Regulation

Pianists from all over the world can participate in the Rachmaninoff International Competition for Pianists, Composers and Conductors (hereinafter, the “Competition”).
The piano nomination participants should be at least 16 and no older than 32 years inclusive by the Competition Opening on June 14, 2025.
The maximum number of participants of the live rounds is 25. At the suggestion of the chairman of the jury to the competition directorate, the number of participants in each specialty may be increased for no more than 3 people.
The preparation, arrangement and management of the Competition is supervised by the art manager of the competition appointed by the order of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the competition directorate established by the Russian Ministry of Culture that is acting upon the Regulations on the competition directorate approved by the organizing committee.

The competition applicant (hereinafter, the “applicant”) must submit his/her application to participate in the competition (hereinafter, the “application”) until March 1, 2025, via the participant’s personal account on the official website of the competition (hereinafter, the “official website”). The application must be in Russian or English according to the form provided on the official website.
The application must have the following documents attached:
– a copy of the applicant’s document of identification (Internal passport of Russia for Russian citizens, passport of a foreign citizen or another document established by federal law or accepted in accordance with an international treaty of the Russian Federation as a document identification of a foreign citizen for foreign citizens);
– applicant’s biography (approximately 1,000 characters);
– 2 digital color photos of the applicant, resolution is at least 300 dpi, including a close-up photo for publication;
– a copy of the musical education certificate;
– copies of the laureate diplomas of international competitions for the last 3 years (if any);
– applicant’s bank account details (for the prize transfer);
– 2 letters of recommendation: one from the applicant’s music teacher, the other from an internationally-renowned concert performer, conductor or composer. The letters must be written in Russian or English as a special recommendation for the applicant to participate in the competition.
The piano nomination applicants should attach to their applications the list of musical pieces from the competition program including their tonalities, movements as well as the performance duration of all competition pieces including the qualifying round. Changes to the mentioned list can be made only until April 10, 2025.
The piano nomination applicants should submit a video recording of their performance of the musical pieces filmed for the competition, unedited, recorded no earlier than in September 2024, prior to participation in the competition, strictly in the same place (hereinafter, the “video”). The video should be submitted in the form of a web link (the participants are responsible for providing the working web links). Videos should be made by one fixed camera without interruption during the performance of one piece of music and show a musician as he/she is seen from the audience perspective (in full growth); Turning off the camera between the recording of different pieces is allowed. The video repertory requirements are specified in the competition program.

The competition consists of the qualifying round and 1st, 2nd, 3rd (final) live rounds held at the competition venue.
The applicants for the 1st round are chosen according to the results of the qualifying round based on the judgement of the submitted videos, applications and the attached documents and materials specified in the Application Procedure section.
The competition directorate will announce the qualifying round results before April 30, 2025.
The applicants who pass the qualifying round receive the official letter from the competition directorate containing the invitation to participate in the live rounds.
The applicants who do not pass the qualifying round receive the official letter from the competition directorate containing information on the competition jury’s decision to terminate their participation in the competition.
No more than 25 pianists can be admitted to the 1st round; no more than 12 pianists – to the 2nd round; no more than 6 pianists – to the 3rd round.
By decision of the Сhairman of the jury in the piano nomination, a vote of jury members may be initiated on admitting more participants to the next rounds (2nd and 3rd rounds), but not more than 3 people (this decision is made by jury members by a simple majority of votes).
The 1st and 2nd rounds include solo performances of the competition program; the 3rd round has two parts: a performance with vocalists and a performance with an orchestra.
The drawing procedure in the 1st round defines the order of the performances that remains unchanged throughout the competition. Only the competition jury has the right to decide on changing the order of performances.
Prior to the 1st round, the participants are provided with practice rooms and time for acoustic rehearsals on the stage of the concert hall where the competition will be held.
All the musical pieces should be performed by heart (excluding Rachmaninoff’s romances during the 1st part of the 3rd round).
All live performances of the contestants are open to the public.
The results of the participants’ performances are announced at the end of each round.

The piano nomination participants invited to the 1st round of the competition arrive at the competition according to the dates and place specified in the official letter of invitation. They will be provided with travel, meals and accommodation (single occupancy in a hotel of at least four star category), provided with transfers from the airport - railway station to the hotel and back.

The competition directorate pays for:
the airplane or train tickets (economy class) to the competition venue for the piano nomination participants admitted to the 1st round of the competition;
the airplane or train tickets (economy class) from the competition venue to the participant’s place of residence after they finish their participation in the competition or the gala concert;

The piano nomination participants invited to the 1st round of the competition are provided with meals and accommodation for the period of time between the date stated in the invitation and the date they finish their participation in the competition.

At their own request, contestants who have received an invitation to participate in the first round of the competition in the "piano" nomination may arrive earlier than the specified date to prepare for the competition and leave earlier than the end of the competition. In this case, they pay for their own expenses for their stay until the arrival date specified in the invitation, as well as for travel expenses.

Contestants pay for all expenses related to the exchange of tickets themselves.

Providing the competition directorate with copies of the original boarding passes or copies of electronic boarding passes is mandatory, otherwise the return travel will not be paid.
The piano nomination participants invited to the 1st round of the competition who live in the country with specific visa requirements for visiting the Russian Federation have to individually apply for a visa at the Russian consulate. The competition directorate undertakes to provide all the necessary invitations and bears all costs associated with obtaining a visa, but not liable for obtaining a visa by a contestant.
The participants who arrive to take part in the competition and refuse to perform for whatever reason are obliged to bear all the accommodation and travel expenses, as well as obliged to reimburse the competition directorate’s incurred expenses.
For underage participants, (under 18 years of age on the date of the competition), the competition directorate may additionally pay the travel and accommodation costs of their accompanying person. The accompanying person pays for their own meals by themselves.

1st prize – $30,000 USD and gold medal;

2nd prize – $20,000 USD and silver medal;

3rd prize – $10,000 USD and bronze medal;

4th prize – $5,000 USD and diploma;

5th prize – $4,000 USD and diploma;

6th prize – $3,000 USD and diploma;

Depending on the achieved results and limited by the established number of prizes, the competition jury has the right:
а) give out not all the prizes;
b) divide prizes between the participants.
In the piano nomination, the 2 best participants of the 2nd round who are chosen by the jury but cannot make it to the 3rd round will be awarded certificates and a stimulating prize of $1,000 USD.
Prizes are awarded by the jury members in accordance with the voting procedure stated in the jury regulations.The decisions of the competition jury are final and are not subject to revision.
Special and additional prizes might be established by other state, commercial, public or art organizations, both Russian and foreign, but only with the approval of the organizing committee. Such prizes must be approved by the organizing committee no later than the opening date of the competition.
Prizes are paid in accordance with the requirements of the legislation of the Russian Federation.
In order to transfer the prize, the contestant provides the bank account details to the competition directorate. The prize for participants under 18 years of age, if they do not have their own bank account, is paid in accordance with the bank details of their legal representatives.

The competition finalists participate on a fee-free basis in the closing ceremony and 2 concerts of the laureates (if any are announced) with a program approved by the competition directorate. The competition finalists also participate in the Russian and abroad concert tours of the laureates.
The finalists of the competition are considered all participants of the competition who made it to the final round, based on the results of which the jury of the competition decided they are awarded prizes and awards indicated in the “Prizes and Rewards” section.
All the competition rounds might be broadcast live by television programs and be recorded for the subsequent broadcasts as well as for audio and video releases. The competition will be partially or fully available for viewing on the Internet information and telecommunications network.
The competition directorate organizes photo and video filming, audio and video recording, Internet and television broadcast of the process of preparation and competition itself, including all rounds, the opening and closing ceremonies of the competition and the gala concert;
The participants undertake to sign a document confirming that they have no claims regarding the use by the competition directorate of the materials specified in paragraph 3 of the Special Terms. The competition directorate does not assume any financial liabilities on the usage of the produced materials to the participants.
The competition directorate does not provide:
a) any kind of insurance to the participants and persons accompanying them;
b) does not provide competition participants with stage costumes, make-up and shoes.
The application is the evidence of the participant’s full understanding of the conditions stated in the present Regulations as well as their commitment to follow them. Participant undertakes to sign an application for accession to the Offer-Agreement for participation in the competition.
The competition jury is approved by the organizing committee and includes famous musical personalities.
The activity of the competition jury is pursuant to the regulations of the competition jury approved by the organizing committee.
The media representatives, citizens of the Russian Federation and foreign citizens who acquire tickets to the events included in the main competition preparation and execution program or the citizens who receive invitations from the competition directorate, as well as persons accompanying the participants are considered the guests of the competition.
The Competition Directorate, at its discretion:
a) Independently establish the application fee for the participation in the competition. The amount of the application fee and the procedure for its payment, in this case, it is determined by the agreement (offer) for participation in the competition posted on the official website;
b) organize the cultural and excursion program for jury members during the competition.
All the information posted on the official website of the event is considered correct at the moment of its publication. The organizing committee retains the right to make all the necessary amendments. Should any conflict arise between the Russian and English versions of these terms, the Russian language version shall be controlling.

General Terms

1) All the pieces are performed in whole and by memory. Music notes (scores) are allowed during the 1st stage of the 3rd round for Rachmaninoff’s romances. Participants must not exceed the allotted time; the total performance time does not include the pauses between pieces. The jury has the right to stop performance in case a participant exceeds the allotted time. The right of repeats is left to the discretion of the competitor.

2) Participants should submit two copies of the sheet music they used to practice each musical piece.

3) Submitted repertory or the performance order of the musical pieces can be changed only upon authorization of the Competition Directorate.

4) All the musical pieces can be performed only once. However, repetitions are possible during the live rounds of the Competition as part of the qualifying round program.

5) At least in one live round, participants should perform musical pieces by the foreign composers written between 1887 and April 1943.

6) When applying for participation, competitors must state the dates and duration of the musical pieces of their choice.

Qualifying round (via video)

Free program of applicant’s choice – no less than 20 minutes and no more than 30 minutes.

1st Round

The solo program should consist of musical pieces by Sergei Rachmaninoff composed between 1887 and April 1943 as well as of musical pieces by Russian and/or foreign composers written during the same time period with the duration over 30 minutes and under 35 minutes, including the following parts:

1) Sergei Rachmaninoff. Small form (piano miniatures, Études-Tableaux, preludes, transcriptions*, the Op. 3 pieces, the Op.10 pieces, Six Moments Musicaux (parts of the cycle), etc. No less than 15 minutes.

2) Musical pieces by Russian and/or foreign composers, as selected by the participant.**

No less than 15 minutes.

* it is allowed to perform transcriptions of Rachmaninov's own works and Rachmaninov’s transcription of works by other composers as well.

**Only original works are allowed to be performed. Performances of transcriptions and paraphrases are allowed only in case when the authors used their own works as the main material, for example: I. Stravinsky – “Petrushka,” “Ragtime”, “Tango”; S. Prokofiev – Scherzo and march from the opera “The Love for Three Oranges”, D. Shostakovich – Polka from the ballet “Golden Age”, M. Ravel – “La Valse”, etc.

2nd Round

The solo program should consist of musical pieces by Sergei Rachmaninoff composed between 1887 and April 1943 as well as of musical pieces by Russian and/or foreign musicians composed during the same time period with the duration over 50 minutes and under 55 minutes, including the following parts:

1) Sergei Rachmaninoff. Large form (Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Variations on a Theme of Chopin, Six Moments Musicaux (entire cycle), Piano Sonata No. 1 in D minor, Op. 28, Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 36 (1st and 2nd editions). No less than 25 minutes.*

2) Musical pieces by Russian and/or foreign composers, as selected by the participant.** Long and short pieces. No less than 25 minutes.***

*If the duration of the piece of a large form is less than 25 minutes, other pieces by S.V. Rachmaninov (regardless of the form) should be included in the performance by contestant

***If the duration of the music by S.V. Rachmaninoff is no more than 30 minutes.

3rd Round

1st part (with vocalists)

Participants should perform Sergei Rachmaninoff’s romances for tenor (soprano) and piano, which they choose from the list (either tenor or soprano performances are allowed):

No more than 25 minutes.

«Arion», words by A.S. Pushkin, Op. 34 №5, tenor.
«A-оо!», words by K. Balmont, Op. 38, №6, tenor or soprano.
«The storm», words by A.S. Pushkin, Op. 34, №3, tenor or soprano.
«In the silence of the secret night…», words by A. Fet, Op. 4 №3, tenor or soprano.
«Spring waters», words by F. Tyutchev, Op. 14 №11, tenor or soprano.
«The Migrant Wind», words by K. Balmont, Op.34 №4, tenor or soprano.
«Vocalise», Op. 34, №14, tenor or soprano.
«He took all from me», words by F. Tyutchev, Op. 26 №2 tenor.
All wants to hymn (no opus), words by F. Sologub, tenor or soprano.
«How Long, my friend», words by А. Golenishchev-Kutuzov Op. 4 № 6, tenor.
«Dissonance», words by J. Polonsky, Op.34 №13, soprano.
«Child! Thou art as beautiful as a flower…», words by A. Pleshcheev after Heinrich Heine, Op. 8 №2, tenor.
«How Fair this Spot…», words by G. Galina, Op.21 №7 tenor or soprano.
«To her», words by A. Beliy, Op. 38 №2, tenor.
«How painful for me…», words by G. Galina, Op. 21 №12, tenor or soprano.
«What happiness…», words by A. Fet, Op 34 №12, tenor.
«The Rat-Сatcher», words by V. Bryusov, Op. 38 №4, tenor.
«Daisies», words by I. Severyanin, Op. 38 №3, tenor or soprano.
«Melody», words by S. Nadson, Op. 21 №9, tenor or soprano.
«The prayer», words by К. Romanov, (no opus), tenor or soprano.
«The Muse», words by A.S. Pushkin, Op. 34 №1, tenor.
«On the death of a linnet», words by V. Zhukovsky, Op. 21 №8, tenor or soprano.
«Believe me not, friend!..», words by А.Tolstoy, Op. 14 №7, tenor.
«It cannot be!..», words by A. Maikov, Op. 34 №7 tenor.
«Do not sing, my beauty…», words by A.S. Pushkin, Op. 4 №4, tenor or soprano.
«Night is mournful», words by I. Bunin, Op. 26 №12, tenor or soprano.
«In my garden at night…», words by A. Blok, Op. 38 №1, tenor or soprano.
«They answered», words by Lev Mey after Victor Hugo, Op. 21 №4, tenor or soprano.
«Fragment from Musset», words by Apukhtin after Alfred de Musset, Op. 21 №6, tenor.
«Beloved, let us fly», words by A. Golenishchev-Kutuzov, Op. 26 №5, tenor.
«I Beg for Mercy!», words by D. Merezhkovskky Op. 26 №8, tenor.
«The water lily», words by A.Pleshcheev after Heinrich Heine, Op 8 №1, tenor or soprano.
«Lilacs», words by E. Beketova, Op. 21 №5, tenor or soprano.
«The dream», words by F. Sologub, Op. 38 №5, tenor or soprano.
«Before my window…», words by G. Galina, Op. 26 №10 tenor or soprano.
«The fountain», words by F. Tyutchev, Op. 26 №11, tenor or soprano.
«These summer nights…», words by D. Ratgauz, Op. 14 №5, tenor or soprano.
«I wait for thee…», words by M. Davydova, Op. 14 №1, soprano.
«Not prophet I», words by А. Kruglov, Op. 21 №11, tenor.
«Again I am alone», words by I. Bunin, Op. 26 №9, tenor.

2nd part (with orchestra)

Participants should perform two piano concertos with orchestra composed between 1887 and April 1943.

At least one of them must be by Sergei Rachmaninoff; participants can choose to perform both concertos composed by Rachmaninoff. «Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini» Op. 43 also counts as a concerto.