Boroondara Eisteddfod Piano Concerto Competition

Each year the Zelman Symphony presents the Final of the Boroondara Eisteddfod Piano Concerto Competition.

Entrants are required to first perform in a heat with piano accompaniment. Three finalists are selected from the heats, and perform with the full Zelman Symphony at the Final concert.

Rules

• Two works or selections must be nominated in the entrant's application
  • This is so that if music cannot be obtained for the entrant's first selection, there is a second selection.
• Each work should be scored for solo piano with a classical or romantic symphonic orchestral accompaniment. Typically it will be a piano concerto, but a few other works (eg. Rachmaninov Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini) will also be acceptable.
  • It is advisable that at least one nominated selection is by a well known composer of the classical or romantic era.
• Time limit for Heats: Minimum: 10 minutes, Maximum: 20 minutes
• Time limit for Final: Minimum: 15 minutes, Maximum: 25 minutes

Name of Work

Entrants should be aware that orchestral parts for the nominated works need to be available for the final, and that sometimes this is not possible. To assist the orchestra with its planning, it is important to correctly nominate the works, so that the orchestra can advise if the work can be performed in the final.

When nominating a work, it is essential to correctly and fully name the work, the selection to be performed, and ensure it meets the other rules.

Entrants are requested to fully specify the work, in this order:

• Composer
• Concerto Number (unless the composer only wrote one concerto)
• Key
• Opus or other cataloguer's number

Examples:

• Mozart, W.A. - Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K.467 (Movement 1 for heat, 1&2 for Final)
• Saint-Saëns - Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op.22 (Movements 2&3 for heat, all for Final)
• Greig - Piano Concerto in A minor, Op.16 (Movements 2&3 for Heat and Final)

Selection

To meet the competition's time limit requirements, the length of the nominated selection should be determined in advance of the nomination. The entrant may choose to play a different selection in the heat and the final.

To determine if a proposed selection meets the competition's time rules, the Entrant can either time their own performance, or refer to other sources such as CD recordings or online music sites.

Rehearsals for Finalists

There will be two formal rehearsals prior to the Competition Final.

In 2010:

• The first will be at James Tatoulis Auditorium, Methodist Ladies College, 207 Barkers Road, Kew, on 18 May 2010.
• The second will be at Hawthorn Town Hall, Burwood Road, Hawthorn, on 25 May 2010.

The conductor may also invite the finalists to attend rehearsals at the orchestra's usual rehearsal venue in Kew. These rehearsals will be on Tuesday evenings prior to the formal rehearsals at Hawthorn Town Hall and MLC.

Queries

If prospective entrants would like some advice on the feasibility of performing any work, they can contact the orchestra via email.