Important Announcement
The Board of the Scottish International Piano Competition regrets to announce that in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the competition, which was set to run from 1-12 September 2020, will be postponed. It is the intention of the SIPC to set a new date for the competition once the world health situation improves.
For reference, the application process is outlined below, and will be updated when a new date has been confirmed.
Regulations for the Scottish International Piano Competition,
Applications
- The Competition is open to pianists of any nationality born between 1 January 1991 and 31 December 2004 (inclusive).
- Applications for entry to the Competition must be made on the official application form on the SIPC 2020 website. The SIPC application form is available to view on the competition website www.sipc2020.org. Applications must be submitted via the online application form on the SIPC 2020 website by 31 March 2020.
- Applications must be accompanied by an application fee of £100 sterling (non-refundable).
- Payment should be made by bank transfer to The Scottish International Piano Competition (SIPC bank details on Application Form). Late payment of the fee will normally make the application void.
- Applications must be accompanied by a recent video recording of high professional standard, lasting between 30-35 minutes and representing various styles of the applicant’s solo playing (i.e. not with orchestral accompaniment). The performance must be unedited and certified as such by either the recording engineer or the applicant’s teacher. The preferred method for receiving the video recording is via a web link, such as YouTube, Vimeo, Youku or any other suitable, high quality video hosting website.
- The uploaded application must include a scan of your passport or birth certificate. Pdf’s or scans of reviews and award certificates, together with up to date signed references from two musicians of standing, neither of whom is a member of the published Competition Jury and at least one of whom is not, and has never been, a teacher of the applicant should also be attached to the email application form.
- Applications will be acknowledged on receipt. Any which arrive late, or which lack any items listed in (iv) or (v) above, will not normally be considered for inclusion in the Competition.
- All applicants will be informed by the beginning of May 2020 of the decision on their inclusion in the Competition. Successful applicants should then immediately email a high quality jpeg publicity photograph, CV and details of their programmes. As noted in (iv) above, application fees are non-refundable whether or not the application is successful.
- Competitors may not change their planned programme or concerto preferences after completion of the registration form on arrival in Glasgow on 1 September 2020.
Repertoire requirements (see our Repertoire page)
- Competitors may not change their planned programme or concerto preferences after completion of the registration form on arrival in Glasgow.
- Competitors who fail to perform when called upon by the Competition Jury may be disqualified.
- Appropriate concert dress should be worn for the Concerto part of Stage 4.
Prizes
For more information on Performance and Prizes, see our Repertoire page
Accommodation
Accommodation in private houses will be offered without charge to all competitors, but not to accompanying family members and friends, from 31 August 2020, for the duration of their participation in the Competition. Accompanying family members and friends will not be entitled to have access to competitors’ host accommodation during the Competition.
Competitors arriving before 31 August 2020 must make their own arrangements.
Travel
Competitors in financial need are eligible to apply to the Competition for assistance with travel expenses. Application forms will be made available to competitors and should be returned to the Administrator of the Competition by 30 June 2020. Any financial assistance is entirely at the discretion of the Competition Board.
Practice and Rehearsals
Practice facilities will be arranged from 31 August 2020. Competitors arriving before that date and who wish to practice, must make their own arrangements. Competitors at Stage 4 will each have a piano rehearsal with the conductor and two rehearsals with the orchestra.
Competitors, Teachers and Jury Members
- A competitor must not take lessons from any teacher during the Competition, whether or not that teacher is a member of the Competition Jury.
- If any competitor, or the teacher of any competitor, attempts to contact a member of the Competition Jury during the Competition, that competitor may be disqualified by the Chairman of the Competition Music Committee in consultation with the Chairman of the Competition Jury.
- A member of the Competition Jury who is related to a competitor, or who is or has within the past three years been a teacher (otherwise than in a masterclass) of a competitor, may not vote for or discuss that competitor with any other member of the Competition Jury.
General
- All rights relating to Competition performances, including livestreams of the competition rounds, belong to the Scottish International Piano Competition. No fee is payable on account of these performances or any recordings, transmissions or broadcasts of them.
- No smoking is allowed in the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. (Any competitor breaking this rule will be liable to immediate disqualification by the Chairman of the Competition Music Committee in consultation with the Chairman of the Jury.)
- Dispensation to a competitor for a failure to adhere to any of the requirements on competitors in these Regulations is at the discretion of the Chairman of the Competition Music Committee to whom applications for dispensation must be addressed in writing.
Chairman of the Competition Selection Committee: Professor Fali Pavri
Assessors to the Jury: to be appointed by SIPC August 2020.