1.  ABOUT THE COMPETITION

The solo rounds of The International Balys Dvarionas Competition for Young Pianists and Violinists will be held at the Vytautas Magnus University Music Academy in Kaunas from April 13 to 18, 2024. The Group “C” Final orchestral Round is scheduled for April 19-20 at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society in Vilnius.

The Competition is open to pianists and violinists of all nationalities, provided they align with the values in the EMCY statement and were born on or after June 19, 2004.

The Jury for the pre-selection round will assess and select candidates based on the videos submitted. These recordings will be evaluated by the Jury of the 23rd National Balys Dvarionas Competition for Piano and Strings.

2. AGE GROUPS

The International Balys Dvarionas Competition for Young Pianists and Violinists is open to participants up to the age of 20 (born on or after June 19, 2004), provided they align with the values outlined in the EMCY statement.

The competition is categorized into three age groups:
Group A: Competitors born on or after June 19, 2012.
Group B: Competitors born on or after June 19, 2008.
Group C: Competitors born on or after June 19, 2004.

For age groups “A” and “B,” the competition will consist of two rounds, while for age group “C,” it will include three rounds, with the final round featuring orchestral accompaniment.

Clarification: June 19 is selected because it’s the birthday of composer Balys Dvarionas, and in 2024, the 120th anniversary of his birth is commemorated.

3. REGISTRATION

• The Registration for the competition will be open from 1 December 2023. It will be executed through the professional music competition administration platform ArtistDB only.
• Participants should register online through their existing or new artistDB accounts by 16 February 2024.
• You will be able to change and update all information you upload during the registration process until the end of the registration.

PRESELECTION ROUND VIDEO: 

1.  Applicants are required to submit a 10-15 minute video recording featuring a program of their choice (maximum 3 Youtube links).
2. The works performed in the selection video can be repeated in the competition programme.
3. Your performance link will be evaluated during the selection round and the organisers will not publish the link anywhere without your permission.
4. Candidates may record individual tracks separately, but each piece must be recorded in its entirety, without any editing or cutting.
5. Lithuanian applicants may enter the The International Balys Dvarionas Competition for Young Pianists and Violinists under two conditions: either through the video pre-selection process or upon achieving a successful live performance at the 23rd National Balys Dvarionas Competition, provided they receive a personal invitation from the Jury.
6. Applicants will be advised of their acceptance or otherwise on or before March 1, 2024.

4. APPLICATION FEE

60 EUR for Group A,
80 EUR for Group B,
100 EUR for Group C.

• For those who register before January 15, 2024, a 50% reduction in the competition application fee will be granted.The application fee must be paid until February 16, 2024.
• The fee is non-refundable. You will be able to pay by credit card, bank transfer, or PayPal and will be provided with more detailed information during the registration process.
• It is not necessary to pay the application fee before you start the registration, but if you would like to do so in advance, information on payment methods and bank details can be found at this link.

5. SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS AND EVALUATION 

• Received applications will be forwarded to the Preselection Committee.
• Candidates will be informed about their acceptance until March 1, 2024
• Maximum of 3 pianists and 3 violinists will qualify for the Final stage of the competition.
• The results of the I and II Rounds will be announced at the end of them, and the results of the Final will be announced during the Laureates Awards Ceremony.
• After the announcement of the results, those who did not make it to the next round are welcome to ask the opinion of the Jury.
• The decisions of the Jury are final and not subject to appeal. The Jury decisions have primacy and take precedence over these rules if the two conflict.
• Jury members could stop unprofessional performance or performances that exceed the established program time limit.

6. OBLIGATIONS OF PARTICIPANTS

• All competitors under the age of 18 should be accompanied by an adult who will carry full responsibility over the minor at any time.
• It is forbidden to have contact with the Jury during the competition (unless the participant is a student of a Jury member).
• During the solo rounds of the competition, participants perform in order of age, from the youngest to the oldest.
• Chosen competition laureates, diploma holders and winners of the special prizes are obliged to take part in the Competition Final concerts of the competition without remuneration.
• The competition's all rounds and final concerts of the winners can be streamed online on radio and television, recorded on audio, video, or compact CD without any additional payment for the participants of the competition. The competition will be available online.
• The Management of the Competition reserves a right to permit all the Competition performances and final concerts to be broadcasted by radio and television and to be produced as audio, video, film, CD, tape cassette and vinyl recordings without remuneration to the competitors.

7. APPLICATION PERIOD

Registration open on: December 1, 2023.
Application deadline: February 16, 2024.
Applicants will be advised of their acceptance or otherwise on or before March 1, 2024.

8. JURY MEMBERS

Jury evaluation

• The performances will be assessed by an international jury comprising 7 distinguished musicians for pianists and violinists.
• In the final Third Round, encompassing an orchestral performance for Group C, all 14 jury members will partake in the assessment.
• Jury members shall not vote for competitors who are related to them or who have been studying with them regularly in the 36 months preceding the competition, or have had more than one lesson at master-classes in the 12 months preceding the competition.
• Jury members could stop unprofessional performance or performances that exceed the established program time limit.
• The Jury or Prize Founders decisions about prize winners are final and not subject to appeal. The Jury decisions have primacy and take precedence over the rules and regulations published on the Competition page if the two conflict.

9. PRIZES AND AWARDS

Age group A
First prize        EUR 1000.-
Second prize      EUR 600.-
Third prize       EUR 400.-
Final Round Participant’s Diploma

Age group B
First prize        EUR 2000.-
Second prize      EUR 1200.-
Third prize       EUR 800.-
Final Round Participant’s Diploma

Age group C
First prize        EUR 3000.-
Second prize      EUR 1800.-
Third prize       EUR 1200.-
Final Round Participant’s Diploma

SPECIAL PRIZES

Competitors may be awarded special prizes:
– for the best performance of a piece by B. Dvarionas (for violinist and pianist, 500 EUR each);
– for the best performance of a piece by Lithuanian contemporary composer (for violinist and pianist, 500 EUR in the whole, 250 eur each);
– the youngest participants of the II Round will be awarded with a tangible prize (pianist and violinist);
– for the best performance of a concerto with orchestra by B. Dvarionas (for violinist and pianist, 500 EUR each);
– for the best performance of a piece by baroque composer, by classical composer and by a contemporary composer  (for pianist and violinist);
 

The main prize fund of the Competition is 27.500 EUR.
Other Concert Prizes or Awards from public or private initiatives may be announced and awarded until the end of the Competition.
According to the voting results and evaluation rules, the Jury (or founder of the prize) will decide who and which prize will get.
The prizes will be awarded during the Award Ceremony of the competition.
The prize money will be paid by bank transfer within 30 calendar days after the award ceremony.

10. ACCOMPANIST SERVICES

• The organizing committee will provide professional accompanists for the competition participants. Rehearsal in the class (until 30 min), acoustic rehearsal and performance on the stage will cost 50 Eur, additional rehearsal (until 40 min) - 40 Eur.
• Singers in the first and second rounds of the competition can participate with their accompanists, the costs are covered by themselves.
• Please note that this service is not included in the Application Fee and should be covered by the competitors separately

11. TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION

• Travel and accommodation costs are each competitor's responsibility and expenses.
• The competition organizers accept no liability for any property damage, accidents, or loss. Competitors and their accompanying individuals are solely responsible for obtaining their own insurance, which should include medical coverage.
• The Competition will offer special prices and cancellation conditions for selected Hotels in Kaunas and Vilnius to all participants.
• The competition partner Travel Agency "Menu Turas" has appointed a personal manager to help you with the travel, visa, accommodation, and other technical issues or requests
• Management of the Competition intermediates for the participants who need visa in order to come to Lithuania, but it doesn't bear any financial responsibility.
• IMPORTANT: The competition organizers do not take responsibility for travel restrictions and other mandatory decisions made by Lithuanian or/and other countries' authorities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The organizers will do everything to mediate between competitors and Lithuanian authorities and make sure to arrange visas and permissions necessary to enter The Republic of Lithuania. Nevertheless, the final decision about arrival to the conditions (quarantine or isolation) will be made individually for each competitor depending on the COVID-19 situation in the outbound country.
   

12. COMPETITION SCHEDULE

The schedules below are preliminary and probably will be modified and refined.

Registration to the Competition will be available till February 16, 2024
Results of the Preselection Round will be announced by March 1, 2024
The Competition will provide participants with rehearsal facilities.

In the event of any discrepancies, the Lithuanian text of these rules shall prevail.
The Jury decisions have primacy and take precedence over the rules and regulations published on the Competition page if the two conflict.
The next International Balys Dvarionas Competition are planned for 2028.