1. “Carles & Sofia International Piano Competition” is an online competition, open to all pianists of all countries in the world.
2. Contestants will have to submit videos which should be available for watching online (YouTube, Vimeo or similar) and must be recorded no more than one year before the submission.
3. Complete live performance of each piece is to be performed like on regular competition, and video editing or playback are forbidden. Edited material or added effects in the recordings will not be accepted.
4. Stopping the video camera during the entire recording of the same piece is not allowed. Contestants can submit multiple videos, with different pieces, if the total time for each category is respected.
5. On the recording, instrument, hands, and face of the performer must be clearly seen.
6. The judgement will be made exclusively upon material received.
7. The contestants whose teacher is in the jury will not be judged by him / her. All jury members will inform beforehand to the organisation, of any relationship with any of the contestants.
8. – By applying, the participant accepts the regulations, the general policies, the terms of use, and the privacy policy of the competition.
9. – Applications of minor musicians must be filled and submitted by their parents or legal guardian (tutor).
10. – Once the application fee is submitted, it cannot be reimbursed.
11. – The international jury’s decisions are final and not to be discussed. The individual jury’s votes and opinions are strictly confidential.
12. Each candidate consent to “Carles & Sofia International Piano Competition” the processing of their personal data for putting all materials sent on the website or Social Media or any other communication and publicity materials of “Carles & Sofia International Piano Competition”. The consent of the processing data of minor contestants will automatically be given by their parents or legal guardians, upon application.
CATEGORIES
The competition is divided in 2 categories:
1- PIANO SOLO
2- PIANO 4 HANDS (4 hands in one piano)
Each category is divided in:
A: until 8 year old
B: 9 to 12 year old
C: 13 to 16 year old
EMERGENT: 17 to 21 year old
PROFESSIONAL: 22 and beyond
AMATEUR: Non-professional musicians, 16 and above, without limit.
Notes:
The age counts as per the deadline of the competition: 30th of June, 2023.
In the Piano 4 hands, the category has to be chosen according to the average age of the two members.
*Contestants can apply to more than one category and can apply to a higher category than their real age.
REPERTOIRE
Each contestant / duo presents a free repertoire with the following maximum lengths:
Category A: up to 10 minutes long.
Category B: up to 15 minutes long.
Category C: up to 20 minutes long.
Emergent: up to 25 minutes long.
Professional: Up to 30 minutes long.
Amateur: Up to 15 minutes long.
Concertos for piano and orchestra (either with orchestra or with a second piano) are accepted.
*Contestants can submit more than one video, as long as the total number of minutes is respected.
SCORING SYSTEM
Each contestant will receive a total mark of 100 maximum for the overall performance.
The following prizes will be awarded according to the marks received by the Jury members:
CARLES & SOFIA VICTORY AWARD
2 Victory Awards to the best contestants of Professional Category in PIANO SOLO
(with a minimum mark of 95/100)
2 Victory Awards to the best contestants of Emergent Category in PIANO SOLO
(with a minimum mark of 95/100)
1 Victory Award to the best duo of Professional Category in PIANO 4 HANDS
(with a minimum mark of 95/100)
1 Victory Award to the best duo of Emergent Category in PIANO 4 HANDS
(with a minimum mark of 95/100)
GOLD HANDS AWARD
To the contestants who have obtained a mark of 91-100
SILVER HANDS AWARD
To the contestants who have obtained a mark of 86-90
BRONZE HANDS AWARD
To the contestants who have obtained a mark of 80-85
Honor mentions can be awarded following jury’s recommendations.
AWARDS
PIANO SOLO – PROFESSIONAL / EMERGENT (4 VICTORY AWARDS)
Carles & Sofia Victory Trophy (exclusive design)
Recording and digital publishing of a CD with KNS Classical
in July 2025
Concerts with orchestra in Europe and the USA
(A minimum of 2 concerts offered, among the 4 awardees)
Concert Awards, according to juries’recommendations:
Festival de Música de Sant Pere de Rodes (Spain)
Hammerklavier International Piano Series – Barcelona (Spain)
Hammerklavier International Piano Series – Girona (Spain)
Bulthaup Concert Award – Girona (Spain)
Trapani Classica (Italy)
Participation in the Gala Concerts in Barcelona and Girona
(to be held the first week of July 2025)*
Special Prize: Jorquera Piano Awards
Participation in the “Tribute to Claudio Arrau Project”
Mentoring session with Carles & Sofia
E-Diploma
Display in the “Wall of Honor”
Travel and accomodation expenses at contestants’charge.
PIANO FOUR HANDS – PROFESSIONAL / EMERGENT (2 VICTORY AWARDS)
Carles & Sofia Victory Trophy (exclusive design) Recording and digital publishing of a CD with KNS Classical in July 2025
Participation in the Gala Concerts in Barcelona and Girona (to be held the first week of July 2025)
Concert Awards, according to juries’recommendations:
Hammerklavier International Piano Series – Barcelona (Spain)
Hammerklavier International Piano Series – Girona (Spain)
Bulthaup Concert Award – Girona (Spain)
Festival de Música de Besalú (Spain)
Trapani Classica (Italy)
Participation in the “Tribute to Claudio Arrau Project”
Mentoring session with Carles & Sofia
E-Diploma
Display in the “Wall of Honor”
*Travel and accomodation expenses at contestants’charge.
GOLD HANDS AWARDS
Participation in the Gala Concerts in Barcelona and Girona
(to be held the first week of July 2025)*
Participation in the “Tribute to Claudio Arrau Project”
E-Diploma
Display in the “Wall of Honor”
Possible other concert opportunities
or other awards, according to juries’ recommendations.
*Travel and accomodation expenses at contestants’charge.
SILVER HANDS / BRONZE HANDS AWARDS
E-Diploma
Note: Gold, Silver and Bronze Hands awardees will have the possibility
to acquire a trophy.
BEST COMPOSER’S AWARDS
PIANO SOLO
“BEST COMPOSER’S PERFORMANCE AWARDS”
for the following composers:
Bach / Beethoven / Haydn / Mozart / Chopin / Liszt / Brahms / Schubert / Schumann / Albéniz / Granados / Mompou / Rachmaninov / Prokofiev / Debussy / Ravel / Falla / Best 20-21st century performance
PIANO FOUR HANDS
“BEST COMPOSER’S PERFORMANCE AWARDS”
for the following composers:
Bach / Beethoven / Mozart / Brahms / Schubert / Schumann / Rachmaninov / Debussy / Ravel / Falla / Best 20-21st century performance
Contestants will receive a recognition and an E-Diploma on this achievement as well.
JORQUERA PIANOS AWARD
Jorquera Pianos, Spain Steinway & Sons official dealer, is pleased to award a Special Prize: The Jorquera Pianos Award.
One of the winners of the “Carles & Sofia’s Victory Awards” of the Professional Category will be selected for this award, consisting on a video recording on a well-prepared Steinway & Sons D, at the Espai Jorquera, in Barcelona.
BULTHAUP GIRONA CONCERT AWARD, SPAIN
Nou Espai Bulthaup Girona is pleased to award a Special Prize: Bulthaup Girona Concert Award
One of the winners of the “Carles & Sofia’s Victory Awards” of the Professional and Emergent Categories will be selected for this award, consisting on a Recital at “My Place”
FESTIVAL DE SANT PERE DE RODES CONCERT AWARD, SPAIN
One of the winners of the “Carles & Sofia’s Victory Awards” of the Professional and Emergent Categories will be selected for this award, consisting on a Recital at the Festival de Música de Sant Pere de Rodes
HAMMERKLAVIER BARCELONA CONCERT AWARD, SPAIN
One of the winners of the “Carles & Sofia’s Victory Awards” of the Professional and Emergent Categories will be selected for this award, consisting on a Recital at the Hammerklavier International Piano Series Barcelona
HAMMERKLAVIER GIRONA CONCERT AWARD, SPAIN
One of the winners of the “Carles & Sofia’s Victory Awards” of the Professional and Emergent Categories will be selected for this award, consisting on a Recital at the Hammerklavier International Piano Series Girona
TRAPANI CLASSICA CONCERT AWARD, ITALY
One of the winners of the “Carles & Sofia’s Victory Awards” of the Professional and Emergent Categories will be selected for this award, consisting on a Recital at Trapani Classica Festival (ITALY)
FESTIVAL DE MÚSICA DE BESALÚ CONCERT AWARD, ITALY
One of the winners of the “Carles & Sofia’s Victory Awards” of the Professional and Emergent Categories will be selected for this award, consisting on a Recital at Festival de Música de Besalú.
SCHEDULE
DEADLINE OF SUBMISSIONS: 30th of June, 2024 (11:59PM PST)
RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT: 31st. of July, 2024
FEES
ENTERING FEE: 75 € + 25 € per category
+25 € for application to “Best composer’s” performance (optional)
BY MAKING A SUBMISSION TO THIS COMPETITION, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE FOREGOING RULES, TERMS, AND CONDITIONS, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND THEREBY.
