competition.
 
Travel, Accommodation and Rehearsals

  1. The 32 candidates selected for the first round will be reimbursed for their round-trip airfare to Taiwan, up to USD 750 for flights from Asian countries and up to USD 1,500 for flights from non-Asian countries. To apply for this subsidy, proof of ticket purchase must be submitted. Please ensure that you retain all relevant documentation.
  2. Transportation in Taiwan: Travel expenses within Taiwan are the responsibility of the participants.
  3. The Competition will provide free accommodation for candidates admitted to the first round. This assistance will continue for those advancing to the second round and the final.
  4. Foreign nationals requiring a visa in order to enter Taiwan will be provided with the necessary documents upon passing the Preliminary Round.
  5. The competition will provide a number of practice pianos. Each participant will have ample practice time during the competition. Prior to the final round, each finalist will have an opportunity to rehearse with the orchestra.
  6. ​​​Competitors under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a parent in the residence hall for the duration of the competition.

Broadcasting

  1. The first round, second round, and final are recorded. Except in exceptional circumstances, they are also broadcast live and/or in pre-recorded broadcasts on radio, television, and the Internet. These recordings may be released in various formats: CD, DVD, etc.
  2. Upon request, the 32 candidates may purchase recordings of their performances starting from the first round. These recordings cannot be broadcast in any form without the Competition's approval. The candidate is responsible for obtaining permission from all rights holders if the recording is used without prior approval.
 
Cession of Rights

  1. By participating in the Competition, the candidates give the Competition permission to have them filmed (audio and video) and photographed during the rounds of the Competition, and the awards ceremony. They agree that the photographs taken by the Competition’s photographers may also be used by third parties. The candidates cede to the Competition the right to record, archive, reproduce, arrange for the reproduction of, and distribute their performances in the Competition and at the concerts, as well as the photographic material, on any existing or future medium, including in digital format, as well as the right to communicate their performances to the public by any televised or radio broadcast means, including broadcasting via the Internet, cable networks, and terrestrial or other broadcasting, live or pre-recorded, linear or on-demand, whether involving free or paid downloading or not, in Taiwan or abroad. This cession of rights applies to all performances during the Competition
 
THE JURY

  1. The Executive Committee of the Competition has the exclusive authority to appoint the members of the jury. The number of members is not limited. They are chosen for their international renown in the world of music, without regard to any racial, ideological, political, religious, gender related or linguistic considerations. The composition of the jury may vary from one round to another.
  2. Throughout the entire competition, the members of the jury shall refrain from having any contact, direct or indirect, with the candidates.
  3. Jury members shall also refrain from making any statements about the candidates, the activities of the jury, or the organization of the competition.
  4. The jury will vote by secret ballot. The members of the jury must not, under any circumstances, inform each other of the points they have awarded.
  5. The Competition has made it a principle to rely on the personal, individual judgement of each member of the jury. Accordingly, the members shall refrain from any form of consultation.
  6. Any juror having taught a participant for more than three months during the past two years must declare such teaching relationship and will abstain from voting on the participant’s performances.
  7. The decisions of the Jury are final.
 
​THE COMPETITION AUTHORITIES

  1. The management of the Competition, Maestro Art Taiwan, is a non-profit organization.
  2. Should any dispute arise regarding the interpretation of any part of the Rules and Conditions of International Maestro Piano Competition 2025, the Rules and Conditions in Chinese as well as related laws and codes of Taiwan will be the only legal basis. All decisions made by the competition and the Jury are final.