The "Bach with a View" International Young Artists Festival and Competition is on March 5-7, 2021.
NOW OPEN TO BOTH PIANO AND STRING INSTRUMENTS (Violin, viola, cello, bass) IN SEPARATE DIVISIONS: At this time, the Competition and Festival will be VIRTUAL ONLY.
Our Livestream Partner and Sponsor: IN.LIVE
Additional Sponsors: Performer's Music, Adiana Strings,
APPLICATION FORM AND PAYMENT LINK IS BELOW. REGULAR DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO FEBRUARY 15th. LATE DEADLINE OF FEBRUARY 25th REQUIRES $20 LATE FEE.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
The Competition will take place virtually this year. Videos may be submitted via YouTube, Vimeo, Dropbox or Google Drive.
Eligibility: The competition is open to young pianists or string players from any part of the world, age 5-23
Repertoire:
Piano: any solo piano composition by J. S. Bach, excluding transcriptions and works from the Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook. Individual movements from larger works are allowed. Separate Preludes or Fugues from the Well-tempered Clavier are allowed only at the Junior level. All performances must be from memory
Strings: Unaccompanied works for Solo violin, viola, cello or bass. (transcriptions from one string instrument to another are permitted ie: cello to viola, or violin to viola or cello to bass).
Video recording: Only unedited continuous performances are allowed.
Piano: Please make sure you record in Landscape orientation, with the keyboard clearly visible. The performers may wear a mask if they wish. Using an acoustic piano is preferred, but an electric keyboard may be used if necessary.
Strings: Landscape or portrait orientation is permission, however, all parts of instrument and arms and hands and face must be visible.
Time limits must be observed. The judges may stop the video at the time limit.
Junior – up to 6 minutes
Senior—up to 10 minutes
Collegiate—up to 12 minutes, repeats may be omitted to remain within time limit.
All contestants will receive written comments from the jury.
The Jury reserves a right not to award the First Prize in any division.
The Judges Decisions are Final.
All contestants are invited to watch the online presentations and lecture, video finals, and masterclasses.
Entry Fee: $75
Application Deadline: February 15th, Late Deadline February 25th.
Finalists announced: March 1st
Piano Jury Chairman: Jeffrey Biegel
Piano Jury: Susan Merdinger, Dr. Svetlana Belsky, Jory Vinikour, Jeffrey Biegel, and Giacomo Scinardo.
String Jury Chairman: David Yonan
String Jury: Charles Pikler, David Yonan, Martine Benmann, Marta Szlubowska, and Nazar Dzhuryn.
Divisions: Separate Categories for Piano and Strings
Junior, Grades K – 6, up to 10 finalists, each division
Senior, Grades 7-12, up to 8 finalists, each division
Collegiate: Ages 18-23, up to 6 finalists, each division
PRIZES:
TWO GRAND PRIZE WINNERS (One String Prize, One Piano Prize): Presented in joint recital (45 minutes each), at Sheridan Music Studio-Chicago, with professional audio-video recording and livestream of the performance. (Must travel to Chicago at own expense to perform in order to take advantage of the full value of this prize). Alternate Grand Prize, TBD.
First, Second and Third Prizes awarded in each division and category of piano or strings, TBA.
The Jury reserves a right not to award the First Prize in any division.
Collegiate Division Prizes:
1st: $300 USD
2nd: $200 USD
3rd: $100 USD
High School Division Prizes:
1st: $100 USD
2nd: $50 Performer's Music Gift Certificate
3rd: One Score of J.S. Bach WTC or Solo String Suites, Barenreiter Urtext edition
Junior Division Prizes:
1st: One free Private Coaching with a member of the distinguished Piano or Strings Jury (TBD, Live or Internet) OR 12-month Free Violin/Viola or Cello Rental (Chicago area only) OR One J.S. Bach Piano Score (Well-Tempered Klavier Book 1 and 2), Barenreiter Urtext edition, or equivalent
2nd: "Music with a View" Specially designed mask by Vistaprint
3rd: Performer's Music Gift Certificate
Special Scholarships, Named Awards and Honors:
David Yonan String Instrument Award, for Violin, Viola and Cello(s): One-year Free Instrument Rental or Loan to selected contestants.
Wanda Landowska Memorial Award(s): Presented by Sheridan Music Studio, Artistic Directors, Susan Merdinger and Svetlana Belsky. 410 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 908, Chicago, IL 60605.
Performer's Music Scholarship Award(s): Presented by Performer's Music of Chicago, 410 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605
IN.LIVE Livestreaming Technology Award(s): Presented by IN.LIVE
Sheridan Music Studio Young Artist Encouragement Award(s): Presented by Sheridan Music Studio.
The Piano and String Division Grand Prize Winners will be presented in a joint recital at Sheridan Music Studio Chicago, Date TBD.
All Prize-Winning Finalists will be offered an opportunity to perform in a "Music with a View" Winners Concert, TBD.
All Contestants will receive written critiques from the Jury and a Certificate of Participation, delivered electronically via email.
SCHEDULE: All Times are Central Standard Time (Chicago)
All Events will be archived and available for viewing at your convenience.
Friday, March 5:
12:00 pm: Little Preludes Online lecture and Q and A with Dr. Svetlana Belsky
1:00 pm: Dance Movements in Suites and Partitas: Livestreamed Lecture, Q and A, with Steinway Artist, Susan Merdinger
Saturday, March 6:
10:00am - 12:00 pm: Pre-Recorded String MasterClasses with Distinguished Jurors for Selected Non-Finalist Contestants
12:00pm - 2:00pm: Pre-Recorded Piano MasterClasses with Distinguished Jurors for Selected Non-Finalist Contestants
2:00pm - 4:00pm: Pre-Recorded Livestreamed Gala Concert - featuring Artist-Jury Members performing works by or inspired by J.S. Bach.
Sunday, March 7:
10:00am Finalists, Junior Division (video concert) and Winner Announcements
12:00pm Finalists, Senior Division (video concert) and Winner Announcements
2:00pm Finalists, Collegiate Division (video concert) and Winner Announcements
4:00pm - 7:00pm: Pre-Recorded Masterclass, Six Selected Piano and String Finalists, with Members of the Distinguished Jury
GRAND PRIZE WINNERS "Music with a View" Recital: TBA
Prize-Winners Recital: TBA
Application and Participation fee for the BACH WITH A VIEW Young Artist Festival and Competition March 6-7, 2021. This is for one competitor entry and one email address for VIRTUAL EVENTS, which can be unlimited viewers from your computer or TV.
For auditors (non-participants) who wish to watch the Festival Events. Includes admission to all live-streams and pre-recorded events, competition performances, Judges' Decision Announcements, and MasterClasses.