AUDITION RULES

201415 DUTCH CLASSICAL TALENT Spring 2013

Candidates 1. Dutch Classical Talent is open to young musicians (instrumentalists and vocalists) who are musically and technically capable of performing a professional chamber music programme. 2. Candidates may apply as a soloist, duo or ensemble. 3. The term soloist is taken to mean an instrumentalist/vocalist with or without accompaniment. 4. The term duo is taken to mean two instrumentalists, or a vocalist and an instrumentalist. 5. The term ensemble is taken to mean a permanent group made up of three or more musicians. 6. The jury will judge all musicians auditioning (including accompanists) on the basis of their eligibility to take part in the Tour & Award scheme. 7. Soloists are responsible for choosing an accompanist who is both suitable and available to participate in the scheme. The accompanist will be distinguished from the soloist in all communications during the course of the scheme. The Award will be conferred on the soloist. 8. With the exception of vocalists, candidates may not be older than twenty-seven upon application. For vocalists, the maximum age is thirty. The average age of the members of an ensemble may not exceed twenty-seven. Soloists accompanists may not be over the age of thirty-five. 9. Candidates must be enrolled on a Masters performance degree programme at a Dutch conservatory, or must have already obtained such a Masters performance degree at a conservatory either in or outside the Netherlands. 10. Upon application, non-Dutch candidates must have been enrolled on a Masters performance degree programme at a Dutch conservatory for at least two years, or must have already obtained such a Masters performance degree at a Dutch conservatory. At least half the members o f an ensemble must satisfy this condition. 11. All candidates must present a letter of recommendation from their teacher (students) or from a renowned musician (graduates) including an approval of the audition programme submitted. 12. Candidates may always reapply if they have been rejected in the past. Previous winners of the Tour & Award scheme or the Vriendenkrans Competition/Het Debuut may not reapply.

201415 Dutch Classical Talent Audition Rules

Auditions 13. The auditions consist of two rounds, the first being closed, and the second being open, to the public. 14. A maximum of thirty-five candidates will be admitted to the first round. A maximum of eight candidates will be admitted to the second round. 15. Fully completed application forms are processed in the order in which they are received. 16. Incomplete applications lacking the attached documents required will not be accepted. 17. In the event of doubt, the Dutch Classical Talent organisation will settle any matters relating to admission to the Dutch Classical Talent auditions on the basis of recommendations made by the artistic management. 18. Successful candidates will be informed of the time of their audition no later than two weeks before the first round of auditions. From this point on, the audition time cannot be changed. 19. First-round auditions will last up to twelve minutes, and second-round auditions up to twenty-five minutes.

Audition programme 20. Prior to their audition, candidates must submit a recital programme of approximately eighty minutes in length (not including the interval). Note that this is not the programme to be used during the Tour. The Tour programme will be put together with the aid of the programme coach during the coaching programme. 21. The audition programme should be adventurous and should demonstrate the full breadth of the instrument or ensemble and the candidates repertoire. 22. The candidate must provide as accurate a performance time as possible for each composition and all individual movements. 23. The audition programme should be accompanied by a brief written explanation (about two paragraphs long) as to the candidates reasons for wishing to take part. 24. In addition to an audition programme about eighty minutes long, the candidate must submit audition selections of approximately twelve and approximately twenty-five minutes. These audition selections will be submitted to the jury for approval and, where necessary, modified on the basis of the audition programme. 25. During the week preceding the audition, the jury will inform each candidate of the final first-round audition selection.

201415 Dutch Classical Talent Audition Rules

Powers of the jury 26. For both rounds of auditions, the jury will consist of at least five and no more than nine members; there is a possibility, should the need arise, that the jury may be extended to include one or more outside experts. 27. All decisions taken by the jury are final. 28. The jury will judge the audition programmes and will make changes to the preferred selections if necessary. The candidate will be informed of the final audition selection during the week preceding the first round of auditions. 29. In both rounds, the jury may ask that candidates perform only a portion of the works selected and may interrupt performances. 30. At the end of the first round of auditions, the jury will select up to eight candidates to participate in the second round. 31. At the end of the second round of auditions, the jury will select up to four winners to participate in the Tour & Award scheme and will distribute the scholarships available. 32. Following the second round of auditions, all applicants who have not been selected as winners may discuss their performances with the members of the jury over the telephone.

General terms and conditions 33. A grand piano will be made available to candidates taking part in the auditions and the final. Candidates must provide any other instruments they may need. In addition, participants are responsible for bringing their own page-turners. 34. By participating in the second round of auditions, the candidate commits to the possibility that he/she may be selected as one of the four winners who will take part over the next eighteen months in the Tour & Award scheme, which consists of a coaching programme, a concert tour of approximately ten Dutch concert halls and the Dutch Classical Talent Final. 35. By signing the application, the candidate agrees to the terms and conditions set out in these rules. 36. All cases not provided for in these rules will be decided on by the Dutch Classical Talent organisation.

201415 Dutch Classical Talent Audition Rules