3rd International Sibelius Conductors' Competition 12th to 15th September, 2005


GENERAL
The International Sibelius Conductors' Competition will take place in Helsinki in September 2005 at the Finlandia Hall with the Helsinki Philharmonic and Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestras. The competition is held every five years.

The competition is open to conductors under the age of 35 on 1st September 2005.


APPLICATIONS
Applications must be sent to arrive by 1st May, 2005 at the following address:

3rd International Sibelius Conductors' Competition
Finlandia Hall
FIN-00100 Helsinki
Finland


Applications must include:
(1) a photocopy of birth certificate or passport (or similar document)
(2) curriculum vitae
(3) a photocopy of academic qualifications
(4) any other documents giving proof of past professional work
(5) two recent passport-size photographs (b/w)

Candidates are required to submit a video recording (on VHS) of at least 10 min duration of a work of standard orchestral repertoire. Please enclose an exact written list of the work(s) on the tape.

The applications will be assessed by the competition committee who will make their selection on the basis of the entrance papers and the video recordings submitted. Those accepted for the competition will be informed after 1st July, 2005. An official invitation will be sent, containing information about the venue, date and exact time that each candidate must register (in person), with an identification card.

Not later than 1st September, 2005 each selected candidate must confirm by fax/telegram/e-mail his or her intention to participate in the preliminary round at the announced place and time. If any of the 30 (max.) selected candidates should decide not to attend or should fail to communicate their intention to participate, extra candidates may be chosen as replacements.


TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION
Those invited to take part in the competition will be given accommodation with Helsinki families free of charge for the entire period of the competition. Every competitor must pay his/her own return travel expenses to Helsinki. The Secretariat will book hotel accommodation for those wishing to stay at a hotel at their own expense. Those competitors needing a visa to enter Finland should obtain one themselves from the Finnish Consulate in their own country.


COMPETITION PROCEDURE AND PROGRAMME
The competition will be in three parts, all of which are public performances.

A draw will be held before the first round to decide the order of performance. The jury will decide at the end of each round how many and which candidates will proceed to the next round.

The score of the compulsory work by Finnish composer will be sent to candidates in advance by the committee.

ROUND I

  
   

Claude Debussy:

Prêlude à l'après-midi d'un faune

Richard Strauss:

Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Op. 28

Ludwig van Beethoven:

Symphony No. 1, Op. 21
I Adagio molto - Allegro con brio
   

ROUND II

  
   

Uljas Pulkkis:

New work

Gustav Mahler:

Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen

Igor Stravinsky:

Petrushka (1947 version)

   

SEMI-FINAL

  

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:

Die Zauberflöte
Ouvertüre

Jean Sibelius:

 Symphony No. 4, A minor, Op. 63
I Tempo molto moderato, quasi adagio
III Il tempo largo
   

FINAL

  
   

Jean Sibelius:

A symphony by Sibelius

 

JURY
The Jury will consist of Finnish and international experts. The jury will be announced in Spring 2005, and will preside over all rounds of the competition.
The jury will assess and select the candidates in accordance with the above regulations. The Chairman of the Jury will have the right to call in, at any time, new members of the Jury if for any reasons the ones previously announced cannot be present.

PRIZES
A total of 37,000 euros in prizes will be awarded in the competition.

I 15,000 euros
II 12,000 euros
III 10,000 euros

However the jury has the right to divide the prizes in some other way if it sees fit to do so. The prizes will be paid either in Euros or in a currency according to the prize-winners' wishes at the official rate of exchange on the prize-giving day.

Prizes will be awarded during the official ceremony immediately following the Final.

The winner will not be eligible to take part in future Sibelius Conductors Competitions.

Participants will receive no financial compensation for television, radio or video recordings and broadcasts of the competition, including international coverage.

The decisions of the Organisers and of the Jury are final. Applicants must agree to abide by all the above regulations.

The competition rules are published in two languages, English and French. Only the English text is considered official.