The Top Instrumental Music Competitions You Should Know About

If you’re looking for a way to showcase your musical talents, then you should definitely consider entering one of these instrumental music competitions. From classical to contemporary, there’s sure to be a contest that’s perfect for you.

The International Tchaikovsky Competition

The International Tchaikovsky Competition is one of the most prestigious competitions in the world for classical musicians. The competition is held every four years in Moscow, Russia and is open to musicians of all nationalities who are between the ages of 16 and 32.

Eligibility

The International Tchaikovsky Competition is open to participants of any nationality aged between 16 and 32 who perform on orchestra instruments (strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion) or piano. The total number of participants in each round is limited to 100 instrumentalists and 24 pianists.

There are three rounds in the competition. In the first round, competitors perform one work chosen from a set list. In the second round, those who progress perform a concerto with orchestra (orchestral extract for piano competitors). The duration of the works performed in the first and second rounds must not exceed 20 minutes and 35 minutes respectively.

In the final round, which is open to only 15 instrumentalists and six pianists, competitors perform a concerto with orchestra (orchestral extract for piano competitors) and one of two compulsory works: Jules Massenet’s Méditation from Thaïs for violinists, Ferdinand David’s Konzertstück in F minor for trombone or Alexander Glazunov’s Concerto Ballade in F minor for saxophone. The total duration of the final round must not exceed 50 minutes.

Application Process

The International Tchaikovsky Competition is one of the most prestigious competitions in the world for classical musicians. Held every four years in Moscow, the competition is open to instrumentalists of all nationalities aged between 16 and 32.

Competitors must perform a concerto and an instrumental work of their own choice, totalling no more than 45 minutes in length. They must also complete a written exam consisting of a theoretical and practical test on their chosen repertoire.

In addition to the first prize, there are also prizes for second and third place, as well as special prizes for the best performances of certain works by Tchaikovsky and other Russian composers.

Competition Format

The International Tchaikovsky Competition is a biennial piano competition held in Moscow, Russia. The Competition is open to pianists of any nationality who are between the ages of 16 and 32.

There are three rounds of competition. In the first round, competitors perform a concerto of their choice accompanied by the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra. In the second round, competitors perform a solo work and a sonata. The final round consists of the competitors performing a concerto with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra.

The winner of the Competition receives a gold medal, a cash prize, and the opportunity to perform with major orchestras around the world.

The Queen Elisabeth Competition

TheQueen Elisabeth Competition, or Concours Reine Elisabeth as it is known in French, is a Belgian classical music competition open to violinists, pianists, and singers aged 18 to 30. First held in 1937, the competition is one of the most prestigious music competitions in the world, and has been referred to as the “Olympics of the music world.”

Eligibility

The Queen Elisabeth Competition is open to violinists, cellists, pianists, and singers aged 18 to 30. All nationalities are welcome, and there is no limit on the number of participants.

To be eligible, candidates must submit a recording of themselves performing three pieces: one composed before 1800, one from the Romantic era (between 1800 and 1900), and one from the 20th or 21st century.

The first round of the competition takes place in Brussels, Belgium, and consists of two parts: an audition and a concerto round. In the audition, candidates perform two contrasting solo works of their choice; in the concerto round, they perform a concerto with piano accompaniment.

During the second round ( semi-finals), candidates perform a concerto with orchestra. The repertoire for this round is chosen by the jury from a list of solo works that the candidate must submit at the time of application.

The final round consists of a concerto performance with orchestra and two compulsory pieces: George Enescu’s Romanian Rhapsody No. 1 in A Major for cellists and Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme for violinists.

Application Process

The Queen Elisabeth Competition is a music competition held every two years for violinists, cellists, and piano players under the age of 30. It is one of the most prestigious competitions in the world, and prize money can reach up to 100,000 euros.

The application process for the Queen Elisabeth Competition is quite simple. You must fill out an online application form and submit a recording of two contrasting pieces that show off your technical abilities and musicality. The application fee is 100 euros.

Once your application has been reviewed by the competition committee, you will be invited to take part in the first round of the competition, which takes place in Brussels. If you make it past the first round, you will move on to the second round, which takes place in front of a live audience.

The final round consists of a concerto with orchestra. The jury will then select first, second, and third prize winners.

Competition Format

The Queen Elisabeth Competition, one of the most prestigious instrumental music competitions in the world, is held every three years in Brussels, Belgium. The Competition is open to musicians of all nationalities who are between the ages of 18 and 30.

There are three rounds of competition. In the first round, each contestant performs a concerto of their choice with piano accompaniment. In the second round, contestants perform a work chosen by the jury, accompanied by either piano or orchestra. The final round consists of a work chosen by the competitor, performed with orchestra. A limited number of competitors advance to each subsequent round.

The jury members, who are internationally renowned musicians, vote anonymously after each round of competition. The competitor with the most votes from the jury members is declared the winner and is awarded €30,000 (approx. US $33,000). Additional prizes are also awarded to second- and third-place finishers.

The Leeds International Piano Competition

One of the most prestigious instrumental music competitions in the world is The Leeds International Piano Competition, which takes place every three years in Leeds, England. Set up in 1962, the competition is open to pianists of any nationality aged between 18 and 30.

Eligibility

To be eligible to enter The Leeds International Piano Competition, candidates must be born on or after 1st January 1985. There is no age limit. Candidates must not have been a prize-winner in any previous edition of the Competition. Proof of date and place of birth will be required and copies of relevant diplomas and certificates may be requested. The repertoire requirements are as follows:

First round: one piece of the candidate’s own choice lasting between four and eight minutes.

Second round: one piece chosen from the list below lasting between eight and twelve minutes.

Final round: one concerto chosen from the list below. Candidates should indicate their choice of concerto on the entry form. If a candidate is successful in being awarded a final place, he or she will be asked to submit proof that the concerto has been studied with a view to performing it in the final round. The maximum playing time for the final round is 35 minutes, including any cadenzas that may be performed.

Application Process

The Leeds International Piano Competition is one of the most prestigious music competitions in the world. It is held every three years in Leeds, England and is open to pianists of any nationality aged 18-30.

To apply, you must submit a video recording of yourself performing two contrasting pieces from the repertoire list on the competition website. You will also need to provide proof of your age and nationality, as well as a passport-style photo. The application deadline is usually in December, and the competition takes place in June/July of the following year.

If you are selected to compete, you will be required to perform three rounds of competition. The first round consists of two pieces from the repertoire list, which must be performed from memory. The second round consists of a 20-minute recital, which can include anything from your chosen repertoire list. Finally, the six finalists will each performs a concerto with the Leeds Philharmonic Orchestra in the third round.

The first prize is £25,000 (approximately $32,000), and there are also prizes for second and third place as well as for the best performance of a specific work in each round.

Competition Format

The Leeds International Piano Competition is one of the world’s most prestigious competitions for young pianists. The competition is held every three years in Leeds, England, and features some of the best young pianists from around the world.

The competition is open to pianists between the ages of 18 and 30, and consists of two rounds. In the first round, each pianist performs a 20-minute recital, followed by a 10-minute interview with the jury. The second round is a concerto round, in which each pianist performs a concerto with the Leeds Philharmonic Orchestra.

The competition’s grand prize is £25,000 (approximately $32,000), and the first prize winner also receives a gold medal and a three-year support package from the Yorkshire Foundation for Young Musicians.