RULES - Excellence Piano Awards

GENERAL RULES

1. “Excellence Piano Awards” is an online piano competition, open to pianists of all countries in the world.
2. Contestants will be judged exclusively upon material sent online.
3. Videos submitted for the contest should be available for watching online (YouTube or similar).
4. Complete live performance of each piece is to be performed like on regular competition, and sound editing, or playback are forbidden.
5. Stopping the video camera during the entire recording of the same piece is not allowed. Contestants can submit multiple videos, with different pieces, as long as the total time for each category is respected.
6. Multi-camera recordings are allowed, as long as it is clear that the sound is completely live, and the sound has clearly not been edited. (TV recordings are allowed).
7. On the recording, instrument, hands and face of the performer must be clearly seen.
8. The videos provided by the contestants should be labelled correctly, with the name of the contestant and with the program performed written in the description of the video.
9. The jury will not judge upon fans or followers in Social Media or other accomplishments. The judgement will be made exclusively upon material received.
10. 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.
11. – By applying, the participant accepts the regulations, the general policies, the terms of use, and the privacy policy of the competition.
12. – Applications of minor musicians must be filled and submitted by their parents or legal guardian (tutor).
13. – Once the application fee is submitted, it cannot be reimbursed.
14. – The international jury’s decisions are final and not to be discussed. The individual jury’s votes and opinions are strictly confidential and will not be published.
15. Each candidate consent to “Excellence Piano Awards” 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 “Excellence Piano Awards”. The consent of the processing data of minor contestants will automatically be given by their parents or legal guardians, upon application.

SPECIALITIES

Excellence Piano Awards is set in different specialities, according to the following:

1. CLASSICAL
A, B, C, EMERGENT, PROFESSIONAL, MASTERS, AMATEUR

2. JAZZ
A, B, C, EMERGENT, PROFESSIONAL, MASTERS, AMATEUR

3. POP COVERS
A, B, C, EMERGENT, PROFESSIONAL, MASTERS, AMATEUR

4. FILM MUSIC
A, B, C, EMERGENT, PROFESSIONAL, MASTERS, AMATEUR

5. MINIMALIST
A, B, C, EMERGENT, PROFESSIONAL, MASTERS, AMATEUR

6. ORIGINAL (OWN COMPOSITIONS)
A, B, C, EMERGENT, PROFESSIONAL, MASTERS, AMATEUR

AGE CATEGORIES

The following categories are set considering the age of the contestants on the date of the deadline.

A: UNTIL 8 YEARS OLD
B: 9 TO 12 YEARS OLD
C: 13 TO 16 YEARS OLD
EMERGENT: 17-21 YEARS OLD
PROFESSIONAL: 22 TO 32 YEARS OLD
MASTERS: 33 AND BEYOND
AMATEUR: Non-professional musicians, 16 and above, without limit.

All contestants can always apply for a higher age category, despite their real age. It is also admitted to apply in more than one age category.

For piano duos and piano trios, the average of each member’s age will be considered as the one to access a specific category.

REPERTOIRE

CLASSICAL
Each contestant presents a FREE REPERTOIRE with the following maximum lengths:
Category A: up to 10 minutes long.
Category B: up to 12 minutes long.
Category C: up to 15 minutes long.
Emergent: up to 20 minutes long.
Professional, Masters: Up to 25 minutes long.
Amateur: Up to 15 minutes long.

*Contestants can submit more than one video, if the total number of minutes is respected.

JAZZ / POP COVERS / FILM MUSIC / MINIMALIST / ORIGINAL (OWN COMPOSITIONS)
Each contestant presents a FREE REPERTOIRE with the following maximum lengths:
A, B, C: up to 10 minutes long.
Emergent: up to 15 minutes long.
Professional, Masters: Up to 20 minutes long.
Amateur: Up to 15 minutes long.

*Contestants can submit more than one video, if the total number of minutes is respected.

SCORING SYSTEM

MAJESTIC EXCELLENCE AWARD
There will be a total of 6 “Majestic Excellence Awards”:
1 Majestic Excellence Award will be presented to the best performer of each speciality (classical, jazz, minimalist …), from the contestants with a mark of 95/100 or higher between the Emergent, Professional and Masters’categories.

GOLD EXCELLENCE: 90-100
SILVER EXCELLENCE: 80-89
BRONZE EXCELLENCE: 70-79

AWARDS

MAJESTIC EXCELLENCE AWARD
– 1 trophy
– 1 E-Diploma
– CD digital publication with KNS Classical. (for classical artists)
– CD digital publication with Top Talent Music. (for other specialities)
– Participation in the ONLINE “GALA CONCERT”.
– Featured display in the HALL OF EXCELLENCE.

Following juries’ recommendations:
– Concert opportunities.
– Masterclasses opportunities.

GOLD EXCELLENCE AWARD
– 1 E-Diploma
– Display in the Hall of Excellence, with picture.
– Participation in the ONLINE “GALA CONCERT”.

Following juries’ recommendations:
– Possibility of CD digital publication with KNS Classical.
– Possibility of CD digital publication with Top Talent Music.
– Concert opportunities.
– Masterclasses opportunities.

SILVER AND BRONZE EXCELLENCE AWARD
– 1 E-Diploma

Note: Gold, Silver and Bronze awardees will have the possibility to acquire a trophy.

BEST COMPOSER’S PERFORMANCE AWARDS: Given to the best performance of a specific composer in within the same age category, and with a minimum mark of 91/100.
To opt to this special prize, the contestant must apply specifically to the “Best composer’s performance award”. (Each contestant can apply to a maximum of 3 “Best composer’s performance awards”)
This special prize will apply to the specialities: Classical, Jazz, Minimalist, Film Music and Pop Covers.

SCHEDULE

DEADLINE OF SUBMISSIONS: 31st of MARCH 2023 (11.59PM PST)
RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT: 18th of APRIL 2023

FEES

ENTERING FEE: 75 € PER SPECIALITY +25 € PER AGE CATEGORY
“Best composer’s” performance (optional): + 25 €