The 50-year history of the Balys Dvarionas Competition unfurls like an intricate tapestry, woven with diverse musical ideas and interpretive styles, infused with the harmonious blend of various cultures and national traditions.
The competition’s roots can be traced back to Balys Dvarionas’ noble vision in the later years of his life. He dreamed of embarking on a journey to visit all of Lithuania’s music schools for children. During his concerts, B. Dvarionas shared the stage with fellow musicians, offering profound insights through his eloquent commentary on the music being performed. His aspiration went beyond education; it embraced a broader, human-centered philosophy, aimed at unveiling the inherent nobility of music, revealing its exquisite beauty, and beckoning as many young souls as possible into the realm of artistry.
In the words of Balys Dvarionas himself, he articulated, “Why does music exert such an irresistible allure from early years? It’s a challenge to explain, yet an undeniable truth—a phenomenon. The yearning for perfection is every young soul’s dream, for through perfection, one transcends self and countrymen, sometimes bestowing a gift upon all of humanity.”
Originally established as a national competition in 1974, it developed into the respected International Balys Dvarionas Competition for Young Pianists and Violinists in 1989. Its eminence in both professionalism and artistic excellence, along with its well-defined and transparent evaluation criteria, earned it recognition from the European Union of Music Competitions for Youth (EMCY) in 2002.
At its heart, this competition is defined by the spirit of genuine musicianship and the joy of discovering emerging talents. It offers a distinctive and creative connection to music, which has always been and will continue to be its defining essence and central mission.
Center for International Cultural Projects,
Balys Dvarionas Charity and Support Foundation
Piano
Barbara Szczepanska (Germany) – Jury Chair
Justas Dvarionas (Lithuania)
William Fong (United Kingdom)
Irena Gulzarova (Switzerland – Uzbekistan)
Yurii Kot (Ukraine)
Paul Rickard-Ford (Australia)
Albert Tiu (Singapore)
Violin
Jurgis Dvarionas (Lithuania) – Jury Chair
Bartosz Bryła (Poland)
Fox Chan (Australia)
Aistė Dvarionaitė (Lithuania)
Manana Kantaria (Sakartvelo / Georgia)
František Novotný (Czech Republic)
Dmitry Sitkovetsky (United Kingdom – USA)
The International Balys Dvarionas Competition for Young Pianists and Violinists is open to participants up to the age of 20 (born on or after June 19, 2004), provided they align with the values outlined in the EMCY statement.
The competition is categorized into three age groups:
Group A: Competitors born on or after June 19, 2012.
Group B: Competitors born on or after June 19, 2008.
Group C: Competitors born on or after June 19, 2004.
For age groups “A” and “B,” the competition will consist of two rounds, while for age group “C,” it will include three rounds, with the final round featuring orchestral accompaniment.
Clarification: June 19 is selected because it’s the birthday of composer Balys Dvarionas, and in 2024, the 120th anniversary of his birth is commemorated.
Cycle of the Competition – every four years.
Application Period:
Registration open on: December 1, 2023.
Application deadline: February 16, 2024.
Applicants will be advised of their acceptance or otherwise on or before March 1, 2024.
All stage performances are open to the public.
During the solo rounds of the competition, participants perform in order of age, from the youngest to the oldest.
As for the final round featuring participants from age group “C” performing with the orchestra, the organizers, in collaboration with the orchestra’s conductor, establish the performance order.
Upon request by the competition organizer, the competition laureates as well as diploma holders are obligated to participate in the closing concerts of the event without financial remuneration or coverage of their expenses.
Upon registration, candidates and their legal guardians affirm that they have thoroughly read and accepted the terms and conditions of participation.
The competition organizers accept no liability for any property damage, accidents, or loss. Competitors and their accompanying individuals are solely responsible for obtaining their own insurance, which should include medical coverage.
The Competition organizers maintain the authority to capture and commercially distribute performances from the competition, as well as the final concerts, utilizing any current or future recording formats, including, but not limited to, audio, video, digital, or other recording methods. This authority extends to potential radio and/or television broadcasts and the commercial release of such recordings and broadcasts. No compensation will be provided to competitors for these purposes.
Furthermore, the Competition Organizers also possess the right to publish participants’ images and photographs taken during the competition in any media associated with the competition.
Applications to be submitted by February 16, 2024 at ArtistDB
The language of registration for the competition will be Lithuanian or English.
The application should consist of a 10-15 minute video recording, in accordance with the instructions provided in the repertoire section.
The online Application Form must include the following:
a) Scanned copy of the applicant’s personal ID document.
b) Short biography of the applicant (up to 200 words).
c) Proposed competition repertoire.
d) High-quality, recent portrait picture for publication.
e) Link(s) to the video recording.
f) Acknowledgment of endorsement of the values outlined in the EMCY statement.
Entrance fee for participants is:
60 EUR for Group A,
80 EUR for Group B,
100 EUR for Group C.
For those who register before January 15, 2024, a 50% reduction in the competition application fee will be granted.
Information about the online application:
Dvarionas Competition Registration
The solo rounds of The International Balys Dvarionas Competition for Young Pianists and Violinists will be held at the Vytautas Magnus University Music Academy in Kaunas from April 11 to 18, 2024. The Group “C” Final orchestral Round is scheduled for April 19-20 at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society in Vilnius.
The Competition is open to pianists and violinists of all nationalities, provided they align with the values in the EMCY statement and were born on or after June 19, 2004.
The Jury for the pre-selection round will assess and select candidates based on the videos submitted. These recordings will be evaluated by the Jury of the 23rd National Balys Dvarionas Competition for Piano and Strings.
Upon request, the competition offers experienced piano accompanists to all violin section competitors. Please note that this service is not included in the Application Fee and should be covered by the competitors separately. Candidates must indicate their preference in the Application Form.
The accompanist fee is set at 100 EUR, encompassing one rehearsal lasting up to 45 minutes and the subsequent performance with the professional accompanist. Should extra rehearsal time be required, a fee of 80 EUR will be applied for each additional session.
Competitors have the option to bring their own piano accompanists at their own expense.
Next International Balys Dvarionas Competition for young Pianists and Violinists will be held in 2027.
TBA 2027
All works must be performed from memory.
Pre-selection round: Applicants are required to submit a 10-15 minute video recording featuring a program of their choice.
Candidates may record individual tracks separately, but each piece must be recorded in its entirety, without any editing or cutting.
Lithuanian applicants may enter the The International Balys Dvarionas Competition for Young Pianists and Violinists under two conditions: either through the video pre-selection process or upon achieving a successful live performance at the 23rd National Balys Dvarionas Competition, provided they receive a personal invitation from the Jury.
The live competition for “A” and “B” groups will consist of two rounds, while the competition for “C” group will encompass three rounds, with the final round featuring orchestral accompaniment.
In Round 1, competitors must include at least one work from the Baroque or Classical era in their performance.
In Round 2, competitors are required to perform at least one composition by Balys Dvarionas.
Competitors have full discretion to select the remaining pieces for their program within the time limits specified for each age group.
The performances for both Round 1 and Round 2 must have the following duration:
Group “A” – from 10 to 20 minutes;
Group “B” – from 15 to 25 minutes;
Group “C” – from 20 to 30 minutes.
Time limits must be strictly adhered to, and no piece may be performed more than once.
In Round 1 and Round 2 pianists must perform solo piano works only, violinists solo or with piano accompaniment.
Round 3 for Age Group “C” – performance with the The Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Grand Hall.
Concerto of choice for violin/piano and orchestra from the following:
Piano
B. Dvarionas (1904-1972) Concerto for piano No.1 in G minor
B. Dvarionas (1904-1972) Concerto for piano No. 2 in E minor
W. A. Mozart (1756-1791) Concerto for piano No. 23 in A major, KV 488
L. van Beethoven (1770-1827) Concerto for piano No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37
F. Liszt (1811-1886) Concerto for piano No. 2 in A major, S125
R. Schumann (1810-1856) Concerto for piano in A minor, Op. 54
E. Grieg (1843-1907) Concerto for piano in A minor, Op. 16
Violin
B. Dvarionas (1904-1972) Concerto for violin in b minor
W. A. Mozart (1756-1791) Concerto for violin No. 3 in G major, KV 216
F. Mendelssohn (1809-1847) Concerto for violin E minor, Op. 64
H. Vieuxtemps (1820-1881) Concerto for violin No. 5 in A minor, Op. 37
C. Saint-Saëns (1835–1921) Concerto for violin No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61
Age group A
First prize EUR 1000.-
Second prize EUR 600.-
Third prize EUR 400.-
Final Round Participant’s Diploma
Age group B
First prize EUR 2000.-
Second prize EUR 1200.-
Third prize EUR 800.-
Final Round Participant’s Diploma
Age group C
First prize EUR 3000.-
Second prize EUR 1800.-
Third prize EUR 1200.-
Final Round Participant’s Diploma
Competitors may be awarded special prizes:
– for the best performance of a piece by B. Dvarionas (for violinist and pianist, 500 EUR each);
– for the best performance of a piece by Lithuanian contemporary composer (for violinist and pianist, 500 EUR in the whole, 250 eur each);
– the youngest participants of the II Round will be awarded with a tangible prize (pianist and violinist);
– for the best performance of a concerto with orchestra by B. Dvarionas (for violinist and pianist, 500 EUR each);
– for the best performance of a piece by baroque composer, by classical composer, by romantic composer and by a contemporary composer (for pianist and violinist);
– special prize “FAVORITE OF THE AUDIENCE” based on online voting.
The performances will be assessed by an international jury comprising 7 distinguished musicians for pianists and violinists.
In the final Third Round, encompassing an orchestral performance for Group C, all 14 jury members will partake in the assessment.
The decisions rendered by the jury are final and are not subject to challenge or modification.
Jury members shall not rank / vote for competitors who are related to them or who have been studying with them regularly in the 36 months preceding the competition, or have had more than one lesson at master-classes in the 12 months preceding the competition.
The Jury has the authority to interrupt performances that exceed the established time limit.
DVARIONAS COMPETITION
