The 2019 percussion competition of the 74th Concours de Genève invites applications until 2 May 2019. Video preselection takes place on 3–4 June, followed by registration in Geneva on 9 November and public rounds on 11–21 November. The main in-person competition runs from 9 to 21 November 2019.
Calendar: from preselection to the final
| Date in 2019 | Stage | Requirements and activities |
|---|---|---|
| 2 May | Application deadline | Online application, video, proposed programme and supporting documents |
| 3–4 June | Preliminary round / video preselection | Closed assessment of submitted recordings |
| By 30 June | Selection notification | Selected candidates will receive an official invitation |
| 15 July | Final programme deadline | Last date for candidates to change their proposed programme |
| 9 November | Welcome and official registration in Geneva | Registration, information and the performance schedule |
| 11–12 November | First round: Recital I | First public round |
| 15–16 November | Second round: Recital II | Second public round |
| 18 November | Third round: semi-final | Solo and chamber music, including electronics |
| 21 November | Fourth round: final with orchestra | Victoria Hall; solo performances from 18:00 and concertos from 21:00 |
| 22–24 November | Masterclasses after the competition | Places are available to four selected competitors |
Eligibility and application rules
- Eligible percussionists must be born after 30 October 1989, regardless of nationality or gender. Former first-prize winners in the same Geneva discipline cannot enter again.
- The non-refundable entry fee is CHF 250.
- The application requires proof of age, a short CV, two recent photographs, the programme for every round, the preliminary-round video, a signed statement of the recording’s authenticity, and technical requirements for each work.
- Video recordings must be less than 12 months old. Each work must be recorded in full without cuts, with a fixed frontal view showing the performer and instruments. Separate works or movements must be submitted as separate files. Recordings from different places or dates are permitted if the recording conditions are met.
- Candidates must attend official registration. Performance order is organized around repertoire and instrumentation rather than a general draw, and may change between rounds.
- Original scores are required. The organizer provides instruments and technical staff; candidates may propose their own instruments, subject to approval. The official bass clarinettists are required for the semi-final.
Rounds and repertoire
This is a percussion competition encompassing marimba, vibraphone, multi-percussion, electronics and orchestral performance. The limits below are the maximum numbers permitted in each round.
| Stage | Candidate/time limit | Required programme |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary video round | Video selection | One work from the keyboard list and one from the multi-percussion list |
| Recital I | Up to 40 candidates; 23 minutes | One listed keyboard work and one of three multi-percussion options |
| Recital II | Up to 16; 30 minutes | Michael Jarrell: Entlehnungen, commissioned for solo marimba; a listed multi-percussion work; one or more freely chosen works without electronics. The latter two components have a combined maximum of 20 minutes |
| Semi-final | Up to 6; approximately 40 minutes | Pierre Jodlowski: I.T., commissioned for percussion, bass clarinet and electronics, approximately 15 minutes; a free solo programme of up to 25 minutes, with electronics permitted |
| Final | 3 candidates; up to 45 minutes | A free solo programme of up to 25 minutes, with electronics and/or video permitted; Peter Eötvös: Speaking Drums, approximately 20 minutes, with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande conducted by Julien Leroy |
Candidates may choose the order of their pieces within each round and reuse preliminary-round repertoire in later rounds.
Prescribed selection lists
The preliminary keyboard choices are F. Donatoni: Omar I and/or II; P. Hurel: Loops II or Loops IV; M. Matalon: Short Stories; B. Mantovani: Moi, jeu…; and Y. Sueyoshi: Mirage.
Recital I additionally allows P. Manoury: Solo de Vibraphone; A. Miyoshi: Ripple; J. M. López López: Calculo Secreto; K. H. Stockhausen: Vibra Elufa; E. Denisov: Schwarze Wolken; Y. Taïra: Convergence I; A. Viñao: Khan Variations; and F. Martin: Encore le Style de l’Acier. Its Donatoni option is Omar I or II.
The multi-percussion options shared by the preliminary round and Recital I are I. Xenakis: Rebonds A and B; K. Volans: She Who Sleeps with a Small Blanket; and M. Ishii: Thirteen Drums. These are the only multi-percussion choices for Recital I.
The preliminary round also allows the following works, which form the Recital II multi-percussion selection list:
- F. Durieux: Incidences
- M. Jarrell: Assonance VII
- H. Parra: Mineral Life
- Y. Taïra: Monodrame I
- J. Torres: Proteus
- K. H. Stockhausen: Zyklus
- I. Xenakis: Psappha
- J. Wood: Rogosanti
- H. Lachenmann: Intérieur I
- B. Ferneyhough: Bone Alphabet
- N. Fukushi: Ground
Jury
Official jury
| Member | Country designation in the organizer’s list | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Philippe Spiesser | France | President |
| Daniel Druckman | USA | Member |
| Fritz Hauser | Switzerland | Member |
| Aiyun Huang | Taiwan / Canada | Member |
| Marta Klimasara | Poland / Germany | Member |
| Isao Nakamura | Japan / Germany | Member |
| Hèctor Parra | Spain | Member |
Preselection jury
Philippe Spiesser, Alexandre Babel, Colin Currie, Gilles Durot and Isao Nakamura will assess the video preselection.
The rules require abstention for a juror’s regular students from the preceding two years, or students due to join them within six months; that restriction does not apply in the final. Jurors must not communicate with competitors or their entourage during the competition. The president’s vote counts twice in a tie. The jury first ranks the finalists, then decides whether to award a first prize; not all prizes are guaranteed.
Prizes and career support
| Official prize | Amount specified in the rules |
|---|---|
| First prize | CHF 20,000 |
| Second prize | CHF 12,000 |
| Third prize | CHF 8,000 |
The rules also specify CHF 1,500 for the Audience Prize, CHF 1,000 for the Young Audience Prize and CHF 1,000 for the Students Prize. The Yamaha Young Artists Scholarship offers two chamber concerts with the percussion section of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra. The Bergerault prize provides a five-octave marimba valued at EUR 16,000.
The career-development programme includes two years of concert management through Promusica-Genève, recordings, international tours, a festival and a professional workshop.
Practical support
On request and subject to availability, competitors may stay with host families without an accommodation charge. While still competing, they receive two CHF 20 meal vouchers per day and free Geneva public transport through their competition pass. Eligible semi-finalists and finalists may have 50% of travel costs reimbursed, capped at CHF 700; this excludes travel from Switzerland or within 300 km of Geneva.
Official 2019 page · Complete rules and programme PDF · Instrument list