The Haydn Instrumental Competition is an international contest dedicated to discovering and nurturing young musical talent, in honor of the great classical music master Joseph Haydn. We offer a platform for music enthusiasts from around the world to showcase their talents. The competition covers multiple solo and ensemble categories, including strings, piano, and is divided into professional and age groups, ensuring that every participant can perform in a fair and equal environment.
Haydn Prize: To honor those who demonstrate exceptional performance of Haydn's works, we have established the Haydn Prize, with a cash award of 1,000 EUR. This special prize is given to participants who display a profound understanding and brilliant interpretation of Haydn’s music.
Authoritative Jury: We have invited top musicians and educators from around the world to form the judging panel. They will provide professional and sincere feedback and guidance to each participant.
Generous Awards: In addition to the regular prizes, we have a range of prizes and performance opportunities, supporting every outstanding participant in their musical journey.
International Stage: The competition provides participants with the opportunity to compete alongside musical talents from all over the world, helping them expand their international horizons and spark more creative inspiration.
The Haydn Instrumental Competition is not just a contest, but an artistic exchange platform. Here, music knows no boundaries, and talent can blossom. We sincerely invite you to join us and, together with music lovers from around the globe, experience the charm of Haydn’s music and write your own musical story.
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I. Competition Overview
I-1 Preliminary Round
Video Submission
Registration Dates: March 31, 2025 – June 15, 2025
Results Announcement: June 25, 2025
I-2 On-site Competition
Competition Date: August 3, 2025
Venue: Ehrbar Saal, Vienna
Adr.: Mühlgasse 28-30, 1040 Vienna
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.
II. Competition Categories
II-1 Solo Categories
- Strings
- Piano
II-2 Chamber Music and Ensemble Categories
- Chamber Music
- Orchestra (no limit on the number of members, including string orchestras, symphony orchestras, traditional folk orchestras, etc.)
III. Registration Method
III-1
Any other forms of registration or materials that do not meet the requirements of this announcement will not be considered.
III-2
Registration must be submitted online.
IV. Group and Repertoire
- The competition is divided into two main categories: Solo Categories and Ensemble Categories.
- Each category has age groups and professional groups. The professional group refers to full-time students from music conservatories, university music departments, talent programs, and preparatory courses.
- Participants may not register for both an age group and a professional group simultaneously; they must choose one category.
- For the ensemble categories, if a professional group participant is involved, the ensemble will be considered as a professional group.
Important Information：
- No repertoire changes are allowed within 30 days prior to the competition.
- f the performed piece on stage does not match the repertoire submitted during registration, the participant's score will be disqualified.
- Participants performing pop music or jazz will not receive any points.
- Participants whose repertoire does not meet the period requirements will not receive any points.
- If a participant exceeds the performance time limit, the jury has the right to randomly request a portion of the piece to be performed or to stop the performance midway. This will not affect the score.
- Solo participants must perform from memory (except for piano accompaniment). Failure to memorize will result in a 20% deduction from the total score.
- Chamber music and orchestra participants are not required to perform from memory.
- Participants must perform the pieces in the order listed and cannot make adjustments on their own.
- Repetition is only allowed in sections marked with D.C. (Da Capo) and D.S. (Dal Segno); other repetitions are not permitted.
- If a participant exceeds the time limit, the jury has the right to stop the performance or request a section to be played. This will not affect the scoring.
V. Awards
V-1 Base Prizes
Solo Categories - Professional Group
Group A
- First Prize: 200 EUR
- Second Prize: 150 EUR
- Third Prize: 100 EUR
Group B
- First Prize: 300 EUR
- Second Prize: 200 EUR
- Third Prize: 100 EUR
Group C
- First Prize: 800 EUR
- Second Prize: 500 EUR
- Third Prize: 300 EUR
Important Information：
To receive the corresponding prize, participants or ensembles must meet the following score requirements:
- First Prize: 95 points and above
- Second Prize: 93 points and above
- Third Prize: 92 points and above
If the score of a participant or ensemble does not meet the required threshold, they will not be eligible for the prize money.
In exceptional cases, if a participant demonstrates outstanding performance, the jury may decide at their discretion whether to award additional prizes or adjust the prize distribution.
V-2 Additional Prize Pool
To reward particularly outstanding participants, an additional prize pool of 1,000 EUR will be established for each instrument. This prize pool will be allocated based on the following criteria:
- Overall Performance: Participants will be assessed based on their overall performance and level of excellence.
- High Scoring Participants: If any participant achieves a score of 98 points or above, they will receive an additional reward.
- Category Balance: If some categories have fewer awardees, the prize money may be allocated to other categories to ensure fair distribution.
The distribution of this additional prize pool will be decided by the jury to ensure fairness and rationality in the awards.
V-3 Ensemble Category
- First Prize: 800 EUR/group
- Second Prize: 500 EUR/group
- Third Prize: 300 EUR/group
V-4 Haydn Award
A special Haydn Prize has been established, with a prize of 1,000 EUR, specifically awarded to the participant who demonstrates the most outstanding performance in playing a work by Haydn.
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.