The competition was founded in 1982 and from its conception has been intended for beginners as well as for more experienced young musicians. It is held every November in the Music Conservatoire of Luxembourg City and is organized by UGDA-Music School Luxembourg. The competition is held annually for wind instruments, strings, piano and chamber music and periodically for mandolin, accordion, percussion and voice. Every year several categories are opened up on a European level (see information on the European Competition for Young Soloists).
Every year certain categories of the Concours Luxembourgeois pour Jeunes Solistes are opened up on an international level. This structure came into being because of Luxembourg’s geographical situation as a small country bordering France, Germany and Belgium. Luxembourg is therefore influenced by different music education systems and all the more so because professional music studies needed to become a music teacher can only be completed abroad. Moreover, Luxembourg is a very diverse and international country with over 48% of the population being of other nationalities (amongst young people the number is above 50%).
From 1988 to 1990 there were separate interregional competitions and in 1994 the whole competition was opened internationally. Since 1997 the current structure has been in place with certain categories opened internationally.
École de Musique de l´Union Grand-Duc Adolphe
The participants should be aged up to 26 years old. (30 for singing).
The competition has one round.
Every year
9.10.2020
Application forms may be requested from the offices of the music schools, conservatoires and societies affiliated to the Union Grand-Duc Adolphe and from the UGDA Music School Office.
The application form must include 3 copies of the free compositions (soloist part) selected by the contestant.
For individual competitors, the entrance fee is 32 EUR. For chamber music groups the entrance fee is 16 EUR per individual member of the group. The entrance fee has to be paid at the latest by the deadline to bank account of “École de Musique de l´Union Grand-Duc Adolphe (UGDA)”. Banking fees are chargeable to the candidate. The entrance fee is not refundable.
The competition is open to young musicians up to 26 years of age who:
Participants perform 1 set piece plus 1 or 2 pieces of their own choice (lasting 10 – 25 minutes depending on the level). The competition is divided into six different levels. The solo categories are open up to 26 years (singing up to 30 years) in the chamber music category the ensembles’ average age is up to 26 years.
Categories for this year:
Solo performances:
– Winds: flute, clarinet, saxophone (soprano, alto, tenor), trumpet, fluegelhorn, cornet
– Piano
– Strings: violin, viola, violoncello, double bass
Group performances:
– Duos to sextets: strings
The jury will award following mentions:
A participating certificate will be issued to the competitors or groups who did not get a mention.
The jury will award the following medals:
Points may not be rounded off. The jury may also award the mentions ‘unanimously’, ‘highly commended’ or ‘highly commended and unanimously to the jury’ in case of exceptional results.
The best laureates may be awarded by a prize offered by the SACEM Luxembourg and donators. Relating rules are laid down by internal regulation.
The diploma of the ‘Luxembourg Competition for Young Soloists’ will be delivered to the participants of the Luxembourg competition. To the participants of the European competition, the diploma of the ‘European Competition for strings: violin, viola, violoncello, double bass and chamber music (strings)’ will be delivered. The candidate who obtains less than 40 points receives a participation certificate.
The soloist / group who has been awarded a gold medal at the competition is considered a ‘1st prize-winner of the competition’. The medal winners of the competition may also be invited to take part in international workshops and European concerts.
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