Competition Announcement – Piano 2025
DATE: 31 August – 7 September 2025
VENUE: Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, Budapest
CANDIDATES: The competition is open to pianists of all nationalities, aged maximum 32 years (born on or after 31 August 1993).
ROUNDS: The competition is divided into five rounds:
· Video preselection round
· Preliminary
· Semi-final,
· Solo Final,
· Grand Final
Preliminary and Semi-final rounds are held in the Solti Hall, Solo and Grand (Orchestral) final in the Grand Hall of the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music.
In the Grand Final, the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra will accompany the candidates, under the baton of János Kovács,
A maximum of 35 candidates selected by a Preselection Jury may enter the Preliminary, 12 contestants take part in the Semi-final, 6 candidates qualify for the Solo Final, and 4 finalists pass through to the Grand Final. The Award Ceremony takes place after the Grand Final.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
The entire live competition is open to the public, all live rounds will be live streamed, the Grand Final will be live streamed and broadcast. Applicants shall give their consent to these recordings and broadcastings by applying to the competition.
All pieces must be performed from memory, with the exception of the contemporary composition in the Semi-final.
All competitors in the live rounds are provided with hotel accommodation as long as they are part of the competition.
JURY:
The Jury of the Competition consists of 9 eminent Hungarian and international musicians.
PRIZES:
1st prize: 22000 EUR
2nd prize: 14000 EUR
3rd prize: 8000 EUR
Prize for the best performance of Bartók’s works: 4000 EUR
Prize for the best performance of the compulsory contemporary piece: 2000 EUR
Audience Prize: 1500 EUR
Prizes are gross amounts.
Special prizes such as concert and recording opportunities will also be offered.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
Personal information and full competition repertoire is to be specified on the online application form available from 3 March 2025 at bartokworldcompetition.hu
Through the application form candidates shall upload
· A photocopy of current passport (or ID for EU citizens)
· A professional personal headshot photo (min. 1MB, 300 dpi, JPG)
· A biography (1000 characters) including professional studies, achievements, competitions, masterclasses, performances over the last three years (word file, flowing text)
· Video recording of the required pieces: see under Repertoire – Qualifying round
(Mp4 max. 300MB each)*
*Only high quality and recent recordings (taken on or after 1 January 2025) will be accepted. Audio recordings, CDs will not be considered. The recording should show the applicant playing the piano with his/her hands visible and each piece should be recorded in a single take (no editing permitted).
Only complete application material will be considered.
A Preselection Jury nominated by the President of the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music Budapest will decide on the admission of candidates to the competition.
Application Deadline: 26 May 2025
Early bird deadline: 2 May 2025
ONLINE APPLICATION OPENS on 3 March 2025
CONFIRMATION OF ADMISSION TO THE LIVE ROUNDS after 20 June 2025
APPLICATION FEE: €150
Early bird fee: €100
Fee is to be paid only by candidates passing through to the live rounds.
More information: on the competition’s website bartokworldcompetition.hu; or by email: office@bartokworldcompetition.hu