Competition terms and conditions
A.G. BAKHCHIEV INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION OF PIANO DUOS
«Two at the Piano»
1 – 3 May, 2025
THE COMPETITION WILL BE HELD IN FULL-TIME AND REMOTE FORM
FOUNDERS OF THE COMPETITITON
Department of Culture and of Historic and Cultural Heritage of the City of Vologda
The All-National Association of Piano Duos
The Vologda Regional V.A. Gavrilin State Philharmony
V.P. Trifonov Children’s School of Music of the City of Vologda
Support Fund for Musicians of Russia, USA, New York.
COMPETITION GOALS
The A.G. BAKHCHIEV International Piano Duet Competition «Two at the Piano» promotes the creative environment for identifying and supporting talented musicians striving for professional improvement in the field of ensemble performance.
CONDITIONS OF THE COMPETITION
Competition is open to piano ensembles for three, four, six, eight hands piano or for two pianos from all countries of the world and of any age are invited to participate in the competition.
Category I «Junior performers»
Within Category I, participants are divided into the following age groups:
• Group «A» – age 9 and under;
• Group «B» – ages 10 to 11;
• Group «C» – ages 11 to 12;
• Group «D» – ages 13 to 14;
• Group «E» – ages 14 to 15.
Category II «Teacher-student»
The student’s age is up to 15 years.
Category III «Young performers»
• Group «A» – ages 16 to 17;
• Group «B» – ages 18 to 19;
• Group «C» – ages 20 to 24.
The age of the participants is determined at the start of the competition. Age category of ensemble is defined based on the birth date of its older participant.
Category VI «Professionals»
Age of participants – from 25 years and older (without limitation)
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
The program of the contestants must consist of works for a piano ensemble of any composition – in 3, 4, 6, 8 hands or for two pianos.
Category I
Program of free choice (2-3 pieces).
Category II
Program of free choice (2-3 pieces).
Category III
Program of free choice of a total duration of 10-15 minutes.
Category IV
Program of free choice of a total duration of 15-20 minutes.
• Participants’ programs can include original works, as well as published arrangements of music for two pianos and for three, four, six, and eight hands piano.
• Participants’ programs should include works of classical or romantic periods.
• Performance of only published compositions is allowed.
• It is not allowed to perform either arrangements of concertos for piano and orchestra, or two-piano arrangements of works originally written for piano four hands.
• Arrangements of jazz and popular pieces are not allowed.
• The jury encourages performance of original works for piano ensemble.
• Sheet music is allowed.
JURY OF THE COMPETITION
For the evaluation of participants of the competition, the organizational committee forms a jury comprising respected musicians – teachers and performers.
Jury president – Merited artist of Russia, Doctor of Arts, professor, president of the All-Russian Association of Piano Duets, President of the All-Russian Association of Piano Duets Elena Gennadyevna SOROKINA.
The jury evaluates performances of the Competition participants based on the video recordings submitted.
Decisions of the jury are final and cannot be appealed.
COMPETITION AWARDS
Winners in every performance category are awarded Diplomas of I, II, and III degree and the title “Laureate of the International Competition”; Diploma of IV degree and the title “Diploma holder of the International Competition.”
Organizational committee establishes special diplomas and awards for the performance of particular pieces, as well as participation diplomas.
The jury reserves the right to identify the winner of the competition who is awarded a Grand-prix (with the respective diploma)
Results will be published on the Competition website on May 3rd, 2025.
The winners’ gala concert will be formed from the best Competition performances. It will be posted on the Competition website.
Diplomas will be sent to the Competition participants via e-mail within a month after the results are announced.
To participate in the competition, the following documents are required:
• application (the form is attached);
• photograph of the ensemble;
• electronic copies of birth certificates;
• links to the videos of the Competition performances posted on the website YouTube;
• a copy of the registration fee payment document.
Documents should be emailed to the electronic address of the competition:
E-mail: bahchiev-competition@mail.ru
Video recordings: technical requirements:
• Each composition included in the concert program is recorded as one file without stopping video recording, without video and audio edits.
• Both amateur and professional video recording can be done.
• Video recordings should distinctly display the keyboard, hands, and faces of all participants.
• Videos are submitted as links to video hosting YouTube. Each video file should contain the full title of the composition being performed, the last name of the composer (and, in case of an arrangement, — the last name of the author of the arrangement), names of the performers and the Competition category.
Application fees:
Category I – 2000 rubles
Category II – 2000 rubles
Category III – 3000 rubles
Category IV– 4000 rubles
Application deadline is April 1, 2025. After the deadline, the applications are submitted with the permission of the organizational committee.
The Organizational Committee reserves the right to make changes to the regulations of the Competition.
CONTACTS
E-mail: bahchiev-competition@mail.ru
