The 65th annual Prague Spring International Music Competition, a member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions in Geneva, will be held from 7 May until 15 May 2013 in Prague for the instruments FRENCH HORN and ORGAN.
The competition is intended for artists of all nationalities who:
Persons interested in participating in the competition apply on line at the website www.festival.cz/competition, where they may complete and confirm a web application, attach required photographs suitable for reproduction, a recording of the compositions for the preliminary round, and other attachments if any.
A printout of the application form, duly completed and signed, is to be sent with the relevant documents to the address:
Mezinárodní hudební soutěž Pražské jaro
Hellichova 18
118 00 Praha 1
Czech Republic
The application must be accompanied by the following items:
(Applicants wishing to render payment in the currency CZK may contact the competition headquarters regarding a different account number.)
Attachments may be sent electronically or by post.
These attachments are not returned.
Please mark envelope "Competition recording, not subject to tax"
APPLICATION DEADLINE – 15 DECEMBER 2012
(The criterion is the date of the postmark.)
By 20 January 2013, candidates accepted for the competition (i.e. successful candidates chosen in the preliminary round) will be sent notification of their acceptance by e-mail. Candidates receiving this message shall pay the participation fee of EUR 75 onto the competition account no later than by 15 February 2013. Accepted candidates will then be sent a letter with complete information concerning the holding of the competition as well as sheet music for the compulsory composition.
The registration fees are nonrefundable.
These competition requirements have been announced in compliance with the Competition Rules of the Prague Spring International Music Competition dated 3 March 2009. The competition requirements are being issued in the Czech, English, French and German languages. In case of any discrepancy, the Czech text shall be regarded as authentic.
Accoustic rehearsal: 7 May – Martinu Hall, Academy of Music
Opening of competition and drawing: 7 May – Martinu Hall, Academy of Music
Round I: 8 and 9 May – Martinu Hall, Academy of Music
Round II: 11 May – Martinu Hall, Academy of Music
Round III: 13 May (concert as part of the festival) – Rudolfinum
Organ registration: 7 and 8 May – Church of Salvator
Opening of competition and drawing: 8 May – Academy of Music
Round I: 9 and 10 May – Church of Salvator
Round II: 12 May – Rudolfinum
Round III: 14 May (concert as part of the festival) – Municipal House
The competition organizers reserve the right to make changes to the schedule above.
Jindřich Petráš, Czech Republic – chairman
André Cazalet, France
Frank Lloyd, United Kingdom
Froydis Ree Wekre, Norway
Will Sanders, Germany
Bedřich Tylšar, Czech Republic
Szabolcs Zempléni, Hungary
Jon Laukvik, Norway – chairman
Aleš Bárta, Czech Republic
Pavel Černý, Czech Republic
James Kibbie, USA
Susan Landale, France
Jacques van Oortmerssen, the Netherlands
Elisabeth Ullmann, Austria
For each instrumental field at the 65th annual Prague Spring International Music Competition, the following prizes are being offered:
1st Prize: CZK 200,000
2nd Prize: CZK 100,000
3rd Prize: CZK 50,000
These are gross amounts of money, meaning that tax and possibly other fees must be deducted from them in accordance with the valid laws and regulations of the Czech Republic.
If the performances of the candidates are not of the required level of quality, the jury shall decide whether to award all of the prizes. The jury may choose not to award any of them, if it rules that the performances of the candidates do not meet the usual artistic standards for the awarding of prizes. If candidates’ performances are of equal quality, the jury may award multiple prizes for the same award level by combining the prize money and then dividing it equally for prizes on the same level. In doing so, it is necessary to ensure that the amounts of the prizes are not contrary to the final ordering of competitors and that the amounts of prize money offered are not exceeded for individual prizes.
Only one 1st prize may be awarded.
Winners of these main prizes also earn the title of Competition Laureate.
These prizes are also stated as gross amounts.
The winners of these additional prizes are not entitled to use the title Competition Laureate.
(the organizer reserves the right to choose a laureate from one category)
More prizes are under negotiation, and they will be published at the website and in the competition catalogue.
The competition will be held in three rounds, and the number of candidates is limited. The maximum number of participants in Round I for French horn is 50, a maximum of 12 candidates will advance to Round II, and no more then 4 candidates will advance to Round III. In the field of organ, a maximum of 40 candidates will participate in Round I, up to 10 candidates may advance to Round II, and no more then 4 candidates will advance to Round III.
For competition performances, the jury has the right to determine the order of compositions or of individual parts of compositions.
A work by a Czech composer written for the 2013 Prague Spring International Music Competition will be sent to the candidates together with instructions for competitors.
The competition repertoire stated by the candidate in the application is binding and cannot be changed. Later changes or failure to comply with the compulsory repertoire are grounds for disqualification.
Using photocopies of sheet music for public performances is a violation of copyright, and the performers assume all liability for any legal sanctions.
All three rounds of competition performances are public.
Any radio or television broadcasts and recordings of competition performances are the property of Prague Spring and serve for promotion of the competition. The possible commercial use of these recordings shall be the subject of future negotiations.
The repertoire may not be played on a natural horn
Piano accompanists
Candidates may appear at the competition with their own piano accompanist, but those accompanists must pay all of their own travel and accommodations expenses. Candidates who will not be performing at the competition with their own accompanist may request in their application that the competition organizers secure the services of an official accompanist.
The repeating of compositions during the competition is not permitted.
The specifications of the individual organs may be found at www.festival.cz in the Music Competition section in the very near future.
Candidates may perform at the competition with their own organ registration assistant, but those assistants must pay all of their own travel and accommodations expenses. Candidates who will not be performing at the competition with their own registration assistant may request in their application that the competition organizers secure the services of an official organ registration assistant.
The exact time limits for organ registration for individual rounds will be specified in letters upon acceptance to the competition
All travel and accommodations expenses through the holding of Round I are paid by the candidates themselves. Starting in Round II, candidates will receive paid accommodations in a hotel selected by the competition organizers for the duration of their active participation in the competition. Prizewinners will receive paid accommodations through the day when the prizes are presented to them. If a candidate secures accommodations other than those determined by the competition organizer, Prague Spring will not pay for those accommodations.
Specifications and informations about organs for each round are below in PDF files (in German language).
Church of Salvator (organ: Eule Orgelbau, Bautzen 2011)
Dvořák Hall, Rudolfinum (organ: Rieger – Kloss, Krnov 1975)
Smetana Hall, Municipal House (organ: Voit-Tuček 1913, Vleugels 1997)
Photos you find here.
General Partner 
Official Partner 
Main Media Partner 
Festival Partner 
