International composition competition "Vladimir Mendelssohn"
Second edition, 2023

Article 1 - Object

AscoliPicenoFestival announces the second edition (2023) of the “Vladimir Mendelssohn International Composition Competition”. The competition aims to stimulate young composers, according to the values that characterized the music and life of Vladimir Mendelssohn (1949-2021), visionary composer, violist, teacher and artistic director.

Article 2 - Elegibility

The Competition is open to composers of all nationalities. Applicants must have been born before July 31, 2005, and on or after July 31, 1988.

Candidates must submit to the jury a composition, within August 15, 2023, for one of the following ensembles: piano quartet (violin-viola-cello-piano), string trio (violin-viola-cello), piano trio (violin-cello-piano, or violin-viola-piano, or viola-cello-piano), duo viola-piano, lasting between 6 and 10 minutes. The composition must be inspired by one of the many facets of the personality of Vladimir Mendelssohn. For this second edition, the chosen theme is "LIGHTNESS”. Until the date of the final stage of the competition (September 29, 2023) the composition must be never performed in public, never published or recorded, never submitted to other competition, otherwise the candidate will be excluded from the competition.

Candidates who have had didactic relationships, even occasional or in master class, with one or more members of the jury are not admitted to the competition.

Article 3 - Application

Registration takes place through the web online form and must be completed by 15 August 2023 at 23.59 (Italian time). Each participant can submit only one composition. Each candidate must register, according to the guided procedure on the site, by uploading the following documents:

• scan of an identity document certifying age and nationality;  

• two recent photographs;

• PDF score of the submitted composition, without the author’s name (the author's name must in no way appear in the Pdf file). 

• receipt of the payment of the registration fee of 30 euros, to be made by bank transfer to the account held by the Associazione ascolipicenofestival (IBAN: IT67C0847413502000000005815, Paypal: info@ascolipicenofestival.org)

• curriculum vitae in English
  

By sending this application, I confirm that 

• I am the sole author of the composition

• the composition hasn’t been published or performed or recorded or submitted to other competitions, it hasn’t been included in any multimedia viewing and sharing platform and will remain unpublished, unperformed in public and not recorded nor submitted to other competitions, till September 29, 2023;

• I did not have any didactic relations with any of the members of the jury

• I authorize the performance, publication, registration and dissemination of my composition within the Final Stage of the Vladimir Mendelssohn Competition (in case my composition will be selected for the final stage), the eventual publication with Universal Edition via Skodo and the performance of the composition in the Festival, partners of the Vladimir Mendelssohn Competition.  
  

The personal details of the authors of the three finalist compositions will be disclosed to the jurors and the public only at the moment of the announcement of the results of the preliminary round of the competition. The personal details of the authors of the compositions not admitted to the final test will remain unknown even after the end of the competition.

In exceptional cases, it is also possible to send all the required documents by email to the email address info@vladimirmendelssohncompetition.com

Article 4 - Rounds of the competition

The competition will take place in two rounds: preliminary and final.

At the end of the preliminary round, the jury will select the 3 scores that will enter the final round. The works chosen for the final phase will be announced by 30 August 2022 on the Competition website and by email to the authors of the three finalist compositions.

The final round of the competition will consist of a public concert that will take place at the Neroni Auditorium in Ascoli Piceno on 29 September 2023, as part of the AscoliPicenoFestival, in which the members of Klimt Piano Quartet will perform the three finalist compositions in concert. At the end of the performances, the jury (whose members will be present in the room or connected live via the internet) will meet and decide the winner.

Article 5 - Jury and voting methods

The jury will consist of five members: Richard Danielpour (President), Emanuele Casale, Krystof Maratka, Bruno Monsaingeon, Roland Pöntinen.

In the preliminary stage, the jurors will examine the scores of the candidates will select the three compositions for the final round.

In the final round, after the performance of the three finalist pieces, the jury will meet (video-conference is admitted for jury members who are not able to attend the event in presence) and will choose the winner composition of the Vladimir Mendelssohn prize.

Article 6 - Prizes 

The winning composition will be awarded the “Vladimir Mendelssohn” prize, which includes: 

• Cash prize of 3,000 Euros (gross of withholding taxes).

• Publication of the work by the Universal Edition Wien via Scodo.

• Performance of the winning composition at the following festivals: Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival (Finland), Trame Sonore - Mantova Chamber Music Festival, Associazione "Sergio Gaggia" (Italy), Stift International Music Festival, Storioni Festival (Holland),  Konvergencie (Slovak Republic),, Oxford Chamber Music Festival (UK), Staunton Chamber Music Festival (USA), Festival Concertando (Vatican City).
  
  The two non-winning finalists will receive a flat-rate reimbursement of expenses of 500 euros for their presence at the final evening. The “Vladimir Mendelssohn” Prize is indivisible and there is no possibility that it will not be awarded. The jury's decision is final.
  
  

Article 7 - Legal terms 

The application to participate in the Competition implies acceptance of these regulations. In the event of disputes, the call in Italian is legally valid. The Court of Ascoli is competent for any controversy.