Rules | Sava Dimitrov Clarinet Competition

TERMS

The Competition is open to performers of all nationalities, split intro the following categories:

Category B       born on or after 01.01.2006
Category C       born on or after 01.01.2003
Category D       born on or after 01.01.1999
Category E       born on or after 01.01.1989

A participant who has previously won a 1st prize in a given category won’t be permitted to participate in the same category.

PROGRAM

The Competition will be held in a hybrid format – both online and in person.
In person rounds will take place in Sofia, Bulgaria between 20.01.2023 and 24.01.2023,
in the following order:

Category B
○Final round – online
Category C
○Round I – online
○Final round – in person
Category D
○Round I – online
○Final round – in person
Category E
○Round I – online
○Round II – in person
○Final round – in person

Category B

Final round – online
The participants in this category have to submit a raw video recording of them performing :

1) One of the following pieces, previously chosen by the candidate:
• Joseph Edouard Barat – Piece en sol mineur
• Arthur Coquard – Melodie et scherzetto
• Gaetano Donizetti – Clarinet Concertino in B flat major

2) A piece (max. length – 10 mins) chosen by the candidate.

The video recording can be made with a camera or phone, in a FullHD 1080p or higher resolution.
The recording device needs to be between 5 and 10 meters away from the performer.
The performer’s fingers should be visible/not hidden by a sheet stand (or anything else).
There shouldn’t be any pauses or cuts in the recording between the different pieces or movements.
The video recording is to be submitted within the registration form along with all other necessary documents.

Category C

Round I – online
The participants in this category have to submit a raw video recording of them performing :

1) One of the following pieces, previously chosen by the candidate:
• Alamiro Giampieri – Il carnavale di Venezia
• Charles Marie Widor – Introduction et Rondo op.72 for clarinet and piano
• Ernest Chausson – Andante et Allegro
• Eugène Bozza – Fantaisie Italien
• Gioachino Rossini – Variations for clarinet and orchestra in C- Major
• Henri Rabaud – Solo de Concours
• Witold Lutosławski – Dance preludes

2) One of the following pieces, previously chosen by the candidate:
• Béla Kovács – Hommage á J.S.Bach (A clarinet required)
• Béla Kovács – Hommage a M. de Falla (A clarinet required)
• Martian Negrea – Martie
• Krzysztof Penderecki – Prelude for Solo Clarinet
• Ante Grgin – Capriccio for clarinet solo
• Luciano Berio – Lied for Clarinet

Final round – live in Sofia
Carl Maria von Weber – Concertinо in E-flat Major, Opus 26

Category D

Round I – online
The participants in this category have to submit a raw video recording of them performing :

1) André Messager – Solo de concours

2) One of the following pieces, previously chosen by the candidate:
• Igor Stravinsky – Three Pieces for solo clarinet (A clarinet required)
• Heinrich Sutermeister – Capriccio (A clarinet required)
• Gaetano Donizetti – Studio Primo for clarinet solo
• Olivier Messiaen – Abîme des oiseaux, Quatuor pour la fin du temps
• Béla Kovács – Hommage a R.Strauss

3) One of the following pieces, previously chosen by the candidate:
• Francis Poulenc – Sonata for clarinet and piano
• Paul Hindemith – Sonata for clarinet and piano
• Camille Saint-Saëns – Clarinet Sonata, Op. 167
• Robert Schumann – Drei Fantasiestücke
• Leonard Bernstein – Sonata for Clarinet and Piano
• Bohuslav Martinů – Sonatina for Clarinet and Piano
• Joseph Horovitz – Sonatina for Clarinet

Final round – live in Sofia
Carl Maria von Weber – Clarinet Сoncerto No. 1 in F minor, Opus 73

Category E

Round I – online
The participants in this category have to submit a raw video recording of them performing :

1) Claude Debussy – Première rhapsodie

2) One of the following pieces, previously chosen by the candidate:
• Bruno Bettinelli – Studio da Concerto
• Bruno Mantovani – Bug
• Edison Denisov – Sonata for clarinet solo
• Franco Donatoni – Clair for clarinet solo
• Jörg Widmann – Fantasie for clarinet solo
• Luciano Berio – Sequenza IX for clarinet solo
• Pierre Boulez – Domaines
• Tiberiu Olah – Sonata for clarinet solo
• Valentino Bucchi – Concerto for clarinet solo

Round II – live in Sofia
1) One of the following pieces, previously chosen by the candidate:
• Johannes Brahms – Sonata No.1 in F Minor op. 120 for clarinet and piano
• Johannes Brahms – Sonata No.2 in E-flat Major op. 120 for clarinet and piano

2) One of the following pieces, previously chosen by the candidate:
• Luigi Bassi – Fantasia da concerto su motivi del “Rigoletto” di G. Verdi
• Donato Lovreglio – Fantasia da concerto su motivi de “La Traviata” di G. Verdi
• Pablo de Sarasate – Carmen fantasy (arranged by Nicolas Baldeyrou)
• Gioachino Rossini – Introduction, Theme and Variations in B-flat Major
• Jean Francaix – Tema con variazioni
• Eugène Bozza – Bucolique

Final round – live in Sofia
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Clarinet Сoncerto in A major, K.622

CONDITIONS

Every participant has to provide an accompanist for the recordings of pieces accompanied by piano.
Recordings in which the piano part is previously recorded (playback) won’t be accepted.
For the live (in person) rounds in Sofia, piano accompanists will be provided free of charge by the Competition.
The order of appearance of the candidates will be determined by drawing lots.
Candidates will be performing the pieces in an order of their choosing.
The live (in person) rounds of categories C, D and E will take place live in Sofia in the period 20.01.2023 – 24.01.2023

Playing by heart is not mandatory.

REGISTRATION

Candidates can register online at /clarinetcompetition.savadimitrov.com/ by filling out the registration form and submitting it along with all of the required documents.
A submission is considered successful only after the full set of documents and confirmation of paid fees, is received.
Accepted candidates will receive an email confirmation for participation.

Category B (online) – Submissions close on November 20th 2022.

Category C (online, in person) – Submissions close on November 20th 2022.
Participants who are going through to the live rounds in Sofia will be notified via email. Participants who are NOT continuing in the Competition will also be notified and they’ll receive their exact results along with the Jury feedback of their performance via email, during the broadcast of the online rounds.

Category D (online, in person) – Submissions close on November 20th 2022.
Participants who are going through to the live rounds in Sofia will be notified via email. Participants who are NOT continuing in the Competition will also be notified and they’ll receive their exact results along with the Jury feedback of their performance via email, during the broadcast of the online rounds.

Category E (online, in person) – – Submissions close on November 20th 2022.
Participants who are going through to the live rounds in Sofia will be notified via email. Participants who are NOT continuing in the Competition will also be notified and they’ll receive their exact results along with the Jury feedback of their performance via email, during the broadcast of the online rounds.

When registering in Sofia participants will be asked to provide official identification.

REGISTRATION DOCUMENTS

1) Photo
2) Copy of passport or ID card
3) Short bio
4) Bank confirmation of payed fees
5) Video recordings of the candidate

RESULTS

Results of the online rounds will be shared in the week of the online broadcast.
Results of the live rounds will be published after jury consideration following every round.

REGISTRATION FEES

Category B – € 90

Category C – € 120

Category D – € 150

Category Е – € 180

BANK DETAILS

Prof. Sava Dimitrov Foundation Raiffeisen BANK Bulgaria
IBAN: BG92RZBB91551010811748 SWIFT/BIC: RZBBBGSF
Address: 11 Slaveikov sqr. Sofia, Bulgaria
1000 Bulgaria

The Competition only accepts bank transfers. There’s a strict no-refund policy.
When filling out the bank transfer order, applicants must put down their name and the following reason for the transfer: “Participation fee for the ‘Sava Dimitrov’ International Clarinet Competition”.

RANKING

Аssessment of the performances is carried out according to a point system, guaranteeing maximum fairness. The ranking of the candidates is determined by the highest score in descending order.
Candidates will receive additional information about their performance.

PRIZES

Category В

First prize – € 500
Second prize – € 400
Third prize – € 300

Category C

First prize – € 750
Second prize – € 600
Third prize – € 500

Category D

First prize – € 1000 + Buffet Crampon ‘Tradition’ Bb clarinet
Second prize – € 800
Third prize – € 600

Category Е

First prize – € 1500 + Buffet Crampon ‘Légende’ Bb clarinet
Second prize – € 1250
Third prize – € 1000

All cash prizes are before tax.

Prizes are awarded by the jury in each category, based on the performance of the participants during the Competition.
Prizes are one per location and cannot be shared. Cash prizes will be paid by bank transfer after the Competition is over and the laureates of category C, D and E have participated in the final concert.
In case of non-participation, the laureate will lose their prize and its monetary equivalent.
The jury has the right at its discretion not to award all prizes.
The organizers may determine additional cash prizes and award gifts from sponsors.

AWARD CEREMONY

The diplomas of the awarded participants will be presented during the award ceremony and the concert of the laureates (with a symphony orchestra) at the end of the Competition.

THE JURY

The selection of the Jury members is based on their international acclaim in the field of music, regardless of racial, ideological, political or linguistic considerations. The work of the Jury is organized according to previously adopted rules formulated by the Organizing Committee.
Jury decisions are final and may not be appealed.
Accepting the rules for participation in the Competition, all applicants are obliged to accept and not challenge these decisions.

RIGHTS

Participants waive all and any rights to audio/video recordings, radio/television or web broadcasts of the public sessions of the Competition and further use of photos or videos made during the Competition.
The participation of the laureates in the final concert is mandatory.
The winners of the Competition participate in the final concert without
remuneration.

BROADCAST

By participating in the Competition, candidates agree to the following:
The organizers reserve the right to make audio and video recordings and photographs and to broadcast via radio, television or the Internet, all rehearsals, Competition rounds and concerts. Candidates and their accompanists are not entitled to claim remuneration for these recordings.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

All applicants’ hotel, transport and food costs are at their own expense.
Outside the Competition, the program includes a concert by the members of the Jury and one concert of the laureates of categories C, D and E with a symphony orchestra.
If a special written visa invitation is required, applicants must request it from the Organizing Committee.
The Organizing Committee of the International Clarinet Competition is not responsible for the expenses of the candidates in case of illness and/or accident during their stay.
The Organizing Committee is not responsible for lost or stolen personal belongings, documents or musical instruments on the territory of the Competition.
The Organizing Committee reserves the right to change the conditions of the Competition.