Open to all talented instrumentalists from all over the world without the need to travel. Embracing the idea of total inclusion, in terms of age, gender, and nationality, Lake Como Virtuoso Competition aims to propose a valid and sustainable alternative to the classic instrumental competition guaranteeing a serious criterion in the evaluation and personal attention to each candidate even in the phase online. The competition aims to offer a real opportunity for artistic growth: the jury will provide feedback to each participant and the winners will be invited to perform live in prestigious institutions such as the Lake Como Festival and the Pianomaster Festival during the 2023 season.
 

All instrumentalists and ensembles, of any nationality, age, or gender, are invited to participate by sending their videos and required documentation by 10 May 2023. The competition is organized in two phases: eliminatory and final, both to be held online.

The jury is made up of well-known musicians from the major musical institutions in the world. Cash prizes will be awarded for a total of €11,000.00; the winners will be able to benefit from media visibility and concrete career opportunities, performing in concerts on Lake Como, one of the most beautiful places in the world.
 

The video review will take place from the opening date of the competition (February 10th, 2023) until the application's closing date (May 10th, 2023, at midnight UTC). The results of the preliminary phase will be communicated by May 15th, 2023, after which each of the selected competitors will have to submit a new video for the final phase, to be sent by May 20th, 2023 at midnight UTC. The results of the final selection and the respective prizes will be communicated by May 30th, 2023.

REGULATIONS

1. STRUCTURE OF THE COMPETITION
The competition is structured in two main phases, ELIMINATORY, and FINAL;

1.1 The ELIMINATORY phase starts on February the 10th 2023 and ends on May the 10th 2023 at Midnight UTC. It consists of the examination of TWO videos and candidate’s CVs;
1.2 The FINAL phase will take place from May the 15th 2023 until May the 30th 2023 with the publication of the final results. It consists of the examination of ONE extra video;
Please check the Appendix A at the bottom of the page for requirements regarding the videos.

2. CATEGORIES
The competition is organized into two categories: instrumentalists and ensembles.
2.1 INSTRUMENTALISTS
2.1.1 the category is open to musicians performing on any acoustic instrument, without age, gender, or nationality limits;
2.1.2 any style is admitted, with or without accompaniment;
2.2 ENSEMBLES
2.2.1 the category is open to any ensemble from duet to nonet, without age, gender, or nationality limits;
2.2.2 any combination of instruments and any style is admitted, with or without accompaniment;

 

3. REPERTOIRE
3.1 there are no limits in the choice of the repertoire, but please note that the pieces should be intended and performed without the use of amplification or the accompaniment of electronic devices and/or instruments;
3.2 the music performed must be written. Improvisation is not allowed except for cadenzas, embellishments, and basso continuo;

 

4. JURY
4.1 the jury will be composed of the following members:

Maurizio Moretta (Italy) – Concert Pianist, Artistic Director of the Festival Pianomaster – Lake Como
Liu Zhaolu (China) - Concert Bassoonist, Director of the Orchestral Department of Shanghai Conservatory of Music
Aiman Mussakhajayeva (Kazakhstan) – Concert Violinist, Professor at the Kazakhstan National University of Arts, Astana
Enrico Copede (Austria) – President of CD Opera Production – Austria
Juan Navarro (Spain) – Orchestra conductor, Music Director Almeria University Orchestra
Claudio Vandelli (Germany) – Music Director Würth Philharmonic Orchestra

4.2 The judgment of the Jury is definitive. The Jury has the right not to award the 1st category prize if it deems the level of the competitors inadequate. The organization reserves the right to replace one or more jurors due to force majeure or to add them, communicating it on the site at any time.

5. PRIZES
ALL THE CONCERT PRIZES WILL BE SCHEDULED DURING THE 2023 SEASON
 

Soloists (instrumentalists):
First prize: 3 Concerts at Lake Como + 3000€ :
1 Concert as a soloist with the Lake Como Orchestra in the 2023 concert season
1 Concert at the Festival Pianomaster with piano accompaniment or a Piano solo recital, season 2023
1 Concerto at the Festival Lake Como with piano accompaniment or a Piano solo recital, season 2023
Second prize: 2 Concerts at Lake Como + 2000€ :
1 Concert as a soloist with the Lake Como Orchestra in the 2023 concert season
1 Concert at the Festival Pianomaster with piano accompaniment or a Piano solo recital, season 2023
Third prize: 1 Concert at Lake Como + 1000€ :
1 Concert at the Festival Lake Como with piano accompaniment or a Piano solo recital, season 2023

Ensembles:
First prize: 2 Concerts at Lake Como + 2500€ :
1 Concert at the Festival Lake Como, season 2023
1 Concert at the Festival Pianomaster, season 2023 
Second prize: 1 Concert at the Festival Pianomaster, season 2023 + 1500€
Third prize: 1 Concert at the Festival Lake Como + 1000€

SPECIAL PRIZES
The Lake Como Academy Association may choose to invite, at its discretion, one or more musicians (instrumentalists or ensembles) to perform in a concert in the 2023-2024 season at a prestigious European concert institution.

6. APPLICATION
6.1 to get registered the candidates must send the following documents through the application form at the bottom of this page:

• Filled in and signed application form

• Copy of a valid ID document

• Curriculum Vitae

• Short Bio

• Links to the videos

• 1 candidate’s choice photo

• Payment receipt of the application fee

6.2 the documents must be sent by Midnight UTC on May the 10th 2023 through the application form at the bottom of this page;
6.3 should you meet any technical issues or should you have any questions, please contact us via email at virtuoso.lakecomo@gmail.com

 

7. APPLICATION FEES
7.1 soloists (instrumentalists): € 85;
7.2 ensembles: € 25 for each member of the ensemble;

8. PAYMENT
8.1 the payment can be done through bank transfer, Paypal, or credit card (through Paypal);
8.2 details for the payment:
 

BANK ACCOUNT:
ACCOUNT HOLDER: Associazione Culturale Lake Como Academy
IBAN: IT64Y0623022900000015342645
BIC/SWIFT: CRPPIT2PXXX
PAYMENT REFERENCE: Name & Surname – APPLICATION VIRTUOSO – Soloist or Ensemble

(please note: the transfer expenses are to be charged to the payer);

PAYPAL:




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(please note: payment through Paypal includes a commission fee)

 

9. COPYRIGHT AND FINAL PROVISIONS
9.1 the competition is a media event that could be recorded and broadcast on the web and other media. Submitting their application the competitors authorize the direction of the competition to the use of their image either through photographs and audio/video that can be broadcasted online or on traditional media like radio, television, etc.;
9.2 submitting their application the candidates also authorize the organization to use their name and image in printed publications related to the competition;
9.3 by submitting their application, candidates declare that they unquestionably accept all the rules and results;
9.3 the organization expects candidates to be available for interviews, photo shoots, and any other activity designed to make the competition interesting for the media;
9.4 the application and participation fee will not be refunded for any reason, except for the cancellation of the competition; for any legal dispute, the competent forum is Lecco’s (Italy).


APPENDIX A: VIDEO DETAILS
A.1 the videos aim is to illustrate to the jury the candidate’s skills and technique and will be analyzed together with the CVs in order to have the most accurate opinion on the candidate’s abilities;
A.2 for the Eliminatory phase, the candidates have to attach links to two videos of a performance of two contrasting character pieces (for example one Allegro and one Adagio or a Romance and a Cabaletta) from any historical period;
A.3 two contrasting movements of the same piece are allowed;
A.4 for the Final phase, the selected candidates have to send one another video, different from the ones sent before;

All videos must have the following features:
A.5 each video has to be at least 2 minutes long;
A.6 videos must be played in streaming mode (no download should be requested);
A.7 videos can be private or public as long as they can be viewed by the entire jury without any restrictions;
A.8 the candidates must send one single link for each video;
A.9 no specific streaming platform is required, any of the most common are permitted (for example Youtube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, Youku, etc.) however the video should be played by an ordinary computer running a Windows or a Mac system;
A.10 the jury will be watching at least a few minutes of each video in order to be able to make a proper evaluation; nonetheless, it is up to each jury member whether to watch an entire video or just a part of it;