Regulation 2025

Art.1
The competition is addressed to young professional musicians of all nationalities with the purpose to promote the musical culture and encourage them to music study.

Art. 2

The competition will take place on 1 - 2- 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 July 2025 at Sala Alida Ferrarini placed in Villafranca di Verona.

Art. 3
The performances will be public and split up into the following Sections and Categories:
FIRST SECTION
Cat. A: born from 2015 onwards; free repertoire max. 8 min.
Cat. B: born from 2012 to 2014; free repertoire max. 12 min.
Cat. C: born from 2008 to 2011; free repertoire max. 15 min.
Cat. D: born from 2003 to 2007; free repertoire max. 20 min.
Cat. E: born from 1998 to 2002; free repertoire max. 30 min.

For the Categories D and E the execution by heart is mandatory.
The candidates are allowed to make their registration in a higher Category according to their age, but not in the inferior one.

SECOND SECTION

"Piano Performance" at unique category, open to pianists born from 1985 onwards and split up in three rounds (the execution by heart is mandatory):

Preliminary Round

Free repertoire lasting between 15 and 20 minutes including a study of brilliant character chosen among the following composers: F. Chopin, F. Liszt, C. Debussy, S. Rachmaninov, S. Prokofiev, A. Skrjabin, B. Bartók, G. Ligeti.

Semifinal (max. 12 candidates)
Free repertoire lasting between 20 and 25 minutes.

It is not allowed to repeat the program played in the Preliminary Round.

Final (3 candidates)
Free repertoire lasting between 35 and 40 minutes.

It is not allowed to repeat the program played in the previous rounds.

Art. 4

The application fee will be fully reimbursed in case of suppression of one or more Categories, if the Management does not consider sufficient the number of competitors registered.
In case of cancellation by the candidate for any reason, the application fee will not be reimbursed.
The soloists of the First Section are allowed to take part at the Second Section too and vice versa, but with a different program.

Art. 5

No facilitated transcriptions are admitted.

Art. 6

The Management does not assume any responsibility for any kind of risk or damage arisen during the event.

Art. 7
The competitors are allowed to practice the piano in the timing fixed by the Management.

Art. 8

For both Sections, the competitors must present an Identity Document and one copy of the pieces to be played that must be edited. It will no longer be possible to make changes to the program after 20 June 2025.

Art. 9

The competitors will perform in alphabetical order starting from the letter drawn as soon as the registrations have been completed, both for the First Section and the Second Section. There will be two further draws after the results of the Preliminary Round and the Semifinal of the “Piano Performance” Section.

The calendar of the auditions will be published on the website of the Competition. Each competitor is required to inform personally and send an e-mail to the artistic direction if they can no longer participate in the auditions.

Art. 10

The results will be announced at the end of the auditions for each Category and for each round of the "Piano Performance" Section. The final of the "Piano Performance" Section (3 competitors) will take place in concert form. All the Absolute First Prizes for each Category and the finalists of the "Piano Performance" Section will be asked to exhibit at the Prizing Ceremony that will take place on Sunday July 6th, 2025 at 6 p.m. at Sala Alida Ferrarini in Villafranca di Verona, otherwise they will lose their prize.

The prizes cannot be mailed. The prizing of the First, Second, Third and Fourth classified, will be made at the end of each Category’s performance.

Art. 11
The jury is formed by musicians of international fame.

The judges who have had continuous teaching relationship with one or more candidates up to two years prior the competition, must abstain from the discussion and the voting of the performance of these candidates.

The jury has the right to interrupt the execution if it exceeds the allowed duration.

The jury has the right not to award prizes and scholarships to candidates who do not achieve a qualitative level worth of being awarded of the prize.

The jury’s judgment is unquestionable and unflappable.

Art. 12

The Organizing Management reserves the right to set up sub-commissions for the various Sections, as well as to integrate them with other judges in case of absence of the listed Masters.

Art. 13

In case of minor candidate, the competitor or parent, by registration to the Competition, authorizes the Association pursuant to Article 10 and 230 of the Civil Code and Article 96 and 97 Law 22 April 1941 no. 663 (Copyright Law) to publish photos, videos or other audiovisual materials representing the competitor, which can be taken from the personnel authorized by the aforementioned Association. Any of these materials can be placed on the website of the Competition.

Art. 14

All travel and accommodation expenses are borne by the competitors. A list of hotels can be consulted on the Competition website.

Art. 15

The registration to the Competition involves the unconditional acceptance of the rules established by this announcement. 

FIRST SECTION AWARDS (CATEGORIES)

a)    The First Absolute Prizes with higher score not inferior to 95/100 will receive:

• Cup and Diploma

• Scholarship:                                                                

Cat. A: € 100,00

Cat. B: € 150,00

Cat. C: € 200,00

Cat. D: € 300,00

Cat. E: € 400,00

b)    First Prizes (with score from 95 to 99/100): Cup and Diploma

c)     Second Prizes (with score from 90 to 94/100): Medal and Diploma

d)    Third Prizes (with score from 85 to 89/100): Medal and Diploma

e)    Fourth Prizes (with score from 80 to 84/100): Diploma

All remaining competitors will receive the Attendance Diploma.

The jury has the right to award ex-aequo prizes for all Categories and in this case the Scholarships will be equally divided among the winners.

SECOND SECTION AWARDS (PIANO PERFORMANCE)
First Prize:      € 4.000,00

Second Prize: € 1.500,00

Third Prize:    € 800,00

Ex-aequo prizes will be awarded.

In the case of an ex-aequo first prize, the prize money will be equally divided.

In the case of an ex-aequo second prize, the prize money will be €1,000.00 for each candidate.

In the case of an ex-aequo third prize, the prize money will be € 600.00 for each candidate.

Public Prize "Rinaldo Rossi"

Awarded to the competitor who will obtain the highest number of votes from the public during the Award Ceremony: scholarship of Euro 300,00

Absolute Prize of the Competition

Awarded by the jury to the musician distinguishing himself for technical, expressive and musical qualities: scholarship of Euro 300,00

Special Prize for the best performance of a Sonata

Awarded to the best performance of an important Sonata from L.V. Beethoven onwards in the Piano Performance Section: scholarship of Euro 300.00

The application form (available on the website) must be fully completed and sent no later than: 15th June 2025.

In addition, for the competitors of the SECOND SECTION "Piano Performance" it is mandatory to send one featured photo of the competitor in high resolution to be used for the graphic of the Competition.

For every clarification or doubt do not hesitate to contact the organization by phone (+39 347/7847028 - +39 388/6945548) or send an e-mail to villafrancapianocompetition@gmail.com 

FIRST SECTION

Category A: € 45,00

Category B: € 50,00

Category C: € 55,00

Category D: € 60,00

Category E: € 70,00

SECOND SECTION

Piano Performance: € 100,00

• Via PAYPAL in the dedicated section of the website

• Bank Transfer to:

Beneficiary

Associazione Musicale "Quattro Quarti"

Bank details

Banca Popolare di Sondrio, filiale 11700
Corso Cavour, 45 Verona, 37121

Iban

IT79 S 05696 11700 000003494X43

Bic

POSOIT22

Reason for payment

“Application to 6th Villafranca International Piano Competition” reporting the Name of the applicant, Section and Category”.