2022 Edition

Competition rules

Olivier Messiaen international competition

Concours Olivier Messiaen

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INTRODUCTION

Originally a contemporary piano competition, the Olivier Messiaen International Competition was established in 1967 as part of the Royan Festival and held in Paris until 2007. In 2019, Bruno Messina, director of the EPCC AIDA, was entrusted with its revival. Co-organised by the Public Establishment of Cultural Cooperation (EPCC) Arts en Isère Dauphiné Alpes (AIDA) and the Auditorium-Orchestre national de Lyon, the 2022 competition will be dedicated to the organ.

ARTICLE 1

The Olivier Messiaen International Competition is open to organists of any nationality born after January 1st, 1992. It will take place in Lyon from 1 to 5 November 2022 under the presidency of Benoît Mernier.

ARTICLE 2 – FORMAT

The Competition comprises four rounds: a preliminary elimination round based on recordings and three public rounds in Lyon.
Recordings for the preliminary round must be submitted by 15 May 2022.
The quarter-final round will take place at the Auditorium de Lyon on Tuesday 1 November 2022.
The semi-final round will take place at the Auditorium de Lyon on Thursday 3 November 2022.
The final round will take place at the Auditorium de Lyon on Saturday 5 November 2022.

ARTICLE 3 – DRAWS

At the quarter-finals and semi-finals, the playing order for competing performers will be decided by drawing lots. A second draw will determine the playing order for the final.

ARTICLE 4 – PROGRAMME

The detailed programme of the rounds will be posted on the Competition website (www.maisonmessiaen.com and www.auditorium-lyon.com/fr/concours-international-olivier-messiaen).
Les candidats pourront jouer les œuvres dans l’ordre de leur choix.
Les candidats devront indiquer leur programme au plus tard le 1er septembre à la Direction du Concours.
Des copies des partitions des œuvres non éditées devront être envoyées au plus tard le 1er octobre à la Direction du Concours..
Candidates can perform the pieces in the order of their choice.
Candidates must submit their programme to the Competition organisers by 1 September at the latest.
Copies of the scores for unpublished works must be submitted to the Competition organisers by
1 October at the latest.

ARTICLE 5 – PRIZES

Olivier Messiaen Grand Prize: €6000
Second prize: €4000
Third prize: €3000
Fourth prize: €2500
Prize for the best performance of the works by Olivier Messiaen: €2000
Prize for the best performance of the new work: €3000
Public prize: €1000
The Olivier Messiaen Grand Prize cannot be shared. The second prize can only be shared if the Olivier Messiaen Grand Prize is not awarded.
The winner of the Olivier Messiaen Grand Prize will be given engagements by the Auditorium-Orchestre national de Lyon and AIDA.

ARTICLE 6 – JURY

The jury is made up of international figures from the classic music world. Its members will deliberate at the end of each round. In the event of a tie, the President will have the deciding vote.
The jury reserves the right to interrupt a performance.
The jury reserves the right not to award all prizes.
There is no right of appeal to the jury’s decision.

ARTICLE 7 – APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS

Application forms can be downloaded from the Competition website (www.maisonmessiaen.com). They must be duly completed, signed and emailed (concours@olivier-messiaen.eu) to the Competition organisers no later than May 15, 2022 with the following documents attached:
– CV in English or French detailing music schools attended, main teachers, awards obtained and current professional status.
– Photocopy of an identity card, passport or other equivalent official document.
– A recent photograph with last name and first name included in the file name.
– Entry fee or proof of payment (see article 9).
– A recording of the pieces included in the preliminary round repertoire (see article 8).

ARTICLE 8 – PRELIMINARY ROUND

From the preliminary recorded round, 10 candidates will be selected to perform in the competition rounds in Lyon.
Recordings entered into the preliminary round can be performed in the three public rounds. They must be submitted with the application as mp3, wav or aiff files. Recordings must not be cut or edited. Deadline for submission: May 15, 2022, with the application form.
The names of the 10 selected entrants in the competition will be listed on the competition website on June 15, 2022.
Each chosen candidate will also receive the decision personally by email.

ARTICLE 9 – ENTRY FEE

The entry fee is €50. Candidates must pay the entry fee net of any additional costs at registration. Fees received by the Competition organisers cannot be refunded.
Payment methods will be explained on the application form.

ARTICLE 10 – VISAS

Any candidate who requires a visa to participate in the competition must take personal responsibility for applying for one. If a candidate is required to present a letter of invitation to obtain a visa, please request this from the Competition organisers.

ARTICLE 11 – RECORDING OF PUBLIC PERFORMANCES

Candidates waive the right to any remuneration from any recording or radio, television or web broadcast (streamed live or made available later) of performances (either in part or in full) in the competition rounds or in the final concert.

ARTICLE 12 – ASSISTANTS

Competitors are entitled to have an assistant of their choice at the console. In this case, they are responsible for covering all related travel and accommodation expenses. If a candidate has not appointed their own assistant, they can use assistants provided by the Competition. Requests for an assistant must be submitted to the Competition organisers by September 1st, 2022 at the latest.

ARTICLE 13

By signing the application form, candidates agree to all the terms and conditions stipulated in the Competition rules and are required to fulfil all engagements offered as part of any prize awarded. In the event of any dispute, only the French version of the Competition rules is binding.

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