Thirteenth International Chopin Youth Competition
Saturday and Sunday
October 21 and 22, 2023
Kawai Piano Gallery
5800 Richmond Ave
Houston, TX 77057
Saturday and Sunday
October 21 and 22, 2023
Kawai Piano Gallery
5800 Richmond Ave
Houston, TX 77057
Rules and Repertoire
The Thirteenth International Chopin Youth Competition will take place Saturday and Sunday, October 21 and 22 at the Kawai Piano Gallery on Richmond Ave in Houston, Texas. It is open to pre-college pianists.
The application fee is $75. All information, including payment, are made through our web store. Deadline is October 1. To apply, purchase the appropriate category: Elementary, Junior or Senior. Then select the required Mazurka. In the additional fields enter the remaining pieces (with times), the YouTube link (see following) and the teacher's name, email and phone number. Applicant contact information (student's name, email, address and phone number) will be entered when completing the purchase. Please apply on a computer and not a mobile device because the latter does not show all the required fields.
Contestants must enter a Preliminary round prior to the main event by preparing a video of the entire performance and uploading the video to YouTube. The link should be provided on the application form. No titles or names should appear on the recording but should be on the description of the video. Individual pieces may be recorded separately but no editing of individual pieces is allowed.
Successful contestants that pass the Preliminary round will be posted on our Website and perform in the Semi-Final round, which normally takes place all day Saturday and Sunday morning and afternoon. Contestants that pass the Semi-Final round will pass to the Final round, which normally takes places on Sunday late afternoon into the early evening. The awards ceremony will follow.
The contestants will be judged by a panel of outstanding musicians. Written comments from the judges will be available following the competition for all who participated in the Semi-Final round.
Gold medalists of previous competitions may not compete in the same age category. They may compete in another age category if of the appropriate age.
Repertoire Requirements
Contestants are required to perform a selection of one longer or several shorter compositions of Fryderyk Chopin and, in addition, one Mazurka chosen from the list given below. Contestants are limited to the total time including the required Mazurka. Please note the new repertoire limits below.
There are three different age categories and time limits (including the required Mazurka):
• Elementary: K1 - 5 (DOB on or after 9/1/12), 8-minute limit
• Junior: Grade 6 - 8 (DOB between 9/1/09 and 8/31/12), 10-minute limit
• Senior: Grade 9 -12 (DOB between 9/1/05 and 8/31/09), 12-minute limit
If several smaller works are performed, they should be contrasting in either style or tempo. If a contestant wishes to perform one larger composition (such as a Ballade or Scherzo), which exceeds the time limit, he/she is allowed to play it along with the required Mazurka. Judges reserve the right to cut a performance that exceeds the time limit. These rules apply to all age groups.
Contestants MUST select a Mazurka from the following list based upon the category:
Elementary
Any Elementary Mazurka, plus:
Any Mazurka, including those in Elementary and Junior Categories.
Repertoire Limits: NEW!
Unlike previous competitions, contestants in the Elementary and Junior categories may only select works from the following lists:
The application fee is $75. All information, including payment, are made through our web store. Deadline is October 1. To apply, purchase the appropriate category: Elementary, Junior or Senior. Then select the required Mazurka. In the additional fields enter the remaining pieces (with times), the YouTube link (see following) and the teacher's name, email and phone number. Applicant contact information (student's name, email, address and phone number) will be entered when completing the purchase. Please apply on a computer and not a mobile device because the latter does not show all the required fields.
Contestants must enter a Preliminary round prior to the main event by preparing a video of the entire performance and uploading the video to YouTube. The link should be provided on the application form. No titles or names should appear on the recording but should be on the description of the video. Individual pieces may be recorded separately but no editing of individual pieces is allowed.
Successful contestants that pass the Preliminary round will be posted on our Website and perform in the Semi-Final round, which normally takes place all day Saturday and Sunday morning and afternoon. Contestants that pass the Semi-Final round will pass to the Final round, which normally takes places on Sunday late afternoon into the early evening. The awards ceremony will follow.
The contestants will be judged by a panel of outstanding musicians. Written comments from the judges will be available following the competition for all who participated in the Semi-Final round.
Gold medalists of previous competitions may not compete in the same age category. They may compete in another age category if of the appropriate age.
Repertoire Requirements
Contestants are required to perform a selection of one longer or several shorter compositions of Fryderyk Chopin and, in addition, one Mazurka chosen from the list given below. Contestants are limited to the total time including the required Mazurka. Please note the new repertoire limits below.
There are three different age categories and time limits (including the required Mazurka):
• Elementary: K1 - 5 (DOB on or after 9/1/12), 8-minute limit
• Junior: Grade 6 - 8 (DOB between 9/1/09 and 8/31/12), 10-minute limit
• Senior: Grade 9 -12 (DOB between 9/1/05 and 8/31/09), 12-minute limit
If several smaller works are performed, they should be contrasting in either style or tempo. If a contestant wishes to perform one larger composition (such as a Ballade or Scherzo), which exceeds the time limit, he/she is allowed to play it along with the required Mazurka. Judges reserve the right to cut a performance that exceeds the time limit. These rules apply to all age groups.
Contestants MUST select a Mazurka from the following list based upon the category:
Elementary
- B-flat major, Op. 7, No. 1
- A minor, Op. 7, No. 2
- G minor, Op. 24, No. 1
- G minor, Op. Posth. 67, No. 2
- A minor, Op. Posth. 67, No. 4
- A minor, Op. Posth. 68, No. 2
- B-flat Major, Op. Posth. (Henle: KK II a Nr.3; National: WN 7; Paderewski: No. 52 or 52 bis)
- G Major, Op. Posth. (Henle: KK II a Nr.2; National: WN 8; Paderewski: No. 53 or 53 bis)
Any Elementary Mazurka, plus:
- C-sharp minor, Op. 6, No. 2
- E minor, Op. 17, No. 2
- B minor, Op. 30, No. 2
- G-sharp minor, Op. 33, No. 1
- D Major, Op. 33, No. 2
- E minor, Op. 41 (Henle: WN 1; Paderewski: No. 2)
- F minor, Op. 63, No. 2
- C-sharp minor, Op. 63, No. 3
Any Mazurka, including those in Elementary and Junior Categories.
Repertoire Limits: NEW!
Unlike previous competitions, contestants in the Elementary and Junior categories may only select works from the following lists:
|
Elementary
Mazurka B-flat Major, Op. 7, No. 1 A minor, Op. 7, No. 2 G minor, Op. 24, No. 1 G minor, Op. Posth. 67, No. 2 A minor, Op. Posth. 67, No. 4 A minor, Op. Posth. 68, No. 2 B-flat Major, Op. Posth. (Henle: KK II a Nr.3; National: WN 7; Paderewski: No. 52 or 52 bis) G Major, Op. Posth. (Henle: KK II a Nr.2; National: WN 8; Paderewski: No. 53 or 53 bis) Waltz A minor, Op. 34, No. 2 D-flat Major, Op. 64, No. 1 B minor, Op. 69, No. 2 G-flat Major, Op. 70, No. 1 F minor, Op. 70, No. 2 A-flat Major, Op. Posth. A minor, Op. Posth E minor, Op. Posth. Polonaise B-flat minor, “Adieu” G minor, Op. Posth. B-flat Major, Op. Posth. A-flat Major, Op. Posth. G-sharp minor, Op. Posth. Prelude E minor, Op.28, No.4 B minor, Op.28, No.6 A Major, Op.28, No.7 B Major, Op.28, No.11 D-flat Major, Op.28, No.15 C minor, Op.28, No.20 F Major, Op.28, No.23 Nocturne E-flat Major, Op.9, No.2 F minor, Op.55, No.1 C-sharp minor, Op. Posth. E minor, Op. Posth. C minor, Op. Posth. Other Forms Etude in F minor, Op.25, No.2 Trois Nouvelles Etudes, No. 1, 2, 3 Ecossaises in G major, Wn 13, No.1 Ecossaises in Db major, Wn 13, No.2 Ecossaises in D major, Wn 13, No.3 Marche Funebre in C-minor, Op.72, No.2 Contradanse in G-flat Major, B.17 Cantabile in B-flat Major, B.84 Feuille D’Album in E, Op. Posth. Largo in E-flat Major, Op. Posth. Bouree No.1 in G major, B.160b1 Bouree No.2 in A major, B.160b2 Gallop Marquis in A-flat Major, Op. Posth. Wiosna (Spring), Wn 52 |
Junior
Mazurka Any Elementary Mazurka, plus C-sharp minor, Op. 6, No. 2 E minor, Op. 17, No. 2 B minor, Op. 30, No. 2 G-sharp minor, Op. 33, No. 1 D major, Op. 33, No. 2 E minor, Op. 41 (Henle: WN 1; Paderewski: No. 2) F minor, Op. 63, No. 2 C-sharp minor, Op. 63, No. 3 Waltz Any Elementary Waltz, plus E-flat Major, Op. 18 A-flat Major, Op. 34, No. 1 F Major, Op. 34, No. 3 E-flat Major, Op. Posth. Polonaise Any Elementary Polonaise, plus C-sharp minor, Op. 26, No. 1 E-flat minor, Op. 26, No. 2 B-flat minor, “Adieu” C minor, Op. 40, No. 2 D minor, Op. 71, No. 1 B-flat Major, Op. 71, No. 2 Prelude Any Elementary Prelude, plus C Major, Op.28, No.1 G Major, Op.28, No.2 E Major, Op.28, No.9 F-sharp Major, Op.28, No.13 A-flat Major, Op.28, No.17 G minor, Op.28, No.22 Nocturne Any Elementary Nocturne, plus B-flat minor, Op. 9, No. 1 F Major, Op. 15, No. 1 D-flat Major, Op. 27, No. 2 B Major, Op. 32, No. 1 A-flat Major, Op.32, No.2 F minor, Op. 55, No. 1 Other Forms Any Elementary Form, plus Impromptu in A-flat Major, Op.29 Impromptu in F-sharp Major, Op.36 Impromptu in G-flat Major, Op.51 Impromptu Fantasie in C-sharp minor, Op.66 Tarantella, Op.43 Berceuse, Op.57 Variations on Souvenir de Paganini in A major Rondo in C-minor, Op.1 Rondo a la mazur, Op.5 Variations Brilliantes, Op.12 Bolero, Op.19 |
Senior
Mazurka Any Mazurka, including those in Elementary and Junior Categories Waltz Any Waltz, including those in Elementary and Junior Categories Polonaise Any Polonaise, including those in Elementary and Junior Categories Prelude Any Prelude, including those in Elementary and Junior Categories Nocturne Any Nocturne, including those in Elementary and Junior Categories Other Forms Any Other Form, including those in Elementary and Junior Categories. |
All works must be performed by memory. No changes or substitutions will be accepted. Please note only original versions will be accepted – no transcriptions, no arrangements!
A warm-up time 15 minutes before the performance will be allowed in designated practice rooms.
Contestants are responsible for their own travel and lodging arrangements.
Awards
• Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals in each category
• Honorable Mentions as deserved
• Special Prize for the best Mazurka in each category
• Special Prizes for the best among the youngest performers
• Jan Ekier Prize for the best performance of the most difficult work
• Special Prize for the Best Performance of a Youthful Composition by Chopin
The judges’ decisions will be final and cannot be appealed.
Any further questions please contact us via email. We will answer in as timely a manner as possible.
A warm-up time 15 minutes before the performance will be allowed in designated practice rooms.
Contestants are responsible for their own travel and lodging arrangements.
Awards
• Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals in each category
• Honorable Mentions as deserved
• Special Prize for the best Mazurka in each category
• Special Prizes for the best among the youngest performers
• Jan Ekier Prize for the best performance of the most difficult work
• Special Prize for the Best Performance of a Youthful Composition by Chopin
The judges’ decisions will be final and cannot be appealed.
Any further questions please contact us via email. We will answer in as timely a manner as possible.