Young musicians from around the world are invited to apply for the four sections of the Competition: cello, violin, piano, and composition.
The most important classical music competition in Romania and one of the most significant globally is now accepting entries for its 19th edition, scheduled to take place from August 31 to September 29, 2024, in Bucharest.
The George Enescu International Competition is an event held under the High Patronage of the President of Romania and is a strategic cultural project funded by the Romanian Government through the Ministry of Culture.
Next year, the George Enescu International Competition returns to its traditional format after two editions in which the organization was adapted to the context of the pandemic. The 19th edition will host all four sections in Bucharest, with the semifinals and finals taking place in the wonderful hall of the Romanian Athenaeum.
The competition comprises of four sections: cello, violin, piano, and composition, following the format of the previous years. The deadline for registration is May 10, 2024, for the cello, violin, and piano sections, while entries for the composition section are expected until June 30, 2024.
Young musicians can register online by accessing the official Competition website: concurs.festivalenescu.ro/apply/
Registration is done by completing the form on the website. The pre-selection jury for the Competition will take place online by analyzing the video recordings submitted by competitors, as designated by the organizer for each section. Following the pre-selections, the selected participants will proceed to the four stages held in Bucharest: Stage I, Stage II, Semifinal, and Final.
Stages I and II of each section will take place at the National University of Music Bucharest, while the Semifinals and Finals will be held in the Grand Hall of the Romanian Athenaeum.
“We are delighted to return to normal in regards to organizing the George Enescu International Competition after two challenging editions. We propose to the Romanian audience that they meet with the most talented young musicians in the world, future stars that we will discover together throughout the three weeks of the Competition,” stated Cristina Uruc, Interim Manager of ARTEXIM and Executive Director of the Enescu Competition.
A novelty starting this year is the extension of the age limit for registration up to 35 years, in accordance with the World Federation of International Music Competitions, an organization of which the George Enescu International Competition has been a part since 2002.
During the 2024 edition of the George Enescu International Competition, several extraordinary recitals will take place, featuring laureates from previous editions, members of the jury, and special guests.
The 19th edition of the Competition will open at the Romanian Athenaeum on August 31, 2024, with the Gala Concert performed by the National Radio Orchestra. On the stage of the Romanian Athenaeum, as soloists, Luxembourgish cellist Benjamin Kruithof, Romanian-born violinist Maria Marica, and Israeli pianist Alexandra Segal will interpret Paul Constantinescu’s triple concerto for violin, cello, piano, and orchestra.
The three winners of the 18th edition, as well as some of the finalists and winners from previous editions, could be followed this year during the 26th edition of the George Enescu International Festival, both in Bucharest at the Romanian Athenaeum and in the Festival Square, as well as in concerts held under the Enescu Festival in Satu Mare, Craiova, Arad, Botoșani, Râmnicu Vâlcea, or Pitești.
The total value of the prizes is 125,000 euros for the four sections of the competition. In addition to cash prizes, winners will benefit from national and international promotion and artistic launch through partnerships established by ARTEXIM, the organizer of the competition, with artistic management agencies and orchestras from Romania and abroad. Winning first place in the Enescu Competition 2024 is the ticket to the stage of the George Enescu International Festival in the 2025 edition— the most talented competitors will have the opportunity to perform in the next edition of the Festival alongside some of the world’s greatest orchestras.
“Beyond the awards and opportunities offered by the Enescu Competition, I believe the journey that a young musician goes through when deciding to participate in this competition is very important. Even if in the end we will have only three winning instrumentalists and two composers, I think all those enrolled will gain something from this experience. Now they will get acquainted with Enescu’s music, have the opportunity to perform on the stage of the Romanian Athenaeum, and will be able to discover the audience from Bucharest,” said Cristian Măcelaru, Artistic Director of the Festival and International George Enescu Competition.
Despre Concursul Enescu
Organized for the first time in 1958, simultaneously with the George Enescu International Festival, the Enescu Competition operates as an international launching platform for future world-renowned musicians. Additionally, the Competition promotes the compositions of the great Romanian musicianand composer among the new generation of artists worldwide, thus being a natural complement to the George Enescu International Festival, Romania’s most important international cultural event.
Since 2002, the Enescu Competition has been a member of the World Federation of Music Competitions, being the only classical music competition in Romania organized in accordance with the standards and status of the Federation. Starting in 2014, the Enescu Competition became a distinct event from the Festival and is organized every two years (alternatively with the years in which the Festival is organized).
The producer of the Competition is the Government of Romania, through the Ministry of Culture. The organizer is ARTEXIM, an institution under the Ministry of Culture. The George Enescu International Competition takes place under the High Patronage of the President of Romania. Organizing each edition is supported by institutional partners and sponsors from the private, artistic, and academic environments.
———————————-
The George Enescu International Festival is an event held under the High Patronage of the President of Romania.
Cultural project funded by the Romanian Government through the Ministry of Culture.
Main sponsor: Rompetrol
Mobility partner: Blue
Additional information:
[email protected] – tel: (+40) 21 – 317 80 81
