Junior Competition
Categories YOUNG ARTIST, JUNIOR, YOUNG TALENT, CHILDREN, YOUNG CHILDREN
Information
for the Junior Competition 2025
The Competition is open to pianists of all nationalities, in the following age categories:
- YOUNG ARTIST category (20 years or younger - born after July 2, 2004)
- JUNIOR category (15 years or under - born after July 1, 2009)
- YOUNG TALENT category (12 years and under - born after June 29, 2012)
- CHILDREN category (10 years and under - born after June 27, 2014)
- YOUNG CHILDREN category ( 8 years or under - born after June 27, 2016)
It is recommended to register in the category corresponding to your age. Candidates may enter one or more categories.
For the YOUNG ARTIST category:
- Closing date for entries: May 1, 2025 at midnight GMT +1
- Submission of video recordings: before May 1, 2025
- Announcement of shortlist: Sunday, May 18, 2025
- Live event: Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at Cagnes-sur-Mer ( France)
For the JUNIOR category :
- Closing date for entries: June 1, 2025 at midnight GMT +1
- Contest: Monday, June 30, 2025 live at Cagnes-sur-Mer ( France)
For the YOUNG TALENT category:
- Closing date for entries: June 1, 2025 at midnight GMT +1
- Contest: Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29, 2025 (a precise schedule will be published in June 2025) live in Cagnes-sur-Mer ( France)
For the CHILDREN category:
- Closing date for entries: June 1, 2025 at midnight GMT +1
- Contest: Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29, 2025 (a precise schedule will be published in June 2025) live in Cagnes-sur-Mer ( France)
For the YOUNG CHILDREN category:
- Closing date for entries: June 1, 2025 at midnight GMT +1
- Contest: Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29, 2025 (a precise schedule will be published in June 2025) live in Cagnes-sur-Mer ( France)
The registration fee depends on the category and must be paid via the procedure described on the Junior - Registration page.
- YOUNG ARTIST category : 80€
- JUNIOR category : 70€
- YOUNG TALENT category : 60€
- CHILDREN category : 50€
- YOUNG CHILDREN category : 40€
It is recommended to register in the category corresponding to your age (see paragraph: "2.1 Entry requirements" of the rules). Candidates may enter one or more categories.
Applications will only be accepted once the full registration fee has been received. Any bank charges or transfer fees are the responsibility of the applicant.
Regulations in French
Rules and regulations
The list of prizes awarded to the winners depends on the category:
YOUNG ARTIST category : 2.500€
- 1st Prize: €1,500
- 2nd Prize: €700
- 3rd Prize: €300
Category JUNIOR : 1.500€
- 1st Prize: €800
- 2nd Prize: €500
- 3rd Prize: €200
YOUNG TALENT category : 550€
- 1st Prize 1st named: €400 (offered by the Lions Club - Cagnes Les Vallées)
- Diplomas 1st Prize
- Diplomas 2nd Prize
- Pierre LANOË Prize: €150
Category CHILDREN : 250€
- 1st Prize 1st named: €150 (offered by the Lions Club - Cagnes Les Vallées)
- Diplomas 1st Prize
- Diplomas 2nd Prize
- Pierre LANOË Prize: €100
YOUNG CHILDREN category: €150
- 1st Prize 1st Nominee: €100 (offered by the Lions Club - Cagnes Les Vallées)
- Diplomas 1st Prize
- Diplomas 2nd Prize
- Pierre LANOË Prize: €50
All participants in the CHILDREN and YOUNG CHILDREN categories will receive a prize, a diploma and ... a surprise.
Special prize for the best interpretation of Chopin: €300. This prize will be awarded to one of the candidates in any category.
Please note: For further details, please refer to the competition rules.
Program conditions depend on the category chosen by the applicant.
For the YOUNG ARTIST category (maximum age 20)
a - Video preselection :
Free program of minimum 10 minutes and maximum 12 minutes, comprising 2 works from different periods and in contrasting styles, to be submitted by May 1, 2025.
Video recording conditions
- It's important to pay particular attention to the quality of the video recording. - The video must be produced without cuts, in a fixed shot, with the candidate's face and hands clearly visible at all times, and without special effects such as zooms and the like. Preference should be given to sound quality.
- Any type of editing or manipulation of audio and video is prohibited and may result in disqualification.
- The 2 works can be recorded at different times and then assembled into a single video, or it can be recorded entirely without a break between one piece and the other. It is also possible to submit individual parts of works - for example, the 1st movement of a sonata alone.
- All videos must be recent (2023/2024/2025).
- The video is not necessarily intended to be recorded in a professional studio, but can also be recorded in a domestic environment.
- By submitting your entry, you automatically authorize the contest organization to use this video for purposes related to the contest: sending the videos to the jurors and publishing the videos on the site and on social networks.
- Recordings can be sent with a YouTube, Vimeo or other link, or using file transfer tools, for example. In all cases, the name of the file or link must contain the candidate's first and last name.
24 candidates will be selected for the live test on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 in Cagnes-sur-Mer.
b - Live test :
Free program of 15 to 18 minutes including a work by Chopin
Only one work played for the video pre-selection may be played again in the live event.
The program provided is subject to change until June 1, 2025. Requests for program changes should be sent by e-mail to samsonfrancoiscompetition@gmail.com .. No program changes will be accepted after this date.
For the JUNIOR category (maximum age 15)
Program : Free program of 12 to 15 minutes.
Pre-selection : The 32 will be selected.
The program provided is subject to change until June 1, 2025. Requests for program changes should be sent by e-mail to samsonfrancoiscompetition@gmail.com .. No program changes will be accepted after this date.
For the YOUNG TALENT category (maximum age 12)
Program : Free program of 7 to 10 minutes.
Pre-selection : The 40 will be selected.
The program provided is subject to change until June 1, 2025. Requests for program changes should be sent by e-mail to samsonfrancoiscompetition@gmail.com .. No program changes will be accepted after this date.
For the CHILDREN category (10 years maximum)
Program : Free program of 4 to 7 minutes.
Pre-selection : The 40 will be selected.
The program provided is subject to change until June 1, 2025. Requests for program changes should be sent by e-mail to samsonfrancoiscompetition@gmail.com .. No program changes will be accepted after this date.
For the YOUNG CHILDREN category (8 years old maximum)
Program : Free program of 5 minutes maximum
Pre-selection : The 40 will be selected.
The program provided is subject to change until June 1, 2025. Requests for program changes should be sent by e-mail to samsonfrancoiscompetition@gmail.com .. No program changes will be accepted after this date.
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