The International Music Festival in Vienna Concerto Competition is a musical feast specially crafted for young violin and cello performers from around the world. We believe that each participant is a seeker of art, and their music not only carries their personal dreams but also reflects an immense love for classical music. The competition is divided into three rounds, where contestants will showcase their talent and skills amidst fierce competition.
The first round is a video pre-selection, where participants are required to submit performance videos of two pieces. The second round will take place live, where contestants will perform classical concertos accompanied by piano. The third round is the highly anticipated concerto competition, where contestants will perform on stage with a symphony orchestra from Vienna.
Our goal is not only to select winners but also to provide every participant with an opportunity to showcase themselves, perform alongside masters, and learn from one another. Here, we encourage every contestant to challenge themselves and create their own unique musical story.
We welcome all young musicians to join this artistic journey. No matter where you are, the power of music will bring us closer together.
Online Registration
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I. Competition Overview
I-1 First Round: Preliminary Round
Video Submission
Registration Dates: March 31, 2025 – June 15, 2025
Results Announcement: June 25, 2025
After the first round, 8 violinists and 8 cellists will advance to the second round.
I-2 Second Round: On-site Competition
Piano Accompaniment
Competition Date: July 30, 2025
Venue: Salon Karlsplatz, Vienna
Adr.: Karlsplatz 5, 1010 Vienna
Results Announcement: Immediately after the competition
After the second round, 3 violinists and 3 cellists will advance to the final Concerto Competition.
I-3 Finals
with orchestra
Competition Date: August 3, 2025
Venue: Ehrbar Saal, Vienna
Adr.: Mühlgasse 28-30, 1040 Vienna
II.
Open to violin and cello professionals;
Participants must be under the age of 26, with no restrictions on nationality.
III. Registration
III-1
Online application including video submissions
III-2
Registration must be submitted online.
III-3
Contestants must submit a complete list of pieces during registration and confirm that the selected repertoire complies with the competition regulations.
III-4
Contestants are required to provide the link to the video audition for the first round during registration.
III-5
Contestants must submit personal information and a complete repertoire list during registration and confirm that all provided information is accurate.
III-6
Any other forms of registration or materials that do not meet the requirements of this announcement will not be considered.
IV. Repertoire Requirements
IV-1 First Round: Video
Participants must submit complete performance videos of the following two pieces:
Bach: Unaccompanied Violin Sonatas and Partitas (Choose one work that meets the competition standards for unaccompanied performance):
- Violin: Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin
- Cello: Six Cello Suites
Virtuosic Etudes (Participants may freely choose a piece that meets the technical difficulty.)
After the video audition, the jury will select 8 violinists and 8 cellists to advance to the second round.
Video Requirements：
- Participants are required to ensure clear sound and stable picture, and are recommended to use high-quality recording equipment and high-definition camera equipment.
- It must be a one-time complete recording, splicing and editing are prohibited.
- Piano accompaniment is allowed. Both the accompanist and the soloist must be present in the video frame.
IV-2 Second Round: On-site Competition (Piano Accompaniment)
Contestants must choose one piece to perform from the following designated repertoire：
Violin Piece Options (Choose one):
- Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64, First Movement
- Bach: Violin Concerto in A Minor, BWV 1041, First Movement
- Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major, K. 219, First Movement
Cello Piece Options (Choose one):
- Haydn: Cello Concerto in C Major, No. 1, First Movement
- Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B Minor, Op. 104, First Movement
- Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 33
（Performing Variations I, II, VI, and VII only）
After the second round, the jury will select 3 violinists and 3 cellists to advance to the final round.
Important Information for the Second Round：
- Performances will be accompanied by an official designated pianist, and contestants are not allowed to change the accompanist.
- For the second round, contestants are required to choose one designated piece to perform, and the repertoire must be provided during registration.
- Each contestant can only choose once, and the draw result cannot be changed.
IV-3 Final Round of the Concerto Competition (with Orchestra)
- 3 violinists and 3 cellists will perform the same piece from the second round, accompanied by the Orchestra in Vienna.
- Each contestant will have 40 minutes of rehearsal time with the orchestra on August 1st to adjust to the ensemble.
- The final round of the competition will take place in the form of a public concert, with the jury scoring live on-site.
V. Awards
V.-1 Prize
- First Prize for Violin: 800 EUR
- First Prize for Cello: 800 EUR
- Other participants will receive an honorary certificate and a commemorative gift.
V.-2 Award Ceremony
Date and Time: August 4, 2025, 09:00
Venue: Wiener Musikverein - Brahms Saal
Address: Musikvereinspl. 01, 1010 Vienna
Important Information：
- All award winners must complete the prize collection procedure at the award ceremony on August 4, 2025. Failure to collect the prize on time will be considered as a forfeiture, and the prize will be handled according to the decision of the competition committee.
- The prize is non-transferable and must be collected by the winner in person.
- Tax Responsibility：The award winners are responsible for paying any taxes related to their prize money. The competition organizers will not withhold any taxes. Winners must declare and pay the applicable taxes in accordance with the tax laws of their respective regions.
VI. Award Ceremony
Date and Time: August 4, 2025, 09:00
Venue: Wiener Musikverein - Brahms Saal
Address: Musikvereinspl. 01, 1010 Vienna
Important Information for the Award Ceremony：
Dress Code:
1. The ceremony is a formal occasion. All attendees are required to wear formal attire (e.g., evening gowns, suits, etc.).
2. Please maintain a dignified appearance to reflect the solemnity and respect of the ceremony.
Award Ceremony Process:
1. The ceremony will proceed according to the planned schedule, and all award winners will be called up to the stage to receive their prizes.
2. Each award winner will be briefly introduced before taking
Photography and Videography
1. A professional photography team will be present during the ceremony. Please be aware of the photography equipment in the venue.
2. During the ceremony, kindly refrain from using personal cameras or smartphones for photography, in order to avoid obstructing the view of others and disrupting the proceedings.
For Winners Unable to Attend
If a winner is unable to attend the award ceremony in person, the award certificate will not be reissued, and the prize money cannot be collected. Winners are kindly requested to ensure their attendance arrangements are made in advance.
VII. Data Protection
- By registering for the competition, candidates grant the “International Music Festival in Vienna” organizing committee, as the competition organizer and data transmission controller, the right to process their personal data and capture photos/videos of the participants for promotional and display purposes.
- Candidates agree to comply with relevant Austrian laws and the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
- Candidates who are selected for the competition agree to the use of their photos, videos, or other materials for any form of promotion and distribution, including but not limited to: print media, social media, advertisements, etc., without time limitation.
- Selected candidates agree to sign a document stating that they have no objections to the organizer and/or any radio stations, television stations, or websites involved during the competition, broadcasting competition videos via electronic, radio, or television channels, and using their image for promotional and advertising purposes, including but not limited to: awards, collaborations, sponsorships, marketing, etc.
VIII. Data Processing
The organizing committee of the International Music Festival in Vienna, as the owner of personal data processing, hereby informs participants in accordance with EU Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR) that data will be processed in both paper and electronic formats for the purpose of managing the various stages of this announcement.