The Association of Friends and Sponsors of the Robert Schumann Hochschule organises the international competition for young pianists Robert Schumann Competition. The first edition took place in March 2017 and the second one in March 2019. The competition takes place at the Robert Schumann Music Academy in Düsseldorf, while the final round – a concert with an orchestra – takes place in the Robert Schumann Saal, Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf Ehrenhof.
The Association of Friends and Sponsors of the Robert Schumann Hochschule e. V.
The participants should be aged up to 20 years old (three age categories).
The competitions has three rounds for each age group category.
Every two years.
18-22 February 2025
20 November 2024
competition
Please apply online using the application form.
The following documents should be attached to the online application form:
In exceptional cases, one may send the application also via post. This can be done only after consulting the competition office. The effective date is the date of receipt at the competition office.
The competitors agree that their personal data such as name, photo, vita and program can and will be made public online and in the competition´s catalogue.
The competition is open to young pianists of all nationalities under the age of 20.
The competition is divided into three age categories:
The competition rounds are open to public viewing and will be broadcasted on YouTube.
The order of performance of the competitors will be defined through a draw.
The repertoire must be played by heart. An exception can be made only for contemporary pieces. The order of pieces in the rounds may be set by the performer. It´s not allowed to play the same pieces in more than one round.
Program change after the application is not allowed.
The applicants are not entitled to claim any rights for the broadcast and/or recording of their performances. Only the organizer of the competition reserves those rights.
The competitor’s performance will be assessed on a point-based system. If a member of the jury has taught a competitor within the last two years, he or she will abstain from assessing that competitor. The results for each category will be announced after each round. The decisions of the jury are final and not subject to question, review or appeal.
Barbara Szczepanska (Germany)
Michael Becker (Germany)
Justas Dvarionas (Lithuania)
Pavel Gililov (Austria)
Joanna Lawrynowicz (Poland)
Wolfgang Manz (Germany)
Zhe Tang (China)
The competition will take place in three rounds. From the competitors in the first round, there will be approximately six competitors chosen for the second round. Three competitors of each category will be chosen for the final round.
The jury reserves the right to stop the competitor if the performance exceeds the time limit.
CATEGORY A
1. Round
– One work by J. S. Bach, e.g. one Invention or one movement from a French Suite
– One virtuoso Etude
– One work or parts from a work by R. Schumann
The total playing time has to be 8 to 10 minutes.
2.Round
– One work or several works or particular movements from Classical Age until Present Age
– One work or parts from a work by R. Schumann. The work by Schumann has to represent at least half of the performance.
The total playing time has to be 13 to 15 minutes.
3.Round – concert with orchestra
One of the following works:
J. Haydn: Piano Concerto in D major, Hob.XVIII:11 – I. Vivace
W.A.Mozart: Piano Concerto in F major, KV413 – I. Allegro
W.A.Mozart: Piano Concerto in A major, KV414 – I. Allegro
CATEGORY B
1.Round
– One work by J. S. Bach, e.g. Prelude and Fugue from “The Well-Tempered Clavier” or movements from Partitas, English and French Suites
– One virtuoso Etude
– One work or parts from a work by R. Schumann
The total playing time has to be 13 to 15 minutes.
2.Round
– One work or several works or particular movements from Classical Age until Present Age
– One work or parts from a work by R. Schumann. The work by Schumann has to represent at least half of the performance.
The total playing time has to be 18 to 20 minutes.
3.Round – concert with orchestra
One of the following works:
W.A.Mozart: Piano Concerto in A major, KV488 – I. Allegro
W.A.Mozart: Piano Concerto in E-flat major, KV271 (Jeunehomme) – I. Allegro
L.van Beethoven: Piano Concerto no. 2 in B-flat major, Op.19 – I. Allegro con brio
CATEGORY C
1.Round
– One work by J. S. Bach, e.g. Prelude and Fugue from “The Well-Tempered Clavier” or movements from Partitas, English and French Suites
– One virtuoso Etude
– One work or parts from a work by R. Schumann
The total playing time has to be 18 to 20 minutes.
2.Round
– One work or several works or particular movements from Classical Age until Present Age
– One work or parts from a work by R. Schumann. The work by Schumann has to represent at least half of the performance.
The total playing time has to be 25 to 30 minutes.
3.Round – concert with orchestra
One of the following works:
R.Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op.54 – I. Allegro affettuoso
or
R.Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op.54 – II. Intermezzo: Andantino grazioso and III. Allegro vivace
F.Chopin: Piano Concerto no. 2 in F minor, Op.21, 1st movement – I. Allegro maestoso
| CATEGORY A
1st Price 2.000 Euro 2nd Price 1.500 Euro 3rd Price 750 Euro |
CATEGORY B
1st Price 3.000 Euro 2nd Price 2.000 Euro 3rd Price 1.000 Euro |
CATEGORY C
1st Price 5.000 Euro 2nd Price 3.000 Euro 3rd Price 2.000 Euro |
Special prizes:
– special prize for the best interpretation of a work by Robert Schumann
– Schumannfest 2023: the winners will get the opportunity to give a concert at the Schumannfest in Düsseldorf in June 2023
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