Unfortunately, it is not yet possible to hold a public competition with international participants in September 2020, due to current travel- and quarantine regulations. Regarding the current situation of the corona pandemic some participants from abroad would need to go into quarantine, which would be an unfair disadvantage. For this reason, we have decided to postpone the competition to 17. -19. September 2021. All candidates who applied in 2020 will be considered, only the competition will be rescheduled.
The International Schimmel Piano Competition, organized by Wilhelm Schimmel Pianofortefabrik GmbH will take place for the first time in 2020 in Braunschweig | Germany. The competition is open to professionally trained pianists aged 18 to 32 years. Besides the artistic and pianistic performance, the competition focuses on the concept of the presented concert program, curated by the participant him or herself. The concert program should follow a theme of the participant's choice.
Public Audition
September 2021
Schimmel concert hall, Braunschweig | Germany
Award - Winner's Concert:
September 2021
Lessingtheater, Wolfenbüttel | Germany
REGISTRATION AND PRELIMINARY ROUND
31 March - 15 July 2020
30 September 2020
COMPETITION
1st Round in the Schimmel Concert Hall, Braunschweig:
Six participants with the highest scores will be admitted to the final competition round.
Final round in the Schimmel Concert Hall, Braunschweig:
AWARD WINNER'S CONCERT
Award-winner's concert in the Lessingtheater, Wolfenbüttel:
TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION
Participants are responsible for organizing their journey to Braunschweig as well as the travel and accommodation costs. Schimmel Pianos has set aside a number of rooms ina hotel in Braunschweig, so participants can reserve a room at their own costs in the hotel or organize an accommodation in Braunschweig on their own accord. Schimmel Pianos will organize a shuttle service between the hotel and the competition's locations.
1st Prize Either the production and publishing of a CD, including digital distribution under a label or the production of a music video for self publishing.
2nd Prize 2,000 Euro
3rd Prize 1,000 Euro
Audience Award 500 Euro
The piano pieces can be chosen freely, but should predominantly meet high artistic and pianistic standards. The presented piano works should follow a topic of the participant's choice. There are no restrictions in the choice of a topic. Thematical connections can be established for example by programmatic terms such as musical motifs and themes (e.g. "water", "night", "dream", "time"), characters and people (e.g. "Scheherazade", "Undine"), selected composition genres (e.g. "Préludes", "Capriccio") or technical elements (e.g. "staccato", "Octaves"). Your program's topic can extend far beyond the given examples. Your own creativity and imagination is required!
The concept of your concert program can deal with thematic connections, as well as contrasts and discontinuities and can show up relationships crossing established boundaries of musical genres and epochs. Improvisations and changes in a composition are allowed, insofar as your concept convincingly demands them. Essential to the conceptualization of your concert program are artistic independence, individuality, creativity and originality as well as comprehensibility and appeal (entertainment, pedagogical effects) for the audience. Participants have the possibility to present the idea underlying their program concept in a maximum 2-minute long introduction in German or in English before their piano performance. This introduction is desirable, but not mandatory.
Two programs with different topics must be curated for the first and final round .
Concert program 1st round: 20 - 30 minutes
Concert program final round: 30 - 50 minutes
Pieces from the first round can only be repeated in the final round, if it is necessary for the realization of your program's concept.
A change of your concepts is not possible after entering the competition!
If you have any questions concerning the conceptualization of your program you can reach out directly to the jury.
How can join?
Professionally trained pianists, aged between 18 and 32 years at the time of the competition can take part.
How can I apply?
Online submissions are open to 15 July 2020. Please take note of the rules and regulations before applying. Fill in the registration form and upload all required documents via upload form. Submissions will only be accepted on receiving all required files as specified.
Which information and files are required?
* What do I need to know before recording my video?