FAQ
FAQ
1. For what instruments is the competition held?
2. What is the age limit?
3. What are the age limits for the upcoming years?
4. Are there any compulsory compositions?
5. Why can´t I submit the recording of an instrumental concert where an orchestra part is replaced by a piano accompaniment?
6. How is the competition organized?
7. What is the nomination round of the Czech Republic?
8. How many candidates can qualify for the international competition?
9. Is the competition anonymous?
10. When is the application deadline and how can I apply?
11. How and when can I make a recording for the international round?
12. How does the recording process work?
13. Do I have to play by heart or can I use the scores during the recording?
14. If I use the scores during the recording, will the page turner be provided by Czech Radio?
15. Is the piano tuned at standard pitch A 440 Hz?
16. Is post-editing allowed? Do I need to play the whole piece at one go?
17. What if I make a mistake during the recording?
18. When will the results be announced?
19. What are the prizes for the winner?
20. What is the South Bohemian Festival Concertino Praga?
21. What costs are covered by the organizer?
22. What is the time schedule of Concertino Praga 2017?
1. For what instruments is the competition held?
The 53rd year of Concertino Praga 2019 has been announced in the category of PIANO | VIOLIN | VIOLONCELLO | HARP.
The 54th year of Concertino Praga 2020 will be announced in the category of woodwinds
FLUTE | OBOE | CLARINET | BASSOON | TRUMPET.
The 55th year of Concertino Praga 2018 will be announced in the category of chamber music DUO | TRIO | QUARTET | QUINTET.
This three-year cycle will be maintained for the future years. Instruments not listed above (e. g. French horn, tuba, trombone, viola, double bass and others) can participate in the competition in the category of chamber music.
In the category of violin, piano, violoncello and harp the age limit is 16 years in the year of submitting of the recording.
In the category of woodwinds (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and trumpet) the age limit is 17 years in the year of submitting of the recording.
The category of chamber music (duo, trio, quartet and quintet) may be entered by musicians whose average age does not exceed 21 in the year of the recording and submission of the competition recording.
3. What are the age limits for the upcoming years
The age limit for the calendar year 2019 for the category of piano, violin, violoncello and harp is 17 years in the year of submitting of the recording.
4. Are there any compulsory compositions?
Yes, there are compulsory compositions for all categories except for the category of chamber music. The compulsory compositions are listed in the article 6 of the Rules and conditions. Apart from the compulsory composition, the competition recording of minimum total length of 20 minutes and maximum total length of 30 minutes may include an optional programme of candidates’ own choice, i.e. one or more compositions (or parts thereof). Instrumental concerts originally intended to be performed solely with an orchestra accompaniment, where an orchestra part is replaced by a piano accompaniment, cannot be accepted and may be excluded from the competition due to radio broadcast of the recordings.
5. Why can´t I submit the recording of an instrumental concert where an orchestra part is replaced by a piano accompaniment?
Radio broadcast of the recordings of instrumental concerts where an orchestra part is replaced by a piano accompaniment is unfortunately either very problematic or unrealizable. Therefore such recordings may be excluded from the competition. Only compositions officially authorized for the piano accompaniment may be accepted. In those cases, it is necessary to notify the organizer.
6. How is the competition organized?
Candidates who have qualified in the national competition (nomination round) advance into the international competition (international round). Candidates in the international competition make their recordings in collaboration with their respective organization (for the candidates from the Czech Republic this organization is Czech Radio). The anonymous recordings are then judged by a jury. After the winners announcement Czech Radio invites the laureates to defend their titles by playing at a celebratory concert in Prague and at the South Bohemian Concertino Praga Festival.
7. What is the nomination round of the Czech Republic?
In the nomination round the five-member jury chooses the best candidates from the Czech Republic who represent the Czech Republic in the international competition. The listening of the recordings in the nomination round is also strictly anonymous. Recordings for the nomination round are made by the candidates themselves, candidates bear all the costs of the recordings for the nomination round. After qualifying in the nomination round, the candidates from the Czech Republic do not have to submit the application for the international round. They will be invited by Czech Radio to make professional competition recordings in Czech Radio studios.
8. How many candidates can qualify for the international competition?
Five candidates from the nomination round can qualify for the international round.
9. Is the competition anonymous?
Yes, it is. The jury is not given any information about the candidates (names, age, nationality) until after all awards and honorary mentions have been handed out. They listen to and judge numbered anonymous recordings, the vote is done by means of ballot papers. The jury members only have the list of recording´s repertoire at their disposal.
10. When is the application deadline?
The deadline for sending the applications and recordings to the international competition (international round) is: 15th December 2018..
The applications, which can be downloaded on the page Application, shell be sent to the organizer by e-mail to the address: concertino@rozhlas.cz.
11. How and when can I make a recording for the international round?
Candidates in the international competition make their recordings in collaboration with the respective organizations from their country and the recording schedule is coordinated by the local organizations. For the candidates from the Czech Republic this organization is Czech Radio.
12. How does the recording process work?
Our sound engineers adjust the microphones, they do the sound check, which is followed by the recording. There is an equal time limit reserved for all the candidates to make the recordings. It is 120 minutes. A sound engineer and a music director, who are responsible for the quality of the recording, are present at the recording session. Usually all the recordings for all the candidates are made by the same sound engineer and the same music director. Candidate´s music teacher and a page turner are the only persons allowed to attend the recording session.
13. Do I have to play by heart or can I use the scores during the recording?
It is not required to play by heart, using the scores during the recording session is allowed.
14. If I use the scores during the recording, will the page turner be provided by Czech Radio?
Czech Radio does not provide this service. Your music teacher or your own page turner can turn the pages for you.
15. Is the piano tuned at standard pitch A 440 Hz?
No, the studio piano has been tuned at 442 Hz (it is a frequency that Prague Symphony Orchestra uses).
16. Is post-editing allowed? Do I need to play the whole piece at one go?
Post-editing is not allowed. Single-movement pieces must be recorded as a whole. When recording a multiple-movement piece, every movement can be recorded separately in order according to candidates’ choice and it is allowed to make pauses between individual movements.
17. What if I make a mistake during the recording?
If the time limit allows it, a candidate can record the whole piece or a movement again. It is not possible to record just a fragment of the piece. Finally, the candidate can choose the best one from all recordings. However, the recording itself as well as the selection of the best recording must fit the time limit.
18. When will the results be announced?
The winners of the international round will be announced by the end of February 2019.
19. What are the prizes for the winner?
1) the absolute winner will receive the financial reward of 1000 EUR.
2) gala concert in Prague (with an orchestra accompaniment in case of solo instruments categories)
3) a series of concert at the South Bohemian Festival Concertino Praga and possibly other concerts organized by Czech Radio
4) 2 concert opportunities with Czech orchestras
5) The absolute winner wil be rewarded Helena Karásková prize, which will be hand over by Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, eventually the EMCY prize.
The winner of the Helena Karásková Prize will receive either
a) the opportunity to record his or her own CD at the Czech Radio studios. The recording will be issued in 200 impressions (by mutual agreement), of which the radio organisation, which sent the candidate to the competition, will receive 20; Czech Radio reserves the right to 30 copies for the promotion of the competition. The recording and publication of the non-commercial CD is intended to support the most successful candidate who can use the recording for promotional purposes.
or
b) the opportunity to make recordings in the Czech Radio studios with the option of their non-commercial use in all forms, all technical means and for promotional purposes where Czech Radio will secure the purchase of any protected works.
The selection from these two options is at the discretion of the winner of the Helena Karásková Prize.
The winners of the first (or second) prizes at the international competition will participate at a gala concert in Prague and then at the South Bohemian Concertino Praga Festival along with the winners of honorary mentions. The gala concert will be broadcast by Czech Radio 3 - Vltava. Soloists will be accompanied by the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra at this concert.
The festival concerts will be broadcast and recorded by Czech Radio 3 - Vltava. Professional piano accompaniment will be provided for the young soloists. After the end of the festival, the participants will receive a recording of their performance for their personal use.
The competition secretariat in association with the Production Centre will look for other concert opportunities for the most successful Czech participants both in the Czech Republic and abroad.
20. What is the South Bohemian Festival Concertino Praga?
The South Bohemian Festival Concertino Praga is a series of concerts in the marvelous halls of South Bohemian castles. Selected winners of the nomination round and the international round and selected honorable mentions winners are invited to participate in the South Bohemian tour, which usually consists of four or five concerts (Český Krumlov, Třeboň, Bechyně a Jindřichův Hradec). The participants are accommodated in hotel Concertino in Jindřichův Hradec and they drive out of this town to other South Bohemian towns.
21. What costs are covered by the organizer?
The organizer shall pay the following costs:
a) accommodation and meals (full board),
b) travel within the Czech Republic, but only if the transport and accommodation are arranged by the organizer. Costs of travel and accommodation arranged by the laureate and by their accompanying person shall not be paid by the organizer. The costs of travelling to and from the Czech Republic shall be paid by the organizer only to the laureates and their accompanying persons.
22. What is the time schedule of Concertino Praga 2019?
53rd year of Concertino Praga (2019)
- Gala concert in Prague,
Sunday 9th June 2019, 7.00 PM - South Bohemian Festival Concertino Praga (10th – 14th June 2019):
- Český Krumlov,
Monday 10th June 5.00 PM - Bechyně,
Tuesday 11th June 5.00 PM - Třeboň,
Wednesday 12th June 7.00 PM - Jindřichův Hradec – Concert for schools,
Thursday 13th June 10.00 AM - Jindřichův Hradec,
Friday 14th June 7.00 PM
South Bohemian Festival of Concertino Praga will host additional accompanying events.