Live: November 29 – violin and December 2 – cello & chamber music, Online: November 30 – December 3; Deadline for applications – November 26, 2025

Live competitions:

Violin – School of Arts No.4, Bucharest, Romania, starting with 10:00

Cello – ”Ion Manu” Cultural Center Otopeni, Romania, starting with 10:00

The list of the competitors: https://festivaluldearte.com/2025/11/30/competitors-6th-international-strings-chamber-music-2/

Fill out Annex 1 here: https://forms.gle/HzXubXqxCApfgC5B8

AGE GROUPS:

The International Strings & Chamber Music Competition of the Festival 4 Arts is addressed to children, youngsters, and adults, as follows:

• Group I – children under 9 years of age
• Group II – children aged between 9 and 11 years
• Group III – children aged between 12 and 14 years
• Group IV – youth aged 15 to 17 years
• Group V – youth aged between 18 and 20 years
• Group VI – adults older than 20 years (No age limitation)

The age must be reached by the start date of the competition. Each competitor will participate in a single age group, but can participate in several sections, paying the fee for each.  

CATEGORIES AND SECTIONS:

The International Strings & Chamber Music Competition of the Festival 4 Arts includes 2 categories, each with 7 sections, and each section with 6 age groups.

The categories are:

• Professionals (those in vocational education or music schools)
• Amateurs (those who study as a secondary instrument or in a private system)

The sections are:

1. Violin
2. Viola
3. Cello
4. Double bass
5. Harp
6. Guitar
7. Ensembles

MUSICAL PIECES REQUIRED:

a) Groups I-VI (professional soloists) – up to two pieces/studies;

b) Chamber music ensembles – at most two pieces or parts of them;

c) Amateurs (regardless of age) – up to two pieces of their choice, and the interpretation may be done on scores.

It is recommended that the pieces be performed from memory, for professionals, except for chamber ensembles and double bassists. Amateurs, double bassists and chamber ensembles can play the pieces by reading the score.

For the Online, all pieces will be recorded on a single video. It will be sent as a link to YouTube, where it was published, before submission. Alternatively, it can be sent as a file via WeTransfer or similar platforms to the e-mail address: festivaluldearte@gmail.com.

TIME LIMITATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Groups I and II – up to 10 minutes;
• Groups III and IV – up to 20 minutes;
• Groups V and VI – up to 30 minutes.

By the greatest timing we do not impose a lower limit, but only an upper one. Therefore, competitors must not exceed the utmost timing, but may perform pieces shorter than the required highest time of performance.    

Technical details FOR ONLINE:

The videos sent as files must be in .avi, .wmv, .mov or .mp4 format. The recordings must be clear in both image and sound, made without disturbances, background noise etc. The device must be positioned so that the whole body of the performer is visible. The instrument must also be visible. The footage should be landscape.

Make sure you have the consent of the accompanying musician to appear on the recording.

Recordings with computerized accompaniment (made electronically) and audio processing of the recording are not allowed.

The video must contain all the contest pieces.

Please dress in a neat and proper manner. Use of professional cameras or equipment is not a must. Videos taken with simple equipment, like mobile phones, are enough.

PARTICIPATION RULES:

For General Rules, click: https://festivaluldearte.com/2022/10/20/general-rules-for-participation-in-the-international-contest/

Article 1 – General conditions

1.1 The participants in this contest must adhere to the terms outlined in the Rules & Regulations.

Article 2 – Specific conditions for the International Strings & Chamber Music Competition

2.1 The video must be sent under the current Rules & Regulation of The International Strings & Chamber Music Competition of the Festival 4 Arts. It must be sent in the same day as the payment and the completion of the Annex 1 – Registration coupon. By signing it, the competitor / guardian acknowledges and agrees with Annex 2 – PUBLICATION RIGHT AGREEMENT and Annex 3 – Parental agreement to join in the contest for minor participants;

2.2 The video and the proof of payment will be sent to the email: festivaluldearte@gmail.com. The message’s subject must include the surname, name, category, and section. It should also list the age group in which the competitor participates (example: Smith John – Professionals, Violin, Group I). Failure to follow this mandatory rule, as well as some omissions in the form, will lead to automatic disqualification;

2.3 Competitors must pay the fee of:

For soloists:

1. 35 EURO, if the registration is made by October 10;
2. 45 EURO, if the registration is made between October 11 – November 26.

For ensembles:

1. 25 Euro / member x number of members of the ensemble, if the registration is made by October 10;
2. 35 Euro / member x number of members of the ensemble, if the registration is made between October 11 – November 26.

You can register only after sending the video for online participants. You must also send the proof of payment of the participation fee in one email. Completion of Annex 1 is also required.

The participation fee must be paid by bank transfer. Transfer it to the account of Asociatia Join4Arts at ING Bank, Bucharest. Use IBAN: RO96INGB0000999918429474 (RON). The Fiscal Code – CIF – is 52132900. The SWIFT Code is INGBROBU. The payment order must include: Participant’s Name, Section and Age Group.

or

By PayPal:

Participation fee for soloists

For participants abroad, it is easier to pay the participation fee through PayPal. The fee is not refundable.

45,00 EUR

Participation fee for ensembles / member

The contesting ensembles must consist of 2 or more competing members. The payment must include all members of the ensembles. The fee is not refundable.

35,00 EUR

The fee is not refundable.

Proof of payment of the participation fee and the video will be sent by email at festivauldearte@gmail.com , in the same time as the completed Annex 1.

2.4 Competitors can join in the solo and ensemble sections, with the fee payment for each of them.

Article 3 – Competition period

3.1 The 6th edition of The International Strings & Chamber Music Competition  of the Festival 4 Arts takes place according to the upcoming calendar:

September 23 – November 26 – Registration of competitors, receipt and evaluation of videos. The videos will be sent only during the registration period for the competition.

November 27 – 30 – Programming publication of videos on the YouTube channel for November 30, after 20:00 EET:  https://youtube.com/c/Festivaluldearte;

November 29 – Live competition for violin, viola, guitar and chamber music at the School of Arts No. 4 Bucharest, Romania;

December 2 – Live competition for cello and chamber music at the ”Ion Manu” Cultural Center Otopeni, Romania;

d) November 30 – December 3 – publishing the list of competitors and the links to YouTube on the festival website https://festivaluldearte.com/; public vote; judging the online competitors by the Jury, for each category/section/age group. The Jury will not be influenced by the public vote;

e) December 3, after 20:00 EET – Winners announcement and Online Laureates Gala (premiere broadcast on YouTube).

3.2 The competition period and all the dates mentioned above can be modified. The organizers must announce any changes in the competition regulations in advance on the aforementioned web page.

Article 4 – Winners announcement

The contest’s winners will be announced on December 3, 2025, after 20:00 EET, on the website of the Festival 4 Arts – https://festivaluldearte.com/.

Article 5 – The Jury

The Jury has 24 members, as follows:

Violin: Prof. Alexandra Acatincăi (”George Enescu” National College of Music Bucharest), Prof. Doina Elena Zaharia (”George Enescu” National College of Music Bucharest), Aron Cavassi – concert violinist, Prof. Laura Stanca („Victor Giuleanu” High School of Arts, Ramnicu Valcea), Prof. Manuela Călărași („Dimitrie Cuclin” Arts High School, Galați), Lia Davtyan (Armenia – „Classica Hugs” Festival Academy collaborator)

Viola: Prof. Dr. Camelia Vodă (”George Enescu” National College of Music Bucharest), Prof. Liliana Bobeică (”George Enescu” National College of Music Bucharest)

Cello: Prof. Jan Ickert (HfMDK Frankfurt), Prof. Hermina Noemi Marin (”George Enescu” National College of Music Bucharest), Cornelius Zirbo – concert cellist (Radio Chamber Orchestra), Prof. Mădălina Laura Radu (Bucharest Secondary School of Arts No. 4)

Double Bass: Prof. Univ. Cătălin Rotaru (USA), Arthur Popescu – concert double bassist (Switzerland), Prof. Bing Luo (Shanghai Conservatory of Music)

Harp: Prof. Dr. Miruna-Elena Vidican (”George Enescu” National College of Music Bucharest), Prof. Li-Ya Huang (Tianjin Juilliard School, China)

Guitar: Prof. Dr. Stan Zamfirescu (”George Enescu” National College of Music Bucharest), Prof. Mircea Oaneș (”George Enescu” National College of Music Bucharest), Prof. Dr. Xianji Liu (Shanghai Conservatory of Music)

Chamber Music: Prof. Jan Ickert (HfMDK Frankfurt), Prof. Hermina Noemi Marin (”George Enescu” National College of Music Bucharest), Cornelius Zirbo – concert cellist (Ploiești Philharmonic), Prof. Mădălina Laura Radu (Bucharest Secondary School of Arts No. 4)

The biographies of the jury members can be found by clicking on their name.

The jury will decide, based on a score, the winners of the prizes for each category, section, and age group. The decisions of the Jury are unique and final, no appeals are allowed. 

Article 6 – Prizes of the The International Strings & Chamber Music Competition

6.1 All participants in the contest will get diplomas submitted online upon demand. The number and value of pupils or students in the contest will determine the awards. Their mentors and the piano accompanying professor will also receive a Diploma of Excellence if requested.

6.2 Each section can obtain a “Grand Prix”, depending on the appreciation of the Jury. Each age group of each category and section will receive multiple awards. These include the First Prize, the Second Prize, the Third Prize, and Mentions. After announcing the winners, we will publish the Laureates Gala.

The prizes will consist of money or trophies. The Grand Prix value depends on the number of participants. There will be promotion on the festival’s YouTube channel and on Facebook. The winners are invited to give recitals at the Festival 4 Arts, Romania. Expenses for transport, accommodation, and meals for participation in recitals are not reimbursed. The prizes may also include discounts on the participation fee for the Masterclasses. This depends on the interest and availability of the winners. The Masterclasses are organized in the summer of 2026. All winners are invited to register for a Zoom interview in which they can make public their achievements and projects. The interview will be broadcast on the YouTube channel of the Festival (https://youtube.com/c/Festivaluldearte).

The number of prizes will be decided by the Jury, depending on the artistic value of the competitors.

6.3 All the data mentioned above can be modified, the contest organizers having the obligation to announce in advance on the festival website any possible changes in the contest rules.

6.4 The decisions of the Jury are unique and final, no appeals are allowed.

Article 7 – Judging Criteria

The jury will pay special attention to the quality of interpretation, respect for the musical text in the stylistic context of the compositional period, expressiveness, and interpretive personality in approaching the musical-artistic discourse