Sofia Special Prize 2024
Deadline: 15th July 2024
The Tym International Music Competition 2024 was founded to make foreign music competitions more affordable by eliminating prohibitive travel costs, living expenses, and visa issues, thanks to its exclusively online performance.
The competition is not intended to replace the performance of live music, but is intended to raise awareness of classical music and musical performance through this accessible international platform.
The Sofia Special Prize 2024 is open to all musicians from around the world with a focus on classical music. It is dedicated to the promotion of musical culture under the banner of world peace and understanding between nations. The competition will take place for the following sections: piano, keyboards, strings, winds, percussion, voice, piano duo and chamber music. Each discipline is divided into different age categories. There are no age limits for participants.
The competition maintains a high artistic level with a jury of internationally renowned musicians.
The Sofia Special Prize 2024 has a strong educational value. The competitor’s website, social media and YouTube channel make executions of participants easily accessible and completely free of charge. Performance videos will replace traditional live concerts.
The objective of the competition is to help participants in their musical and professional growth. Trying not only to value talents, but also to prepare them for the ever-changing professional world.
The Artistic Director reserves the right to make any changes to these rules.
PROGRAM
15 July 2024 - FREE REGISTRATION
16 - 20 July 2024 - Review and evaluation of video recordings sent
21 - 25 July 2024 - Announcement of successful elimination to the finalists
25 - 30 July 2024 - Application for the final phase and payment of administrative fees
from 5 August to 15 August - Announcement of the winners
25 August 2024 - Proclamation of the overall winner
on 25 August 2024 ONWARDS - Sending certificates
COMPETITION GUIDELINES 2024
The Sofia Special Prize consists of 2 phases: the preliminary and final. Participants must submit video material for preliminary application FREE of charge. For the final phase, candidates can choose whether to use the video sent in the preliminary phase, or register a new one. Multiple winners will be selected for each age group. The overall winners (with vote 100/100) will be invited to the gala evening in Sofia (Bulgaria).
1.1 Preliminary Test
Participants must visit the official website of the Sofia Special Prize 2024 and complete the application form for the preliminary stage on the page "FREE ENTRY", attaching a link that allows access to the video recording of their musical performance. This contest accepts links to major global video websites such as YouTube or others.
Make sure you fully comply with the "Repertoire and Video Guidelines" (see section 3). Applications whose videos do not fully comply with the recording standards are not considered.
1.2 Final stage
Only competitors who have passed the preliminary stage will have access to the final stage.
The selected finalists will receive an invitation by email with instructions on how to apply for the final phase. PLEASE ALSO CHECK THE SPAM BOX as sometimes the mail sent by our system will be considered spam by the email service provider.
Final phase applicants must use the link in the email to complete the application and send it within the deadline.
The payment to access the final phase can be made through a bank transfer whose coordinates will be sent by e-mail.
Registration fee for the final section Soloists: 80 euros
Registration fee for the final Chamber Music section: 150 euro
* The registration fee is not refundable.
*Parents or guardians of children must sign a separate notice and tick the box marked as follows "Allow the organizer of the contest to use the information of minors and the publication of multimedia material (photos and videos) on websites and social media" to authorize the Sofia Special Prize 2024 to the publication of awards, Personal images, video materials and biographies on leading social media platforms around the world.
2. CATEGORIES AND LENGTH
The competition is open internationally to musicians of all ages. Candidates will be grouped into twelve age categories. Each category will have a different time limit.
KIDS PRODIGY - Born in 2016 and younger - 10 minutes maximum
KIDS ARTIST I - Born in 2015/2014 - 10 minutes max
KIDS ARTIST II- Born in 2013/2012- 10 minutes maximum
JUNIOR I - Born in 2011/2010 - 15 minutes maximum
JUNIOR II - Born in 2009/2008 - 15 minutes maximum
YOUTH I - Born in 2007/2006 - 20 minutes maximum
YOUTH II - Born in 2005/2004 - 20 minutes maximum
VIRTUOSO I - Born in 2003/2002 - 20 minutes max
VIRTUOSO II - Born in 2001/2000 - 20 minutes maximum
MASTER I - Born in 1999/1998 - 25 minutes maximum
MASTER II - Born in 1997/1996 - 25 minutes maximum
PROFESSIONAL - Born 1995 and up - 25 minutes maximum
Candidates may compete in a category higher than their own, but not lower.
SECTIONS:
KEYBOARDS: Solo Piano, Harpsichord, Organ, Accordion
STRINGS: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double bass, Guitar, Harp, Mandolin
Winds: Flute, Piccolo, Oboe, English horn, Clarinet, Saxophone, Bassoon
BRASS: Trumpet, French horn, Trombone, Euphonio, Tuba
VOICE: Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass
PERCUSSION: Vibraphon, Marimba, Snare, Setup, Timpani, Drums etc
PIANO WITH FOUR HANDS
3. REPERTOIRE AND VIDEO GUIDANCE
The choice of repertoire is at the discretion of the participants. The following rules/limitations apply.
The participant may submit any piece, piece or set of pieces, provided that the duration of the execution falls within the time required for its category. You can also only play parts of a song ( e.g. mov.).
For those who benefit from the accompaniment, no prerecorded bases are allowed.
The video must contain recordings made within the 18 months preceding the deadline of 15 July 2024.
Each song must be played in a single shot without modification. If you choose to run multiple pieces, the latter must be sent in a single video file. The Sofia Special Prize 2024 reserves the right to immediately disqualify any participant whose registration shows suspicious evidence of editing.
You can use multiple cameras for video recording but no sound effects should be added within the video.
Each participant is not required to submit any scores at the time of the application, however if requested by the Commission, the applicant is required to submit an original score or a copy of the score
It is suggested that participants send the highest quality video possible to provide a correct representation of their performance.
4. MARKING SYSTEM
FIRST PRIZE - is awarded to the competitor who has scored at least 94/100 points
SECOND PRIZE - will be awarded to the competitor who will have scored at least 86/100 points
THIRD PRIZE - is awarded to the competitor who will have scored at least 80/100 points
Special Mention Recognition - awarded to the competitor who obtains at least 65/100 points
Honorable Mention recognition - awarded to the competitor who obtains at least 55/100 points
The number of prizes is not limited.
5. TERMS AND CONDITIONS
At the bottom of this website there is a link to access the terms and conditions established by the Sofia Special Prize 2024. The competition reserves the right to update these terms.
FREE ENTRY
Deadline: 15th July 2024
AWARDS
The winners who have scored 100/100 cents, will be invited to the Gala evening to be held in Sofia (Bulgaria) in the months following the competition. Invited musicians can compete in the gala evening to win the Sofia Special Prize.
In the case of photographic, radio, web, television and recording recordings, during the duration of the competition and the final award concert, the participants will not be entitled to any financial compensation.
The commission may choose to award the following prizes:
Special artist
Best Pianist
Best Singer
Best performance of a contemporary piece
Best performance of a composer
The overall winner of the gala will receive the " SOFIA SPECIAL PRIZE 2024 " of € 1,000*
Certificates for First, Second, Third and Fourth Prize winners.
We offer special recognition to the winning videos selected at the 1st place published on our website, YouTube channel, Facebook and Instagram.
Our aim is to provide ongoing support to the winners to help them promote and develop their music career and their studies on international stages.
*Ex-aequo prizes are allowed. TYM reserves the right to divide the prize money of the "GRAND PRIX of the Sofia Special Prize 2024" in the event of a tie. All decisions of the competition and its judges are binding and final.
CERTIFICATES
All candidates will receive a certificate of participation after the announcement of the winners by e-mail.
WINNERS
Announcement of the winners: from 25 August 2024
Deadline: 15th July 2024