1. International Piano Competition« Merci, Maestro! » is open to young pianists from all around the world. The Competition will take place in Brussels, Belgium, on April 26th-28th 2019.
2. There are 3 categories:
- CAT A: for candidates younger than 10 years old at the time of the Competition;
- CAT B: for candidates from 11 to 14 years old at the time of the Competition;
- CAT C: for candidates from 15 to 21 years old for the time of the Competition.
3. The Competition is divided into the first and the final rounds for all categories. All rounds are open to public for free.
4. Prizes:
Category A:
- First prize: 200 euro
- Second prize: 150 euro
- Third prize: 100 euro
- Special prize: participation in several workshops, concerts and festivals in Europe
- Prize to youngest participant in category A
Category B:
- First prize: 400 euro
- Second prize: 300 euro
- Third prize: 200 euro
- Special prize: participation in several workshops, concerts and festivals in Europe
- Prize to youngest participant in category B
Category C:
- First prize: 600 euro
- Second prize: 400 euro
- Third prize: 250 euro
- Special prize: participation in several workshops, concerts and festivals in Europe
- Prize to youngest participant in category C
Some winners will be awarded with scholarships to take part in master classeswith famous pianists.
If several winners receive the same number of points, the prize is distributed among them in equal proportion.
All the finalists will receive diplomas for their presence at the competition. Certificate of participation will be issued to participants, who were not selected to the final round, in the evening after the announcement of the first round results.
5. Administration fees:
Category A: 60 euros paid in 2 instalments:
o A non-refundable registration fee of 30 euros via bank transfer (see bank details below) together with a YouTube Link with a recent recording of the participant and all documents specified in Item 6.
o If accepted, the rest 30 euros (balance: 60 – 30 = 30 euro) to be paid by March 5th 2019 to the bank account mentioned below.
o Selected maximum 20 candidates will be informed by the administration of the competition by March 1th 2019.
Category B: 80 euros paid in 2 instalments:
o A non-refundable registration fee of 40 euros via bank transfer (see bank details below) together with a YouTube Link with a recent recording of the participant and all documents specified in Item 6.
o If accepted, the rest 40 euros (balance: 80 – 40 = 40 euro) to be paid by March 5th 2019to the bank account mentioned below.
o Selected maximum 20 candidateswill be informed by the administration of the competition by March 1th 2019.
Category C: 100 euros paid in 2 instalments:
o A non-refundable registration fee of 50 euros via bank transfer (see bank details below) together with a YouTube Link with a recent recording of the participant and all documents specified in Item 6.
o If accepted, the rest 50 euros (balance: 100 – 50 = 50 euro) to be paid by March 5th 2019 to the bank account mentioned below.
o Selected maximum 21 candidates will be informed by the administration of the competition by March 1th 2019.
Fees have to be paid to «Ecole de musique Tchaikovsky». For international bank transfers: ING Bank, IBAN: BE94 3101 7895 7814; BIC: BBRUBEBB. Please, write «Merci, Maestro!» and the candidate’s name and surname in communication. All the costs related to money transfer should be paid by the participant.
6. For application please complete the ONLINE application form, send a copy of the participant’s and accompanying person(s) passports and an informal photo of candidate in jpeg format by mail to: info@mercimaestro.be. If some information or document is missing, the registration shall be cancelled.
All documents should be submitted before February 25th 2019.
*Attention!Foreign participants of the Competition, who need visa in order to enter Belgium, will receive an invitation letterconfirming his/her participation in the Competition only after payment of the administration fees.
7. All works must be performed by heart without partitions. The program in the final round can possibly include ONE piece of the selected program.
8. Changes in the repertoire will not be allowed afterthe February 25th 2019.
9. The prize-winners commit themselves to giving a benefit concert for the Competition.
10. Travel and accommodation expenses are at the candidates expense. However, the candidates may introduce a request for free accommodation in one of our carefully selected host families.
*Attention!Each participant who desires tostayin the host family has to fill out the request for accommodation in a host familyand send it to the organizers of the Competition as soon as possible as the number of available places in host families is limited.He or she should also make a deposit of50 euros. This deposit must be carried out afterconfirmation of your application. An amount of EUR 50 is refundable with no damage to host family’s properties and onlyin cash on the day after the Gala Concert in the competitionsecretariat. In case of refusal of the candidate tostayin the host family, the deposit will not be refunded.
To consider the accommodation in host families the full set of documents (filled-in application, photo, copy of passports and proof of payment of registration fee) should be submitted no later than February 25th 2019.
The accommodation in host families is foreseen exclusively for the dates of competition: from April, 25th(after registration in Tchaikovsky School of Music) till April 28th2019. Check out: 29.04.2019 08h00-10h00.
Beyond these dates no accommodation in host families is possible. If a participant would like to stay in Belgium longer, he is kindly asked to take care of his accommodation himself.
Additional information: The host families only provide rooms for accommodation. No other services are included. The participants should take care themselves about food, transportation and other needs related to their stay in host families.
11. The candidateshave to be present minimum one hour before the performance.
12. The candidates decide the pieces order of their performance.
13. The teachers cannot be in close proximity of their students during their performance.
14. If the candidate is a student of one of the jury’s members this member cannot vote.
15. The candidate who already received one prize cannot participate one more time in the same category.
16. Audience is not allowed to take pictures or video-recordings during performances.
The direction of the Competition has the right to do and reproduce all the pictures, video and audio recordings, as well as broadcasting on the radio and TV channels.
17. Members of the Jury are musicians and teachers of worldwide reputation.
18. Decisions of the jury are irrevocable. Only the members of the Jury shall be competent for any dispute. Their decisions are irrevocable and should not be justified. It Members of the jury can possibly decide not to give any prize in one category. If two candidates end up at the same place, the President of the Jury will decide about the winner. There will be maximum three prizes per category.
19. The « Merci, Maestro! » Competition reserves the right, without payment of fees, to record and distribute recordings for media and other purposes, including the Internet, and to televise, broadcast, film, record, videotape, photograph or live stream all stages of the competition, all prize performances and concerts.
20. The « Merci, Maestro! » Competition reserves the right to change the conditions and rules in the interest of the competition.
21. In case of refusal of the candidate to participate in the competition, the registration fee will not be refunded.
22. All the pieces chosen by the candidates themselves must be accepted by the Jury and published in a repertoire.
23. The jury for each category can choose the program.
24. The announcement of one category’s finalists will take place after the appearance of all the candidates of the category.
25. The passage of the candidates has to be done by alphabetical order. Nevertheless, the Direction of the Competition has the right to modify their order.
26. The direction of the Competition is not responsible for any physical or material damages that could result from the participation at the contest.
27.Each participant is responsible for personal medical insurance, risk and personal belongings insurance.