Applications open: May 1, 2024

Application deadline: September 15, 2024

Screening of applicants: September 16 - 30, 2024

Virtual Preliminary Round: October 17 - 25, 2024

Results of Virtual Preliminary Round: October 25, 2024

In-Person Competition (Toronto): January 9 - 14, 2025

 

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RULES and REGULATIONS

1. The Sixth Canadian Chopin Piano Competition (referred to here as “the Competition”), organised by the Canadian Chopin Society (referred to here as “the CCS”), will be held in Toronto from January 9 – 14, 2025. A Virtual Preliminary Round will be held online from October 17 – 25, 2024. 
 

2.  The jury of the Competition will be chaired by internationally renowned pianist Krzysztof Jablonski and will consist of prominent Canadian and international pianists.
 

3.  The Competition is open to Canadian pianists in three divisions:

 

JUNIOR DIVISION – Born in the years 2012 - 2016                                                                                                 INTERMEDIATE DIVISION – Born in the years 2007 - 2011                                                          

SENIOR DIVISION - Born in the years 1995 – 2009 

 

Previous first prize winners of the Canadian Chopin Competition are not eligible to compete in the same division. Pianists born in 2007, 2008, and 2009 may compete in either the Intermediate or the Senior Division.

 

4.  Applications for the Competition will be open from May 1 - September 15, 2024 at: canadianchopinsociety.ca/competition/apply 

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5.   The following must be submitted along with the completed application: 

 

a) For Junior and Intermediate Divisions: Proof of age and Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status. 

 

    For Senior Division only: Digital copy of Canadian birth certificate or valid Canadian passport. 

 

b)  A brief biography of the applicant (300 word maximum) and a summary of artistic activities and achievements over the last two years.

 

c) Two letters of recommendation from teachers or prominent pianists stating that the applicant is prepared to enter the Competition.  One letter should be from the applicant’s current teacher. Letters of recommendation must include the email and phone number of the referee.

 

d)  A video recording of the applicant performing solo piano works by Chopin as follows:

 

JUNIOR DIVISION – Any solo piano work(s) by Chopin (not to exceed time   limit of 12 minutes in total)

INTERMEDIATE DIVISION – One etude, one nocturne, and one additional solo work by Chopin (not to exceed time limit of 22 minutes in total)

SENIOR DIVISION – Two etudes, one nocturne, one mazurka, and one scherzo

(as outlined in the repertoire list) 

 

The video recording must be prepared under the following conditions:

• The recording must be still, unedited, and recorded with one camera

• The recording must show the pianist’s hands and face from the right side

• The full performance must be recorded in one uninterrupted session

• While the recording does not need to be professional, it should be of the highest possible sound and video quality

• The recording should be at least HD quality (accepted formats: .mp4, .mov, .avi, .mpegps, .wmv, .flv, .webm)

• ​​The works may be recorded in any order

• The video recording must be uploaded at the time of application 

• The uploaded file should be labelled with the name of the performer and the date of recording (e.g., “NameOfApplication_ddmmyy”)

• The works recorded must be specified on the application

 

The video recording submitted with the application will also be used for the Virtual Preliminary Round. Competitors will not have the opportunity to replace their video after submission. 

 

e)  One recent photograph of the applicant, to be used in promotional materials.  Accepted formats: .jpg, .jpeg, .png (minimum 300 dpi resolution, minimum dimensions 1080 x 1080). 
 

f)  A non-refundable application fee, payable online at the time of application:

 

JUNIOR DIVISION – CDN $200.00

INTERMEDIATE DIVISION – CDN $300.00

SENIOR DIVISION – CDN $400.00   

 

g)  All fields in the application must be completed, including repertoire lists for quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals for Senior Division applicants. 

 

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. 

 

6.  A screening committee will select up to 40 competitors in each division. Applicants will be notified of acceptance or non-acceptance by October 5, 2024 via email. Decisions of the Screening Committee are final and irrevocable. The screening committee will not provide comments or feedback on any applications

 

7.  The Virtual Preliminary Round will take place online from October 17 – 25, 2024. The application videos of the competitors selected by the Screening Committee will be posted online, assessed by the Preliminary Round jury, and available to the public for viewing. 

 

8.  The results of the Virtual Preliminary Round will be announced on October 25, 2024. Up to 12 competitors in each division will be selected to participate in the in-person Competition from January 9 – 14, 2025 in Toronto. 

 

9.  The in-person Competition will be open to the public.

 

10.  Each competitor will bear and be responsible for all expenses (including travel and accommodation) related to participation in the in-person Competition in Toronto. The Competition and/or CCS is not responsible and will not reimburse or otherwise provide compensation for any expense or fee incurred by a competitor.  

 

11.  Competitors must choose their program from the required repertoire (see repertoire list). All works must be performed from memory and in their entirety. Performances that exceed the specified time limit may be interrupted by the jury.  Any changes to the program for the in-person Competition must be presented to the CCS no later than December 1, 2024. 

 

12. The Artistic Director and the CCS reserve the right to make decisions concerning all matters relating to the Competition. Decisions of the Artistic Director and jury are final and irrevocable and are not open to appeal, challenge, or dispute.

 

13.  Submission of the application constitutes an agreement between the applicant and the CCS regarding their participation in the Competition on the terms stipulated by the current set of Rules and Regulations (or as modified).

 

14.  By submitting the application, applicants agree that they will receive no fees for any public performances they give as a part of the Competition, Awards Ceremony, or Gala Winners Concert, and that they waive any and all rights to such performances. Applicants further agree that the performances given by them as part of the Competition, Awards Ceremony, or Gala Winners Concert may be distributed in part or in their entirety, live by electronic means, or recorded by any means in whatever form, and may be distributed at any future time in any or all media. Applicants further agree that all rights to their Competition or Awards Ceremony performances will become the property of the CCS, its assignees or licensees. 

 

15.  All winners of the Competition agree to participate without compensation in the Awards Ceremony on January 14, 2024, and the Gala Winners Concert, to be held at a later date. The program for these concerts will be chosen by the Artistic Director and jury chair, in consultation with the winners.

 

16.  The top three prize winners of the Senior Division of the Competition may be eligible for a “simplified qualification procedure, bypassing the work of the qualifying committee” for acceptance into the Preliminary Round of the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition. Pianists who wish to compete in the International Chopin Competition are strongly urged to submit an application directly to the National Institute of Fryderyk Chopin (NIFC) by the deadline of December 15, 2024.