Concertino Praga is calling for entries into a new year of the competition
Enter the Dvořák International Radio Competition Concertino Praga - in 2023 you can apply in two categories - solo and chamber.
All of the instruments in the solo category are judged jointly. A new feature at the 57th year of Concertina Praga involves a change in the age category for competitors playing the flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, French horn, saxophone and trombone from 17 to 18, meaning that competitors may not have turned 18 as of the date of the final round, i.e. 16 September 2023. This decision has been reached in order to ensure playing level equality among all the competitors.
One original feature of the Concertino Praga competition involves its connection to the radio. The jury in the first competition round judges the performances of all the entrants anonymously according to their entered recordings, which also constitutes an interesting feature for the individual jury members. This has been confirmed by a member of this year's jury, the bassoonist Milan Muzikář: “I was delighted by the level of talent displayed by the young competitors and at the same time I also liked the judging process in the first round, where the recordings are listened to anonymously. I made guesses as to the countries that the competitors probably came from based on their competition repertoires. It was only once the results had been revealed that I often discovered that my guesses were far from the truth. The competition’s primary idea, where art is connected with the medium of radio, is amazing. I most definitely invite all young performers to make use of all contemporary technical options at their disposal and to send their recordings into the first round.”
THE AGE LIMITS
The age limit for competitors playing the flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, French horn, saxophone and trombone – the competition is open to musicians who have not exceeded the age limit of 18 as of the date of the final round, i.e. 16 September 2023.
The age limit for competitors playing the violin, piano, violoncello, cembalo, accordion, harp and guitar has not changed – the competition is open to musicians who have not exceeded the age limit of 16 as of the date of the final round, i.e. 16 September 2023.
The chamber ensemble category is open to players in groupings ranging from duos to sextets who have not exceeded an average age of 20 as of the date of the final round, i.e. 15 September 2023.
The absolute winners in each category will receive the opportunity to make their own recording at Czech Radio. The best soloists and chamber ensembles will receive scholarships at the amount of 5000, 2800 and 1700 euros from the Academy of Classical Music for their further education and purchasing instruments. The best soloists and ensembles will then perform at the traditional Concertino Praga South Bohemian Festival during September.
However, that is not all: the best young musicians will also return to the Czech Republic in the future years to present their mastery at concerts prepared by the competition organisers and their partners.
Detailed conditions are published on the competition website, entries can be submitted via the competition website until 31 March 2023.
