This major biennial event offers an all-round learning experience for young pianists under 30 from all over the world. We are delighted to be joined by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and conductor Robert Spano, who will accompany the soloists in the competition final in the RNCM Concert Hall – which will be recorded for broadcast on Classic FM.
There is a substantial prize fund including a first prize of £10,000, and the chance to gain a scholarship to study at the Royal Northern College of Music – home to a leading piano department. Travel bursaries are available to shortlisted participants who live outside of Europe.
All participants will receive invaluable learning opportunities: those who do not progress to the next stage of the competition will be given the opportunity to take part in a public masterclass given by a jury member during their time in Manchester.
Who was James Mottram?
The RNCM James Mottram International Piano Competition was inaugurated in 2008 thanks to a generous bequest from the late James Mottram. Mr Mottram was born in March 1930 in Stockport, Cheshire and studied Psychology at the University of Oxford. In 1961, he took up the post of lecturer in the School of Politics and Contemporary History at Salford University, before taking early retirement in 1982. Mr Mottram was a keen piano enthusiast, and particularly enjoyed the works of Scarlatti, Chopin and Debussy. It was his lifetime ambition to see an international piano competition staged in Manchester to celebrate the music of his favourite composers, and to provide a platform for the next generation of talented pianists.
How to Apply
We are now accepting applications via the Acceptd website. Before making your application, please read further information and regulations.
Click here to launch Acceptd, the application website.
Application forms and supporting documents must be submitted online by 12:00 noon GMT on Friday 28 September 2018.
Enquiries can be made to Harriet Lane, Competition Coordinator, on +44 (0)161 907 5271 or harriet.lane@rncm.ac.uk
Information and Regulations
Eligibility
Pianists wishing to take part must be aged under 30 at the time of the RNCM James Mottram Piano Competition (the Competition). Applications will be accepted from those born on or after 27 November 1988.
Please note that to be eligible to apply for the Competition you must meet the age requirements as stipulated above. Applications from anyone born prior to 27 November 1988 will not be accepted.
The Competition is open to competitors of any nationality.
Applications
Applications will open on 27 April 2018. You will be required to submit an online Application Form, completed in English. The Application Form must be supported by the following:
- Video recording(s) of the Preliminary Round requirements:
– ONE Scarlatti Sonata;
– ONE Chopin Etude from either Op 10 or Op 25;
– ONE Debussy Prélude from either Book 1 or Book 2 OR a Debussy Étude
The recording(s) should be clearly marked with the date and place of recording.
- A copy of a birth certificate or passport (photo page only).
- An up-to-date biography, in English, to a maximum of 300 words. The Competition reserves the right to alter the biography should it be required in any publicity material.
- A publicity photo, for publicity purposes.
Application Forms and supporting documents must be submitted online by 12:00 noon GMT on Friday 28 September 2018. All successful applicants will be notified before Friday 12 October 2018.
INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
Competition Process
From the Preliminary Round competitors will be selected to perform in Round One. Following the completion of Round One those selected by the Jury will be admitted through to Round Two. Up to three competitors will be selected to go through to the Final Concerto Round accompanied by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
The playing order of competitors will be decided by ballot at 8.30am on Monday 26 November 2018 in the RNCM’s Carole Nash Recital Room. All competitors are expected to attend this event. The competition will commence at 10am on Monday 26 November 2018.
- The jury reserves the right to stop any performance that overruns the time limit.
- All competitors must perform from memory.
- Repertoire presented in the Preliminary Round can be repeated in either Round One or Round Two. However repertoire presented in Round One cannot be repeated in Round Two.
Competition Requirements
Round One
A free choice programme to last not more than 30 minutes in duration, must include:
- ONE Scarlatti Sonata (own choice)
- ONE work chosen from the following:
- – Chopin, one of the 4 Ballades
- – Chopin, one of the 4 Scherzos
- – Chopin Fantasy in F minor Op 49
- – Chopin Barcarolle Op 60
- – Chopin Polonaise-Fantasy Op 61
* Remaining programme must not include any works, transcriptions or significantly revised compositions written after 1918, in accordance with James Mottram’s wishes.
Round Two
A free choice programme to last not more than 45 minutes in duration, to include:
ONE work chosen from the following:
- Debussy Images Book 1 (complete)
- Debussy Images Book 2 (complete)
- Debussy Pour le piano (complete)
- Debussy Estampes (complete)
* Remaining programme must not include any works, transcriptions or significantly revised compositions written after 1918, in accordance with James Mottram’s wishes.
Final Concerto Round with Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (conducted by Robert Spano)
ONE concerto must be chosen from the following list:
- Beethoven Piano Concerto No 1 in C major Op 15
- Beethoven Piano Concerto No 2 in B flat major Op 19
- Beethoven Piano Concerto No 3 in C minor Op 37
- Beethoven Piano Concerto No 4 in G major Op 58
- Beethoven Piano Concerto No 5 in E flat major Op 73
- Chopin Piano Concerto No 1 in E minor Op 11
- Chopin Piano Concerto No 2 in F minor Op 21
- Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor Op 16
- Liszt Piano Concerto No 1 in E flat major
- Liszt Piano Concerto No 2 in A major
- Mendelssohn Piano Concerto No 1 in G minor Op 25
- Mendelssohn Piano Concerto No 2 in D minor Op 40
- Mozart Piano Concerto No 20 in D minor K 466
- Mozart Piano Concerto No 21 in C major K 467
- Mozart Piano Concerto No 23 in A major K 488
- Mozart Piano Concerto No 24 in C minor K 491
- Mozart Piano Concerto No 27 in B flat major K 595
- Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor Op 54
Prizes
- First Prize of £10,000
- Second Prize of £5,000
- Third Prize of £2,500
A prize for the audience’s favourite performance in the competition’s Concerto Final will also be awarded.
At the discretion of the Jury, a limited number of scholarships awards to study at the RNCM may be awarded to participants. All prizes will be presented after the Final Concerto Rounds.
Accommodation
Competitors are required to arrive in Manchester on Sunday 25 November 2018. Accommodation will be provided free of charge to each competitor whose application is accepted, from Sunday 25 November – Saturday 1 December inclusive.
Travel
Competitors are asked to arrange and pay for their own travel to Manchester. Participants living outside Europe will be entitled to a 25% travel bursary towards the cost of their flight ticket. These claims will be honoured on arrival in Manchester upon presentation of both a monetary receipt and a flight ticket.
Practice
The RNCM will provide practice facilities throughout the competition, although rehearsal time on the Concert Hall piano will be limited.
Entry Fee
A non-refundable entrance fee of $150 is required, which is to be paid directly through Acceptd.
Visas
Participants with a non-EEA passport will require a standard visitor visa before entering the UK. To check whether you require a visa, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa
Participants who require a standard visitor visa to enter the UK should obtain one from the British Government website: https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa
Invitations to attend the Competition will only be issued subject to acceptance into the Competition.
Other Notes
- The Competition reserves the right to broadcast, record and film any part of the competition without the participant claiming fees.
- The Competition welcomes applications from students of the Jury. However, Jury members are not permitted to vote or take part in any discussions relating to their students.
- Students of Jury members may not receive lessons from that Jury member during the Competition.
- The original language of the Information and Regulations document is English. Any discrepancy in interpretation will be resolved on the basis of the English language rules.
- Competitors are responsible for insuring their personal belongings. The RNCM and the Competition do not accept responsibility for any items lost, stolen or damaged whilst in transit or on the premises.
- Competitors who are unsuccessful in passing to the next stage of the competition will be given the opportunity to take part in a public masterclass given by a jury member during their time in Manchester.