The Pablo Casals Festival

4^th INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION OF THE PABLO CASALS FESTIVAL OF PRADES CHAMBER MUSIC WORKS

4^th EDITION – April 2^nd 2011

Nominated works at the 4th international composition competition are:

- Miguel Galvez-Taroncher, "Hommage à Chillipa"

- David Hefti, "Interaktionen"

- Alexander Muno, "gläserne Dämpfe, Plastikblummen"

The Calliopée Ensemble collaborated with the Composition contest since its creation in 2005. After receiving nominated pieces, musicians prepare these creation for a couple of months and 3 days in Prades with composers themselves.

During the public concert final in Saint-Michel de Cuxa Abbey, the Calliopee Ensemble present these works in world premiere. More than nominated score, they are pure creations of which jury members, audience and composers could attend. Recordings are made by a professional and during the summer festival the winning work will be played.  

The Calliopee Ensemble is a flexible ensemble ; more than diversity of instruments it deserves, it enjoys running a rich and diversified program, in which includes the awarded work.

GENERAL RULES 

The competition is held in Prades every two years.
The competition is open to applicants of all nationalities, to composers, women and men, born after April 18, 1969.

The competition is devoted to chamber music compositions. The nomenclature admitted : violin, viola, cello, (obligatory), flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, French horn, piano. Combination from three to six instruments, duration about 15 min.

The works admitted by the Competition Direction will be performed in world premiere in front of the jury. The event will be open to the public in Prades.
Any piece, submitted in competition, performed in public concert, before the International Composition Competition, will be eliminated.

Application procedure 

The applicants should fill out the application form.
All sections of the application form must be completed in legible block letters or typed, and the form must be signed by the prospective competitor.
The completed application form, together with all enclosures must be posted at :

Pablo Casals International Chamber Music Competition
Festival Pablo Casals
BP 24
F-66502 Prades Cedex 2

The following enclosures must be added to the completed application form:

• a curriculum vitae with at least the following indications :Institutes and schools of higher or specialist education, any diplomas, most important public appearances (date and place), any previous awards in international competitions.
• a copy of an official identity card or passport
• two recent black & white or full color photographs of good quality with the applicant’s name written on the back.
• two appreciation letters (written by teacher, composer, critic, university or conservatory Director). These letters are required for beginners application.
• eight score copies (individual parts will be asked to finalists)
The enclosures and the score copies will not be returned.
After due consideration of the competitor’s applications, the Direction shall be the sole judge of their admission to compete.
The number of participants is not restricted ; the Direction will carry out a validation procedure on the basis of the received applications, documentation and scores. The candidates will be informed if they have been accepted or not to participate in the competition.


The jury will proceed to nominations The three finalists will be warned immediately by the competition Direction. Individual parts of score should be respectively sent to performers, and copy of all individual parts to the competition Direction. Performers addresses will be noticed by e-mail or phone as soon as February 2.
Each finalist is entitled to one rehearsal (about 60 min.) the day before the concert (April 17). Some amendments to the score stated by the finalist will be accepted.

Rules for the performance

A drawing of odds will decide the order of pieces in the program.
All finalists will be present during the draw. One finalist, in front of the others, will draw from an urn a slip with the name of the candidate that will begin the show, the others will follow in alphabetical order.
The pieces will be performed by professional soloists and chamber music ensembles.

Competition schedule 

Prize 
The day before the competition, rehearsals will take place in Saint-Michel de Cuxa abbey, in accordance with the coordinated schedule given by performers and finalists.
Finalists concert will take place in the chapter house of the abbey.
The jury will designate the prize-winner in front of the audience and deliver her/him a prize of 15 000 €.
The selected piece will be performed a second time.

Jury appraisal procedure 
At the end of the concert, the competition will be adjudicated according to the principles and procedures laid down in the Regulations for the Jury of the Competition, approved by the Competition organisation.
The decisions of the jury, composed of 7 prestigious music personality, will be final and are not subject to appeal.

Engagements

The prize-winner will be invited to the Festival Pablo Casals taking place in Prades from July 26 to August 13. At this event, his piece will be performed to the public as well as during  "Prades aux Champs-Elysées”, organized in Paris around January each year.

General Rules 
The competition organizers have unlimited rights to broadcast and record, videotape, film or photograph the competition event and to make audio or visual recordings of them, without any payment to the competitors or prize-winner.
The competition event will be open to the public. The audience is required to observe any instructions announced at the beginning of the competition. Applause or other reactions are permitted only after the complete performance of each piece.
Contestants eliminated in the first round will be given a chance to discuss their results with members of the jury.
Traveling expenses to and from Prades (France), and the lodging will be refunded by the competition Direction to all participants. Lodging will include breakfasts.

Transportation
All contestants must book and pay for their travel and will be refunded after the competition. Economic class tickets only will be considered. In order to be refunded, candidates are requested to mail original documentary evidence.