VIVA VIOLIN

VIVA VIOLIN 2023 ONLINE-APPLICATION FORM

The completed online application form should be submitted not later than 24^th March 2023.

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS

1. A copy of a document certifying the applicant’s date of birth;
2. A PASSPORT SIZE photo in a SEPARATE FILE with the participant’s name;
3. A Bank document for the participation fee being paid;
4. Declaration under Personal Data Protection Law
5. Brief presentation of the participant in a SEPARATE FILE (age at the time of the competition; how long the applicant has been playing violin; teacher’s name; educational institution; experience).

The additional documents should be sent to the following email address: sofiaclassic23@gmail.com

The fee for Bulgarian participants is BGN 80*.

*The fee for all participants is EURO 80. The fee for Bulgarian participants is partially sponsored by the Ardenza Foundation, and the remaining amount due for participation that is to be paid by the participant, is BGN 80.

The fee should be paid by bank transfer to:

Ardenza Foundation
First Investment Bank
3 Narodno sabranie Sq., 1000 Sofia
IBAN: BG76FINV91501203661767
BIC/SWIFT: FINVBGSF

Please specify as a payment reason: “VIVA VIOLIN 2023 Application Fee for (participant’s first and last name)”
All bank fees and commissions are to be paid by the participant.

1. Who can participate?

The VIVA VIOLIN International Competition in Sofia, Bulgaria is open to participants of any age and nationality, who:

• Study violin:
A – at a Music school or University
B – as a private student, at a private music course or a community center;

• Want to have an unforgettable experience of a solo performance at a prestigious concert hall in Sofia.

2. Organizers, dates and place

The VIVA VIOLIN competition, founded by Daniela Dikova and Galina Koycheva in 2023, is organized by the Ardenza Foundation in partnership with the SOFIA CLASSIC Association, represented by Radmila Petrova – Krasteva. The first edition of the competition will take place on 8th – 9th April 2023 at a concert hall of “Lyubomir Pipkov” National School of Music, Sofia.

3. Competition round, Gala concert, awards

The competition has only one competition round. The jury will rank the participants in each age group in first, second or third place according to a certain point system. All participants will receive medals and diplomas. Special prizes will be also awarded. The participants ranked first in their group and having the highest points will take part in the final Gala concert.

4. Competition program

The pieces to be performed on the competition round are freely chosen by the participants (pieces, separate parts of sonatas, concertos and other musical compositions) and should be indicated in the application form with timing specified. The pieces should be performed by heart. Notissimo music performances are eligible only for Group B – Age Group 7 (adult non-professional violinists).

5. Competition groups, age and maximum timing

Violinists from Bulgaria and abroad can take part in the competition, divided into the following groups, each of a different age range and fixed timing for the performance of the pieces.

A. Violinists applicants with professional orientation (applicants from music schools and higher music education institutions):

Group I – 6 to 8 years old inclusive – up to 6 minutes
Group II – 9 to 10 years old inclusive – up to 8 minutes
Group III – 11 to 12 years old inclusive – up to 10 minutes
Group IV – 13 to 14 years old inclusive – up to 12 minutes
Group V – 15 to 16 years old inclusive – up to 15 minutes
Group VI – 17 to 19 years old inclusive – up to 18 minutes
Group VII – 20 to 26 years old inclusive – up to 20 minutes

B. Violinists applicants with non-professional orientation (students at private courses, community centers, private students):

Group 0 – up to 6 years old inclusive – up to 3 minutes
Group 1 – 7 to 8 years old inclusive – up to 5 minutes
Group 2 – 9 to 10 years old inclusive – up to 7 minutes
Group 3 – 11 to 12 years old inclusive – up to 9 minutes
Group 4 – 13 to 14 years old inclusive – up to 11 minutes
Group 5 – 15 to 16 years old inclusive – up to 13 minutes
Group 5 – 17 to 19 years old inclusive – up to 15 minutes
Group 7 – over 20 years old – up to 18 minutes

In the event of exceeding the timing, the jury reserves its right to interrupt participant’s performance.

*The age of the applicants will be estimated at the date of the competition!

6. Schedule for the competition round

The schedule will be arranged by date of birth within each group. Participants must appear at least 30 minutes prior to their performance time to be officially registered for the competition. An additional premises will be available for a short rehearsal. Participants should secure accompaniment at his own expense. The competition round will be open for audience.

Applicants who do not have an accompanist can indicate in the registration form their desire to have an accompanist recommended by the organizers.
The piano rehearsal and the performance with the recommended accompanist takes place for a fee.

The established schedule for performance will be published on the website of the Ardenza foundation: https://ardenzamusic.org within 3 days before the date of the competition.

7. Costs for the participants

All expenses related to participation in the competition (travel, an accompanist, accommodation, food, etc.) are to be borne by the participant.

8. License and Copyrights

The participants shall authorize the Ardenza Foundation to take photographs and make audio and video recordings to document their participation in the competition, and shall unconditionally waive their right to receive royalties or other compensation for the use of such materials to promote the contest.

9. Consent to the competition rules

By sending the completed application form and documents by the participants, the participants agree to the competition rules.

The competition jury of well-known musical pedagogues from Bulgaria and abroad will work according to the regulation and policy of the competition, approved by the VIVA VIOLIN Organizing Committee. All decisions of the jury, including the ranking of the participants within each competition group and the repertoire to be performed by the first prize winners (having the highest points in their group) at the Gala Concert, shall be final and not subject to appeal.

Prizes awarded based on performance in the competition round

• First, second and third prizes in each Group A (I – VII) and Group B (0 – 7)

Prizes awarded based on performance at the Gala Concert

The participants ranked first in their group and having the highest points will take part in the final Gala concert.

• VIVA VIOLIN Grand Prize (awarded to a first-prize winner from Group V – VII and/or Group 5 – 7);

• VIVA VIOLIN JUNIOR Grand Prize (awarded to a first-prize winner from Group I – IV and/or Group 0 – 4);

The VIVA VIOLIN and VIVA VIOLIN JUNIOR Grand Prize winners will take part as solo performers in a concert of Symphony Orchestra during 2023/2024 season.

Special awards and prizes named after prominent Bulgarian violinists:

“Solo performer of Simfonietta Vidin” Prize;
“Georgi Badev” Prize;
“Best performance of a piece by Bulgarian composer” Prize;
Prize by Galina Koycheva;
“Performance in Ardenza Concert Hall” Prize;
“Participation in the Master Class in 2023” Prize.