1. Preamble

 

The competition "Les Etoiles du Piano - International Piano Competition of Hauts de France" is organized by the Association "Les Etoiles du Piano", Association law of 1901 under French law, non-profit, recognized as being of general interest (no. w595029207 of April 3, 2017).

 

The 4th edition ofcompetition will take place in Roubaix from November 12 to 18, 2023.

 

2. Organization

 

Registration conditions

The recruitment of candidates is open to pianists of all nationalities meeting the following conditions:

- Be between 18 and 30 years old (date of birth between November 18, 1993 and November 12, 2005)

- Reach a piano level of end of study from a Higher Conservatory of Music or Higher School of Music

​

Registrations are open from February 15 to June 15, 2023 at midnight.
30 applications will be retained after the pre-selection, as well as 10 applications retained on a  liste d'attendance.
The results will be published on the site on July 6, 2023.

​

The   preselection of candidates must be done according to the following conditions:
Send :
- One or more videos of works of your choice, of excellent quality and put(s) online beforehand on youtube or other internet medium. The duration is not limited.
- A biography in French or in English not exceeding 300 words, showing the candidate's career in his higher studies in music.
- The registration form completed and accompanied by the registration fee of €80, to be paid online on the official Competition website.

​

Examination and validation of registrations

The registration fee of 80 € is due when the application file is sent. The application will only be effective after receipt of the registration fees.

The decisions taken by the competition management are sovereign and irrevocable.

The official convocation takes place in July.

In case of withdrawal, candidates are requested to notify the competition management. In this case the registration fees are not refunded.

 

Travel and accommodation costs

Travel costs, as well as visas, are the responsibility of the participants; however an invitation letter may be available upon request.

Free accommodation in a host family with a piano is possible on request.

For the duration of the competition, each host family ensures the transfer of the candidate it accommodates between its residence and the various competition sites.

Candidates who do not wish to be accommodated with a family will have to manage their accommodation at their own expense.

 

Insurance and Civil Liability

The Association "Les Étoiles du Piano", organizer of the competition, holds a "Civil Liability" insurance which covers its own liability in the event of accidents occurring to participants within the framework of the competition, during the duration of the latter. . This insurance does not cover any accompanying persons.

 

3. Organization and conduct of the tests

 

Run order

A public draw defining the order of passage of the candidates, identical for each event of the 4th edition, will take place during the welcome session.

 

Piano tests

The events will take place in the large concert hall of the Roubaix conservatory, which will be equipped with a “Grand Concert Yamaha CFX” piano.

Each candidate will be able to try out the competition piano on stage for 15 minutes before the first round. The schedule will respect the order of the contest draw.

The 5 candidates selected for the final will benefit from an hour of rehearsal with the Orchester de Picardie on Thursday, November 16, 2023.

Before each test, the candidates will benefit from a piano in the dressing room for a preparation time of 20 minutes before entering the stage.

Apart from these 2 scenarios, candidates will also be able to have access to the conservatory's study pianos.

 

Organization and planning of services

Reception of candidates and families: Sunday, November 12, 2023

 

First round  : Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 November 2023

At the end of the test, the competition management will announce the 10 candidates selected by the jury for the 2nd round.

​

Second turn : Wednesday, November 15, 2023

At the end of the test, the competition management will announce the 5 candidates selected by the jury for the final.

​

Rehearsal of the finalists with the Picardy orchestra: Thursday, November 16, 2023

 

Final: Friday, November 17, 2023

 

Gala with the Picardy Orchestra: Saturday, November 18, 2023

​

For each test, the candidates must present themselves at the reception at the latest one hour before their time of passage.

A candidate prevented from performing at the required time will be disqualified unless he justifies his absence in advance to the competition management, which may exceptionally and at its discretion modify the order of performance of the candidates.

Interpretation from memory is compulsory.

The use of photocopied scores is prohibited.

All events are open to the public free of charge, subject to availability.

 

Jury

The jury will be composed of musicians of international stature (see competition website).

The competition management will not accept an application from a student of a member of the jury of the 4th edition.

The jury alone is competent to award the prizes or not. It reserves the right not to award all the prizes if it deems the level of the candidates insufficient.

In the event of a tie, the vote of the president of the jury is decisive and counts double.

The jury is sovereign in its decisions and these are without appeal.

The competition management is in no way responsible for the decisions of the jury. She can neither modify nor cancel them.

During the tests, the members of the jury are not authorized to communicate with the candidates.

​

Program of events: see the page “Program“

​

Announcement of the winners

The winners of the competition are publicly announced by the competition management at the end of the final.

The award ceremony takes place at the beginning of the closing ceremony.

 

Awards 

Total grant: €45,000

1st prize = €20,000

2nd prize = €15,000

3rd prize = €5,000

4th prize = €3,000

5th prize = €2,000

​

Several paid recitals will be offered to the winners in the months following the competition. Travel costs are covered by the association.

 

Closing ceremony

A gala concert followed by a closing cocktail will be organized on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. at the Colisée theater in Roubaix.

The award ceremony will take place during this gala evening.

There attendance of all winnersat the gala concert and at the cocktail party is mandatory.

 

Image rights

Candidates are required to accept all interviews, interviews, videos or promotional meetings related to the competition.

The competition management reserves the right to make or authorize throughout the duration of the tests as well as during the closing ceremony any audio or video recording as well as the taking of any photograph. It also reserves the right to ensure its conservation, communication, for the benefit of the Association "Les Étoiles du piano", as well as to retain ownership.

By the mere fact of their participation in the competition, the winners authorize, free of charge, the Association "Les Étoiles du piano" to use their surname, first name(s), image as well as, where applicable, all other attributes of their personality. , for the purposes of communication relating to the competition exclusively, by all digital and/or analogue methods, on all media, for the entire world and for a period of three (3) years from the start of the competition.

​

Obligations of candidates

Candidates undertake to be free from any other activity whatsoever for the duration of the Competition.

Candidates and any accompanying persons undertake to comply at all times with the instructions issued by the competition management and to strictly respect the rules of use and safety of the premises made available to them.

Registration and participation in the competition entail full acceptance of these rules.

Failure to comply with one or more rules of these rules will result in the disqualification of the candidate, this decision cannot be appealed.

In the event of a dispute, only the Tribunal de Grande Instance of Lille is competent.