I – Practical organization
1. The 29th Epinal International Piano Competition will be held from Friday 17th to Sunday 26th March 2023, in Epinal. It is open to pianists born after 26th March 1992, and before 18th March 2007.
2. Registration will be closed on 15th February 2023, or earlier once the total number of registered contestants reaches 90. Registration forms that are received after February 15th 2023 will not be taken in consideration.
3. The 2023 competition might still be cancelled due to sanitary conditions or government decision, or in case of unsufficient applications. In that case, the application fee would be given back.
4. A registration fee of 110 € (not including banking costs and not refundable) must be transferred at the moment of registration. This transfer must be identified with the name of the contestant.
5. Contestants must register online on this page before 15th February 2023, by sending the following documents:
– copy of identity card or passport,
– curriculum vitae in French or English,
– a recent artistic photo in HD,
– receipt of the registration fee,
– for minor contestants (according to their national legal obligations), the enclosed authorization, completed and signed by their legal representative.
Each contestant must communicate on the registration form the contact details of a next of kin in case of need or emergency.
The association organising the competition is ensured against civil liability in the framework of the organisation of the competition. Contestants are reminded of the interest of having an insurance policy for civil liability as well as a policy covering personal injuries, including medical care.
The association organising the competition also reminds the legal representatives of minor contestants the interest of subscribing for them an insurance policy covering civil liability as well as personal injuries and medical care.
All changes of program must be requested by e-mail at secretariat.cipe@gmail.com (no program changes will be accepted after 22th February 2023).
6. The contestants must present themselves at the Théâtre Municipal d’Epinal, rue François Blaudez, to confirm their arrival in Epinal and to officialise their participation in the competition, on Friday 17th March 2023 between 01:00 and 05:00 pm. They must present an identity card : either a passport or a national identity card. The contestants will participate in a draw to determine the playing order for the first 3 rounds.
7. Travel and accommodation expenses are paid for by the contestant. However, free accommodation with host families is possible exclusively for the contestant, if requested at the moment of registration and according to availability. The contestants who have requested accommodation with host families and who will arrive before 17th March, must notify the competition office (familles.cipe@gmail.com) as well as the host family as soon as possible.
8. A practice piano will be made available in the homes of the host families or at the Conservatory. Each contestant will be allowed to play the competition piano for 5 minutes, upon completion of their registration on Friday 17th March 2023, from 01:00 pm.
II – The Competition details
1. The competition consists of 4 rounds which are open to the public. The first 3 rounds are eliminatory. The first round will take place from Saturday, 18th March to Monday, 20th March ; the second round will take place on Tuesday, 21th March and Wednesday, 22th March, and the semi-final round will take place on Friday, 24th March. At the end of the semi-final round, the jury will choose 4 finalists. A rehearsal with the accompanying Orchestra is scheduled for the finalists on Saturday, 25th March. The final round will take place on Sunday, 26th March 2023.
2. The Jury is composed of 7 international personalities from the music world. The President of the Jury holds the deciding vote, should there be an equal number of votes. The Jury’s decisions cannot be questioned or appealed.
3. The Jury may interrupt the performance of a work in case the contestant’s playing is clearly insufficient, or if the time limit has been exceeded.
4. Prizes
First Grand Prize Epinal la Belle Image
10.000€
Second Prize du Conseil Régional Grand Est
4.000€
Third Prize du Conseil Départemental des Vosges
2.000€
Fourth Prize de la Caisse d’Epargne
1.000€
Additional prizes will be awarded by the Jury :
Contemporary Music Prize for the best performance of the piece by Jean-Frédéric Neuburger in the semi-final round
Prize for the best performance of the Chopin Etude
Prize of “Jeunesses Musicales de France” for the best French contestant
Audience Prize attributed by the audience for the best interpretation of the Concerto.
The Jury is not obliged to award all the prizes.
Winners of the competition will also have the benefit of playing at festivals such as : Festival Musicorum de Bruxelles, Concerts Classiques d’Epinal, Rencontres Internationales de Musique de Mirecourt, Musique Espérance Saint-Dié…
5. Contestants in the first and second rounds may receive a certificate attesting to their participation in the competition.
6. The Competition’s public rounds may be broadcast live and/or re-broadcast by radio, television or Internet. The rounds may also be recorded and/or filmed for reproduction on various formats (CD, DVD, etc.). In keeping with the Competition’s reputation, the contestants give the Competition the right to record their performances and reproduce it or have it reproduced on any media without any financial compensation, as well as to distribute it by any means throughout the world to introduce and promote the Epinal International Piano Competition and communicate about it. This authorization is given for a 10 year period, renewable by tacit consent for the same duration, in the absence of notice of termination at least six months before expiration.
7. Entering the competition entails the acceptance of its rules and procedures ; the French text stands as legal reference. In case of a dispute, French law will be applicable.