Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts
中華表演藝術基金會
presents
Fou Ts'ong International
Concerto Competition 2023
傅聰國際協奏曲比賽
 Concerto 2023
 Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky:
Piano Concerto no.1 in B flat minor Op.23
   1879 version 2nd edition*

NOTE CAREFULLY: All competitors should prepare the 1879 version of the concerto (i.e., the second edition) and not the commonly performed third version from 1888 nor the first version from 1875.  The new critical urtext edition was published in 2015 by the Tchaikovsky Museum in Klin, with editors Polina E. Vajdman and Ada G. Ajnbinder:  reference information.
 
The publishers are Music Production International (MPI) in Chelyabinsk, Russia, and (from 2018) Schott in Mainz, Germany. The two-piano arrangement has ISBN 9785962802053. reference information


General Information and Application  (updated January 1, 2023)

ELIGIBILITY  This competition is open to pianists of all nationalities of age 35 and under as of June 9, 2023. First-prize winners of previous (2019, 2022) International Concerto Competitions organized by Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts are not eligible to compete. If passed the Video Preliminary, the applicants should be able to appear in person for the Semi-Final and Final Rounds in Boston. And if chosen as the winner, to participate in all rehearsals and performance. 

COVID- 19 HEALTH AND SAFETY  The Health and Safety policies and requirements of New England Conservatory (NEC) will be observed. It is anticipated that proof of COVID-19 vaccination will be required of all staff, faculty and participants of this event.  details

APPLICATION FEE  A non-refundable USD $80 is required for all applicants, payable to Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts, 3 Partridge Lane, Lincoln, MA 01773, USA. It could be paid online or by a bank check.

IMPORTANT DATES
 

June 9, 2023: Application Deadline
June 24, 2023: Video Preliminary results announced
July 8, 2023: Semi-Finalists confirmed
August 17, 2023: Announcing the required orchestral excerpt (about 5 -7 min) from the the Tchaikovsky Concerto No. 1 to be included in the Semi-Final Round
August 19, 2023, 1-5 pm: Semi-Final Round at NEC's Williams Hall
August 20, 2023, 7:30-11 pm: Final Round at NEC's Williams Hall
August 23, 2023, 7-10 pm: Orchestral rehearsal with winner soloist at NEC's Jordan Hall
August 25, 2023, 7-10 pm: Orchestral Dress Rehearsal at NEC's Jordan Hall
August 26, 2023, 7:30 pm: Orchestra Concert at NEC's Jordan Hall

Awards

  1. The first prize winner will receive USD $5,000 award and performing at NEC's Jordan Hall with Mercury Orchestra, the national winner of the 2010 American Prize in Orchestral Performance, and conductor Channing Yu, 2010 American Prize in Orchestral Conducting.
  2. The first prize winner will also be invited back to perform a solo recital in the 2023 Summer FREE Concerts @ NEC , with additional compensation.
  3. The Second prize winner will receive USD $2,000 cash award. By judge's decision, the second prize winner maybe invited back to perform a solo recital in the 2023 Summer FREE Concerts @ NEC , with additional compensation.
  4. The Third prize winner will receive USD $1,000 cash award.
  5. Those who passed the Preliminary and advanced to the Semi-Final Round could request housing arrangement from Wednesday August 16 to Monday August 21, 2023, and that of the first-prize winner to Sunday August 27, 2023.

Jury Panel (in alphabetical order)
The judges will not give scores to his/her current students

For Video Preliminary (alphabetically)

  1. Professor Gloria Chien 簡佩盈, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, USA
  2. Professor Grace Chung 鍾曉青 , Tainan National University of The Arts, Taiwan 國立台南藝術大學
  3. Professor Jianing Kong 孔嘉寧, Royal College of Music, London, United Kingdom
  4. Professor Anton Nel, University of Texas at Austin - Butler School of Music
  5. Dr. Yinfei Wang 王寅飛, Manhattan School of Music, USA

For Semi-Final and Final Rounds

  1. Professor Bruce Brubaker, Chair Piano Department, New England Conservatory of Music, USA
  2. Mr. Richard Dyer, retired senior music critic of The Boston Globe, USA. Jury of international piano competitions including the Van Cliburn, Cleveland, Sendai, among others.
  3. Professor Michael Lewin, Head Piano Department of The Boston Conservatory at Berklee, USA. Artistic Director of the Boston Conservatory Piano Masters Series.
  4. Professor Sergey Schepkin, Carnegie Mellon University, and New England Conservatory of Music Preparatory, USA,
  5. Mr. Channing Yu, Conductor Mercury Orchestra, USA,

Official collaborative pianist will be provided for all finalists
Dr. Yinfei Wang 王寅飛, Manhattan School of Music, USA

How to apply

  1. Submit a non-refundable USD $80 application fee ON LINE , or
    postal mail a bank check payable to

Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts
3 Partridge Lane,
Lincoln, MA 01773
USA.

  1. Email the Application to foundation@chineseperformingarts.net with the following:
  1. The application form. This form is available below.
  2. An image of a government issued official proof of birth date, such as the passport or driver's license.
  3. For applicants who are under 18, the parent/guardian's information and signature are also required
  1. Upload the unedited screening videos to YouTube (or Youku for students in China). Provide the links with detailed repertoire information in the application form. The video recording should be prepared from within the past two years.
     
  2. AUDITION Repertoire: Repertoire choices should show the applicants range technically and musically. It should include both A and B of the following
     
    1. FIRST movement of a sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert.
    2. One or more solo piece(s) in contrasting style at competitor’s choice.

    All pieces must be played by memory. The repertoire could be repeated in the Semi-Final Round.
     

  3. The total duration of the videos should not exceed 20 minutes, starting from a brief self-introduction. Time for self- introduction does not count as a part of the 20 minutes. The self- introduction part of the video should include the applicant identifying himself or herself and the titles of the pieces to be played.
     
  4. The results of the Video Preliminary will be announced by June 24, 2023 via e-mail. Up to ten (with two additional on wait-list) applicants will be invited to the Semi-Final Round on Saturday August 19, 2023 at New England Conservatory's Williams Hall to perform solo pieces by memory, plus a required orchestral excerpt (about 5 -7 min) from the concerto, to be announced on August 17, 2023 (two days before the Semi- Final Round) in front of the Jury Panel and audience.
     
  5. The chosen Semi-Finalists should confirm their participation via e-mail no later than July 8, 2023, and provide the repertoire for the Semi-Final Round. A short bio of 250 words or less, and a head-shot photo for publicity purpose are also required. The Semi-Finalists should indicate whether housing is needed. Practice rooms will be provided at New England Conservatory.
     
  6. The requirements of repertoire for the Semi-Final Round include two parts:
  1. 15 to 20 minutes of solo piece(s) of contrasting styles that must include a FIRST movement from a classical sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert. The repertoire from the video of the preliminary round could be repeated in the Semi-Final Round.
     
  2. A required orchestra excerpt (about 5 -7 min) from the Tchaikovsky piano concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 23 (1879 version) to be announced on August 17, 2023 (two days before the Semi-Final Round). Performance will be accompanied by the official collaborative pianist on the second piano.
  1. If the competitor exceeds the time limit, the Jury has the right to stop the performance.
     
  2. The competitors should arrive New England Conservatory at least two hours prior to the assigned time slot. Warm-up practice rooms will be provided.
     
  3. All travel expenses are the applicant's responsibility.
     
  4. The order of appearances at the Semi-Final Round will be determined by drawing on Wednesday August 16, 2023, 6 pm at NEC's Williams Hall. If the candidates could not appear in person, his or her designated representative (with prior notice) could draw on his or her behalf.
     
  5. The Jury’s decision is final and binding. This event is open to the public.
     
  6. Up to five Finalists will be invited to the Final Round next evening, Sunday August 20, 2023, 7:30 pm to 11 pm at New England Conservatory's Williams Hall in front of the same Jury Panel. This event is open to the public.
     
  7.  The order of appearances at the Final Round will be determined by drawing, right after the announcement of the five finalists. It will also be the order of rehearsal. Each Finalist will have one hour rehearsal with the official collaborative pianist on Sunday August 20 from 10 am to 12 pm, and from 1 pm to 4 pm, on assigned time slot. Individual practice rooms will be provided.
     
  8. The Finalists will perform the assigned concerto in its entirety from memory, with the official collaborative pianist on the second piano. The result will be announced right after the Final Round. The Jury’s decision is final and binding. This event is open to the public.
     
  9. The first prize winner will start rehearsals and performance with Mercury Orchestra on dates and venues as listed above.
     
  10. By signing the Application and Release Form, the applicant and/or his/her parent/guardian of the applicant agrees to release the Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts  中華表演藝術基金會, the New England Conservatory of Music, the Mercury Orchestra, and their agents and employees from any and all claims, demands, and cause of action on account of any injury, illness, or loss which may occur during his/her participation in the 2023 Fou Ts'ong International Concerto Competition, and the Summer FREE Concerts @ NEC 2023.
     




  Online Payment:
 
  Concerto 2023 Application Fee : US$80  

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