Rules and requirements for the Geelvinck Fortepiano Competition 2018 ‘The Romantic Fortepiano’
for the Geelvinck Fortepiano Chopin Award 2018

Version 21-04-2018

Please note the deadline for application is extended to and including: 30th June 2018.

This competition is dedicated to Frédéric Chopin and the award is an initiative created in co-operation with the Chopin Stichting Nederland (member of the International Federation of Chopin Societies).

1. Aim of the competition

1.1. The competition aims to stimulate career development in performing on historic fortepianos and square pianos. The competitions targets worldwide on early-career professional early keyboard performers and pianists, who specialise in the historically informed performance practice.

1.2. Strong emphasis is laid on the technical ability of taking proper, tender and loving care of the historic instruments and on the social performance of the candidates in respect to the historic instruments, in relation to the historical context of both (and intertwined) the compositions and the instruments, and in relation to their fellow candidates and musicians. The competition is about the personal ability for performing with proper care on historic fortepianos (grand, square and other).

1.3. The purpose of participation in the competition should not only be for just winning it, but rather for gaining experience in performing on authentic period instruments. The competition element is there to stimulate reaching the highest level performance as reviewed by peers (i.e. the jury) on a public stage.

1.4. High level performance is not only defined in the perfect execution of the scores, but rather in understanding how to bring alive the historically informed performance on these historic pianos taking into account their historical context and individuality. To show personality in the candidate’s performance is seen as a virtue.

1.5. The jury shall take in consideration all aspects, aesthetic, historical, social and technical, next to the candidate’s virtuosity. Especially for the final round, the jury will take in consideration the way the performance is coming from the heart, so the aesthetic individuality of the candidate’s performance, rather than only a technically perfect performance.

2. Participation

2.1. Pre-requirements to participate
2.1.1. The competition is open for professional (forte)pianists, as well as conservatory students in their master or post-master term.

2.1.2. The applicant must have experience in historical informed performance on period fortepianos of the extended second quarter of the 19th century.

We suggest candidates to join the master classes at our museum, though this is not a pre-requirement.

2.2. Age limit
2.2.1. The competition aims at stimulating emerging professional (forte)pianists to perform on period fortepianos. The age limit for the competition is 35 years.

2.2.2. If an applicant reaches the age of 36 years during the calendar year 2017 before or during the competition, he or she is still accepted.

2.2.3. In case an applicant is already over 35 years of age, but he or she has successfully finalized his or her master or post-master studies for fortepiano only after the 1st January 2017, the jury shall make an exception to the age limit and shall accept his or her application.

2.3. Application for admitance
2.3.1. Post-master, early career (forte)pianists, who have successfully concluded their studies are requested to send by e-mail to the organisers:
– fully filled in standard application form
– biography, including the name of the institute were you graduated and the name(s) of your teacher(s), where you have studied.
– copy of a passport, or other identity document (ID-card, driving licence, or other)

2.3.2. If the applicant is still studying for masters: indicate which institute and teacher(s) (i.c. the website of institute or, if he is an independent teacher, his biography; also the master classes you did etc.). A written recommendation is not needed, however an indication of the current and past studies of the applicant should be included in the biography.

2.3.2. Applicants are not judged on your teacher(s). However, the jury would like to have an indication on the scope of the applicant’s studies.

The 2018 competition is not limited to fortepianists only: if you are a pianist with an interest in performing on historic fortepianos, you are most welcome to apply.

2.3.3. The closing date for applications is 15th June 2018. The organisation can extend the possibility for applying after this closing date. In that event, this will be indicated on the website.

2.4. Admission
2.4.1. The jury, advised by the organisation (Geelvinck Music Museums), shall decide on the admission of a maximum of twelve candidates for the competition.

2.4.2. In case there are more applications admitted in the selection round than the afore mentioned amount, the jury decides which applicants are to be admitted on basis of the biographies of the potential candidates and/or it may decide to admit a larger amount than this maximum amount.

2.4.3. The jury may decide not to accept an applicant as a candidate for the competition in case it considers the biography of the applicant to light weight for the jury’s high standards. The decision to accept the candidate is at the sole discretion of the jury.

2.4.4. In case the jury decides negatively on the applicants candidacy, the applicant may request a reconsideration based on extended information provided by the applicant.

2.4.5. The jury is allowed still to admit candidates after the closing date for application.

2.4.6. The jury will decide on the application not later than two weeks after the application is received by the organisation.

2.5. Requirements for candidates
2.5.1. Candidates should provide the organisation with the following not later than 3rd July 2018.:
– a photograph suitable for publication in jpeg format
– overview of the repertoire choices, as far as these are not prerequisite

2.5.2. The scores of repertoire chosen by the candidate should be e-mailed by the candidate to the organisation not later then 5th July 2018 in pdf format.

2.5.3. The competition is free of charge (there is no entrance fee). If a candidate does not show up at the competition (except for acceptable circumstance), he will be banned from the competition and the master classes forever.

2.5.4. In case the candidate requires a host family for staying during the competition, the organisation needs to be informed about this request well in advance. The organisation cannot guarantee a host family for the candidate, if not informed at least a month in advance of arrival.

2.5.5. The candidate undertakes to participate in all rounds in which he is admitted by the jury to participate, unless prevented doing so by circumstances beyond one’s control.

2.6. Privacy and legal issues
2.6.1. The following information will be registered:
– applicant’s name(s) and family name(s)
– applicant’s passport or ID-number and nationality
– applicant’s date of birth
– applicant’s current address, phone number(s) and e-mail address(es)
– applicant’s biography and photograph, as provided by the applicant
– other information, documents, images, audio and video as provided by the applicant
– photographs, audio and video recorded during and around the competition by or for the organisation
– copies of the certificates stating participation in the competition
– copies of the certificates concerning awards received and data on finalists and winners
By applying for the competition, the applicant allows the organisation to hold and publish the above information.

2.6.2. The candidate will bring along his own copy of the scores of works to be performed. The organisation cannot be held liable for any law infringement committed by a candidate regarding public use of illegal copies.

2.6.3. The organisation cannot be held liable for any loss or damage of any personal property of the candidate.

2.6.3. The competition is accessible for the public and the candidate allows the organisation to admit media presents for recording and publishing (also audio and/or video) in any way, without any claims by or legal rights of the candidates to these recordings.

2.6.4. The performances and rehearsals maybe being recorded for use on the website of the festival and the museum as well as on YouTube and other media. By applying to participate, the candidate gives permission to the museum to use the recorded material for publicity, educational and other purposes, which material shall be free of copy and any other rights of the candidates.

3. Competition

3.1. The competition consists of three rounds of which the repertoire is indicated under the section repertoire of this competition on the website.

3.2. If the repertoire does not indicate the exact composition to be performed, but leaves this choice to the candidate, the candidate has to provide the selection of compositions, which he will perform in each round, to the organisation in time, but not later than the 8th of July 2018. The scores should be provided in pdf-format by e-mail to the organisation by the 8th of July 2018.

3.3. A candidate shall not perform the same piece in another round, neither during the optional competition for the Stanley Hoogland Square Piano Award 2018.

3.4. The jury may at their sole discretion suggest the candidate to change his choice of repertoire.

3.5. The scores of the required repertoire can be found on the website IMSLP.org. The candidate should always chose the earliest version available.

3.6. The competition requires a historically informed performance of the repertoire.

3.7. The candidate performs on historic pianos. The organization is at any time allowed to replace any of the historic fortepianos and square pianos described in the Repertoire section for another historic piano of approximately the same period. No claim can be made against the decision to replace an instrument by another historic instrument of approximately the same period.

3.8. The candidate should be well aware that the performances are on historic fortepianos. These instruments differ from modern pianos as well as from historical copies of period fortepianos.

Please note: a gentle touch and restrained loudness is appreciated.

Historic fortepianos should be performed on with loving, tender care for the instrument. It is emphasized that the jury shall take this into consideration and, hence, does not only judge the candidate on e.g. virtuosity.

3.9. The sequence of performances of the candidates in each of the rounds shall be decided by drawing lots by the chairman of the jury. The jury has the right to decide on deviation from the determined order in exceptional cases. The participants will perform in the order established by the jury.

3.10. Candidates can practice in the museum on the required and other historic fortepianos from 6th July onwards. All are allotted the same maximum amount of time to practice on historic fortepianos. Practicing time should be reserved by the candidate by applying for this well in time.

3.11. There will be time slots scheduled for the finalists to practice on the instrument provided for the final round for a maximum of two hours each on Friday 13th July.

Candidates are recommended to try-out the historic fortepianos used in the competition in advance. Also there are some limited possibilities to rehearse on these fortepianos. Please arrange this with the organization in advance.

Please note that you can take advantage of master classes and other opportunities to try-out the historic pianos at the museum.

3.12. Performance by the heart is not required. The candidate is always free to use scores.

3.13. Candidates are requested to perform in decent dress, which is traditional for chamber concert performances.

3.14. The exact dates, times and locations will be announced not later than on the 9th July 2018. The exact time of the performance will be announced shortly in advance on the day of the performance itself.

3.15. The prizes, which can be awarded by the jury, are described on the website under the heading “Awards”. The prize money is indicated as gross and maybe subject to taxation. In case of taxation, this is the responsibility of the awarded individual.

4. Jury

4.1. The mission of the jury is to rank the candidates on the basis of the guidelines as described in this chapter and to decide on administering the awards connected to this competition.

4.1. The jury consists of a maximum of five members and is headed by the chairman.

4.2. None of the members shall be a current teacher or lector of any of the candidates.

4.3. The chair of the jury is a non-voting member, except in case the number of voting jury members is equal, or one of the jury members can not vote for reasons of being in any way linked to the candidate concerned. In case the chair is absent, he can appoint another temporary chairman in his place. In case of his unexpected absents, the jury will appoint a (voting) chairman from its midst.

4.4. The jury decides on its procedures and the process to come to its decision, as well as the views of its individual members in secret.

4.5. The decisions of the jury are final and cannot be contested in any way. No claim can be made against the decision of the jury.

4.6. The list of jury members is published on the website.

4.7. In case the candidate is a former student of or is otherwise linked (family relation or other) to a member of the jury, this member shall withdraw from the decision making process concerning this candidate.

4.8. Up to twelve applicants can be admitted as candidates for the competition. The jury decides on the admittance of the applicant on the basis of his biography only. The jury may decide to admit a larger amount of candidates than the maximum amount indicated before.

4.9. On the basis of the first round the jury decides which candidates are admitted to the second round. In principle not more than six candidates can be admitted to the second round. Under exceptional circumstances, the jury is allowed to admit seven candidates to the second round.

4.10. On the basis of the second round the jury decides which candidates are admitted to the final round. In principle not more than three candidates can be admitted to the final round. Under exceptional circumstances, the jury is allowed to admit four candidates to the final round.

4.11. On the basis of the final round the jury ranks the finalists and may award the prizes.

4.12. The jury has the right to withhold granting a first prize or other award in case it considers that the quality level of the performance(s) does not meet its required standard.

4.13. The jury can decide to grant a prize ex aequo, in which case the winners will share the prize equally. In case of equal performances by the candidates in the finals of competition, the jury can rule the (participation in and/or the outcome of the) optional square piano competition to be decisive.

4.14. In its decision making process, the jury shall take into consideration the quality of the execution: technique and aesthetic. In general, the jury prefers a performance right from the heart, rather than a technically perfect performance. The guidelines for ranking the candidates and awarding prizes are formulated in the aim of the competition (chapter 1).

4.15. In case the candidate performs one or more of the pieces by heart (without scores), the jury will take this in positive consideration, however such is not a requirement.

4.16. The jury will not communicate on issues related to the candidates which are still on-going in the competition, with these candidates or with persons who may represent or advocate the candidates involved. The candidates are required to respect this rule.

5. Other regulations

5.1. The organization and the jury retain the right to make changes in the requirements and rules at their own convenience. Changes in and additional rules and requirements to the above will be published on this website.

5.2. By applying to the festival organization for participating in the competition(s), the applicant agrees to comply with the rules and regulations of these competitions. Any breach of these rules and regulations by the candidate shall result in his or her disqualification.

5.3. The Law of the Netherlands applies. In case of any dispute the Court of Law of Amsterdam decides.