With regret and heavy hearts, we are announcing that both the Concerto Competition 2020 and the Summer FREE Concerts @ NEC 2020 will be postponed to 2021. Details will be given in a later date. All buildings at New England Conservatory will be closed till the end of August 2020, canceling all summer programs due to Covid 19 for the safety of all personal concerned. We respect NEC's decision and wish you and yours remain to be safe and healthy, and we pray together that the storm will be over very soon.
General Information and Application
 Application Fee waived for 2020
 updated 04/20/2020
 
ELIGIBILITY:

This competition is open to pianists of all nationalities of age 30 and under as of June 30, 2020. First-prize winner of previous (2019) Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts First Annual International Concerto Competition is not eligible to compete. If passed the Video Preliminary, the applicants should be able to appear in person for the Semi-Final Round and Final Round in Boston. And if chosen as the winner, to participate in all rehearsals and performance.

APPLICATION FEE (waived for 2020):

A non-refundable USD $80 is required for all applicants, payable to Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts, 3 Partridge Lane, Lincoln, MA 01773, USA. It could be paid via paypal or by a bank check.

IMPORTANT DATES:
 
  June 30, 2020 Application Deadline
  July 12, 2020 Video Preliminary results announced
  August 13, 2020 Announcing the required orchestral excerpt (about 5 -7 min) from the the Beethoven Concerto No. 5 to be included in the Semi-Final Round
  August 15, 2020 1 - 5 pm: Semi-Final Round at New England Conservatory's Williams Hall
  August 16, 2020 7:30 - 11 pm: Final Round at New England Conservatory's Williams Hall
  August 19, 2020 7 - 10 pm: Orchestral rehearsal with winner soloist at New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall
  August 21, 2020 7 - 10 pm Orchestral Dress Rehearsal at New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall
  August 22, 2020 7:30 pm: Orchestra Concert at New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall

Awards:
  1. The first prize winner will receive USD $3,000 cash award and performing at New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall with Mercury Orchestra, www.mercuryorchestra.org, the national winner of the 2010 American Prize in Orchestral Performance, and conductor Channing Yu, 2010 American Prize in Orchestral Conducting.
     
  2. The first prize winner will also be invited back to perform a solo recital in the 2021 Summer Concert Series at NEC.
     
  3. The Second prize winner will receive USD $1,000 cash award. By judge's decision, the second prize winner maybe invited back to perform a solo recital in the 2021 Summer Concert Series at NEC.
     
  4. The Third prize winner will receive USD $500 cash award.
     
  5. Those who passed the Video Preliminary and advanced to the Semi-Final Round will receive up to USD $300 reimbursement for travel expenses based on the receipt of his/her airfare, train or bus fare. Upon request, host family stay could be arranged from Thursday August 13 to Monday August 17, and that of the first-prize winner to Sunday August 23, 2020.
Jury Panel: (in alphabetical order) (The judges will not give scores to his/her current students) For Video Preliminary:
  1. Professor Victor Cayres, Eastern Illinois University, New England Conservatory of Music Preparatory USA
  2. Professor Gloria Chien 簡佩盈, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, New York, USA
  3. Professor Grace Chung 鍾曉青, Tainan National University of The Arts, Taiwan 國立台南藝術大學
  4. Dr. Yinfei Wang 王寅飛, Manhattan School of Music, USA
  5. Professor Hong Xu 徐洪, Wuhan Conservatory of Music, China 武漢音樂學院
For Semi – Final and Final Rounds:
  1. Professor Bruce Brubaker, New England Conservatory of Music, USA
  2. Professor Pi-Hsien Chen 陳必先, Hochschule fur Musik Freiburg, Germany
  3. Mr. Richard Dyer, retired music critic of The Boston Globe, USA
  4. Professor Sergey Schepkin, Carnegie Mellon University, New England Conservatory of Music Preparatory, USA
  5. Mr. Channing Yu, Conductor Mercury Orchestra, USA
Official collaborative pianist will be provided for all finalists

Dr. Yinfei Wang, Manhattan School of Music, USA

How to apply:
  1. (Application Fee waived for 2020) Submit a non-refundable USD $80 application fee, payable to Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts, 3 Partridge Lane, Lincoln, MA 01773, USA. Via paypal or a bank check.
     
  2. Email the Application to foundation@chineseperformingarts.net with the following:

    a,   The application form. The application form is available at:  
          http://www.chineseperformingarts.net/contents/concerto/2020/index.html
    b,   Applicant's personal information
    c,   An image of a government issued official proof of birth date, such as the passport
    d,   For applicants who are under 18, the parent/guardian's information and signature are also required
     
  3. Upload the unedited screening videos to YouTube (or Youku for students in China). Provide the links with detailed repertoire information in the application form. The video recording should be prepared from within the past two years.
     
  4. At least two solo pieces of contrasting styles are required, and must include a movement from a classical sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert
     
  5. The total duration of the videos should not exceed 20 minutes. Time for self- introduction does not count. The self - introduction part of the video should include the applicant identifying himself or herself and the titles of the pieces to be played and the composers.
     
  6. The applicant could also choose to include, but not required, a movement of the assigned concerto 2020: Beethoven piano concerto No.5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73. All pieces must be played by memory. The repertoire could be repeated in the Semi-Final Round.
     
  7. The results of the Video Preliminary will be announced by July 12, 2020 through e-mail. Up to ten (with two additional on wait-list) applicants will be invited to the Semi-Final Round on Saturday August 15, 2020 at New England Conservatory's Williams Hall to perform solo pieces by memory, and a required orchestral excerpt (about 5 -7 min) from the concerto, to be announced on August 13, 2020 (two days before the Semi- Final Round) in front of the Jury Panel and audience.
     
  8. The chosen Semi-Finalists should confirm their participation via e-mail no later than July 20, 2020, and provide the repertoire for the Semi-Final Round. A short bio of 200 words or less, and a  photo for  publicity purpose are also required. The Semi-Finalists should indicate whether host family stay is needed. The host family is not responsible for meal, transportation, or practicing piano. Practice rooms will be arranged at New England Conservatory.
     
  9. The requirements of repertoire for the Semi-Final Round include two parts:

    a,      15 to 18 minutes of solo piece(s) of contrasting styles that must include a movement from
             a classical sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert. The repertoire from the video
             preliminary round could be repeated in the Semi-Final Round.
    b,      A required orchestra excerpt (about 5 -7 min) from the Beethoven piano concerto No. 5 in
             E-flat Major, Op. 73 to be announced on August 13 (two days before the Semi-Final Round).
     
  10. If the competitor exceeds the time limit, the Jury panel members have the right to stop the performance.
     
  11. The competitors should arrive New England Conservatory at least two hours prior to the assigned time slot. Warm-up practice room will be provided.
     
  12. All travel and lodging expenses are the applicant's responsibility. The Semi-Finalists will receive up to USD $300 reimbursement for travel expenses based on the receipt of his/her airfare, train or bus fare.
     
  13. The order of appearances at the Semi-Final Round will be the alphabetical order of the Semi-Finalists' last names. The Jury’s decision is final and binding. This event is open to the public.
     
  14. Up to four Finalists will be invited to the Final Round next evening, Sunday August 16, 2020, 7:30 pm to 11 pm at New England Conservatory's Williams Hall in front of the same Jury Panel and audience. This event is open to the public.
     
  15. The order of appearances at the Final Round will be determined by drawing. It will also be the order of rehearsal. Each Finalist will have one hour rehearsal with our official collaborative pianist on Sunday August 16 from 10 am to 12 pm, and from 1 pm to 3 pm, on assigned time slot. Individual practice rooms will be provided.
     
  16. The Finalists will perform the assigned concerto in its entirety from memory, with our official collaborative pianist on the second piano. The result will be announced right after the Final Round. The Jury’s decision is final and binding. This event is open to the public.
     
  17. The first prize winner will start rehearsals and performance with Mercury Orchestra on dates and venues as listed above.
     
  18. By signing the Application and Release Form, the applicant and/or his/her parent/guardian of the applicant agrees to release the Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts 中華表演藝術基金會, the New England Conservatory of Music, the Mercury Orchestra, and their agents and employees from any and all claims, demands, and cause of action on account of any injury, illness, or loss which may occur  during his/her participation in The Second International Concerto Competition, and the Summer Concert  Series at NEC 2020.