Informations, programs, competition rules

The town Saint Paul Trois Châteaux, a cultural centre situated in the Provence part of Southern Drôme, is organizing its third international piano competition from Monday 21st April to Saturday 26th of April 2025, to promote musical culture, encourage and reward pianists and single out the most talented among them.

The competition is open to pianists of all nationalities.

There are four categories:
• MASTERS (less than 36 years old)
• CHALLENGERS (less than 25 yaers old)
• TEENAGERS (less than 15 years old)
•JUNIORS (less than 12 years old)

Prizes

Masters :
• First Prize: € 5 000 + two remunerated recitals (opening concert of the Piano competition 2026 and in the concerts season of the Auditorium of Prayssas, Lot-et-Garonne).
• Second Prize: € 2 500
• Third Prize: € 1 500
• Audience Prize : € 500
• Prize for the best performance of a Beethoven sonata: € 250 (in the semi-final or final recital)
• Prize for the best performance of a Chopin piece : € 250 (in the semi-final or final recital)

The first prize in the Masters category, the Beethoven prize and the Chopin prize are indivisible, the other prizes can be awarded exaequo by dividing the reward.

Non finalists in the Masters category will be issued with a diploma attesting to their progress in the competition

Challengers
First Prize: € 700 + participation in the gala concert 2025*

Grade : Very good, Good, Quite good, for the applicants who have not won the first prize

Teenagers :
First Prize: € 200 + participation in the gala concert 2025 *

Grade : Very good, Good, Quite good, for the applicants who have not won the first prize

Juniors :
First Prize: 100€ + participation in the gala concert 2025*

Grade : Very good, Good, Quite good, for the applicants who have not won the first prize

The First Prizes of Challengers, Teenagers and Juniors categories cannot be awarded ex-aequo.
The delivery of all prizes will officially take place during the gala concert 2025*.

* Saturday 26th April 2025 at 20.00 hours

Programs

The candidates will perform their whole programme from memory. Whenever possible, repeat signs will be ignored.

However, for reasons of musical unity and structure of the works performed, the candidates will make the final decision whether or not to play the repeats, within the
allotted time. The jury reserves the right to interrupt a candidate if they deem it necessary to do so and he will take account of the pieces chosen by the candidates.

The candidates will not make any changes to their choice of pieces as stated in their entry form.

The candidates must have a copy of the scores they will play, and present them to the jury if required.

In the MASTERS category, the candidates must not play pieces that have already been performed in previous round.

MASTERS Category :
• First round : submission of a video of no more than 15 minutes * (details below)
• Semi-Final : free programme, maximum 20 minutes
• Final Recital : free programme, maximum 50 minutes
• Finale with orchestra accompaniment : a concerto selected from the following :
– Mozart : Concerto n.21 in C Major K 467
– Mozart : Concerto n.23 in A Major K488
– Beethoven : Concerto n.1 in C Major op.15
– Beethoven : Concerto n.2 in B flat Major op.19
– Beethoven : Concerto n.3 in C minor op.37
– Beethoven : Concerto n.4 in G Major op.58
– Beethoven : Concerto n.5 in E flat Major op.73
– Chopin : Concerto n.1 in E minor op.11
– Chopin : Concerto n.2 in F minor op.21
– Schumann : Concerto in A minor op.54
– Grieg : Concerto in A minor op.16
– Liszt : Concerto n.1 in E flat Major S124
– Liszt : Concerto n.2 in A Major S125
– Tchaikowsky : Concerto n.1 in B flat minor op.23
– Brahms : Concerto n.1 in D minor op.15
– Brahms : Concerto n.2 in B flat Major op.83
– Saint-Saëns : Concerto n.5 in F Major op.103
– Rachmaninoff : Concerto n.2 in C minor op.18
– Ravel : Concerto in G
– Prokofiev : Concerto n.3 in C Major op.26

* The program must consist of at least two works of different character, including one virtuoso study. The video must be submitted via one or several links (WeTransfer or YouTube). The video must be recent (less than 6 months from the submission date by the candidate). Only the pianists’ skills will be judged. The quality of the piano will not be taken into account by the jury, but the piano must be acoustic. Ensure the camera framing allows the hands to be seen, and the background noise should be low enough so as not to interfere with the quality of the sound. SUBMISSION DEADLINE: February 15, 2025

CHALLENGERS Category
Free programme, maximum 20 minutes

TEENAGERS Category
Free programme, maximum 15 minutes

JUNIORS Category
Free programme maximum 7 minutes

Registration fees :
MASTERS Category : € 150*
CHALLENGERS Category : € 60
TEENAGERS Category : € 40
JUNIORS Category : € 20

Entry fees will not be refunded, unless the competition, or one of the categories, were tobe cancelled.

* For the Masters category, in the event of failure in the first round (not selected for the semi-final), the city of Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux will reimburse the candidate € 75. 

The Semi-final and Finals of the Masters category, as well as all other competitions of the Challengers, Teenagers, and Juniors categories, will take place in « Salle Fontaine » (concert theatre in Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux) on a Steinway piano model D.

All competitions will be held in public. The Finale of the competition in the Masters category (Gala concert) will be performed with orchestra.

The winner of the 2024 competition will play in opening night concert of the competition on Monday 21st of April 2025.

Provisional schedule of events *

* The provisional schedule may vary according to the numbers of contestants

All contestants will receive a notification mentioning the address of the competition. They must report to the offices of the competition on the day and time indicated on this
notification, with a valid card of identification.

The appearance order of the applicants will be established by order of registration arrivals.

The jury will consist of five internationally recognised pianists.

The jury will determine the results.

The results will be announced at the end of each contest. No appeal against the jury’s decisions is receivable. No recourse is admitted.

The jury reserves the right not award a prize if they consider the standard to be inadequate.

Each member of the jury will give a mark out of 20. The candidates’ total mark from all five members of the jury will amount to a mark out of 100.

The jury’s mark cannot be disputed.

If one jury member were to be absent, the 100 points would be divided up between the four remaining members of the jury ( 25 points / judge).

Applications are to be made at least on Saturday 15th of February 2025 (Masters category) and on Saturday 15th of March 2025 (Challengers, Teenagers, Juniors categories).

To do this, you must complete the online form on the competition page and attach the following documents :

1. A copy of a document confirming the identity of the contestant (passport, identity card or family record book)
2. A short Curriculum Vitae/ CV indicating the conservatories and teachers
3. Recent color high resolution photograph
4. The proof of paiement (you have to pay online on the website Billetweb
5. The form relating to image rights duly completed and signed (to download on the contest page)

The entry will only be confirmed on receipt of all the required documents.

Return the entry form and the other 5 documents to the following address : concourspianosp3c@gmail.com

The entry will only be confirmed on receipt of all the required documents.

The competition offers free accommodation with local hosts.

Pianists wishing to stay in a hotel will receive a list of possible accommodations.

Minor candidates must be accompanied by a legal adult guardian for the entire duration of the competition.

The competition organizers will arrange for low-cost meal options for the candidates.

Pianos will be available for those wishing to practice at the Music School in Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux.

A rehearsal schedule, with equal time for each contestant, will be published by the artistic director of the competition.

The candidates allow organizers to take photographs and videos, subject to French legislation regarding image rights.

The organizers of the competition will not be help responsible for any risks and damages of any kind (theft etc…) during the competition.

This clause is valid for homestay with local people.

Entering the competition implies accepting the totality of the rules.

In case of dispute, the rules as published in French will apply.