George Gershwin International Music Competition

Rules & Requirements

GENERAL INFORMATION

The V G.Gershwin International Music Competition will be held in New York City, USA, March 13-17 and June 17-22,
under the auspices of
Billingual Education and Cultural Perspectives Foundation and The Link Music Management.

The Founder of the G.Gershwin International Music Competition is Michael Bulychev-Okser.

G.Gershwin International Music Competition welcomes musicians of all nationalities around the world.

The Competitions-2023 are held in the following sections: String instruments and Young Artists' Chamber Ensembles
Strings will compete March 13-17, Young Artists' Chamber Ensembles will compete June 17-22, while all winds/brass and voice will compete in 2024.

English is the official language of the G.Gershwin International Competition.

First-prize winners of previous G.Gershwin International Music Competitions are not eligible to compete.

In some cases foreign competitors will need visas. Applicants should consult the nearest American Embassy or Consulate for advice.
G.Gershwin Competition can provide a formal letter of invitation to a competitor in need of a visa.
All expenses related to visa will be born by the contestant.

During the dates of the Competiton, participants are responsible for own accommodatation. Upon request, competition can recommend a complimentary or a low-cost housing options with a host-family or an Airbnb. Please request accommodation by email at least 1 month prior to the start of the competition.
Competitors who are not participating in the Final Round of the Competition are not required to stay until the end of the Competition, although they are strongly encouraged to do so.
Any cost of airfare will be born by the contestants. Similarly, any cost incurred by changing dates of travel will be at the competitor’s expense. Practicing. Limited number of free-of-charge practicing locations will be available upon request. Please contact Nataly Becker, competition coordinator, to reserve early: gershwincompetition@gmail.com
Commercial practicing studios locations will be provided.

All phases of the Competition will be open to the general public.

All information contained in this document was correct at the time of publication.

G.Gershwin International Music Competition reserves the right to make changes in the competition format or rules, if the circumstances require it.

ELIGIBILITY

Solo instruments (Piano ~ Strings ~ Winds/Brass)

The age limit of participants at the date of the Competition opening date:
Artists Category - Not younger than 18 and not older than 38 years inclusive
Young Artists Category - Not younger than 13 and not older than 17 years inclusive
Talent Show Category - Not younger than 8 and not older than 12 years inclusive

Singers:
Artists Category - Not younger than 18 and not older than 39 years inclusive
Young Artists Category - Not older than 17 years inclusive

Ensembles - average age:
Artists Category - Not younger than 18 and not older than 38 years inclusive.
Young Artists Category - Not younger than 8 older than 18 years inclusive

RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE COMPETITION

1. The Competition will consist of three separate rounds: Preliminary, Semifinal, and Final.

2. The order of appearance of pianists in the Semifinal and Final Rounds will be determined by a drawing of lots, which takes place at the Opening day of the competition. The Semifinal and Final Rounds of Competition will follow this order except for reasons of accident, illness, or other unusual circumstances at the discretion of the G.Gershwin Competition Committee.

3. All rounds of the Competition will be broadcasted live and recorded for subsequent broadcast, video, or audio recording use. It is anticipated that a CD recording of selected Competition performances will be commercially produced, that a documentary of the Competition incorporating selected performances will be produced for television and DVD, and that parts or all of the Competition will be made available on the Internet. G.Gershwin Competition camera crew may videotape and/or photograph all Competition events.
All broadcasting and media rights belong to the G.Gershwin International Music Competition. Applicants are required to sign a release form yielding all rights on such materials to the G.Gershwin International Music Competition.

RULES RELATING TO PRIZES AND ENGAGEMENTS

1. All Finalists will be awarded certificates.

2. All Prize-winners must appear in person at the Competition Award Ceremony and perform at the Winners' Gala Concert. Failure to be present at the competition's Award Ceremony will result in nullification of the Prize(s) and the revocation of the Laureate Title.

3. Taxes will be deducted from prizes according to U.S. tax laws in effect at the time of the Competition.

4. Following the two-year period after the Gershwin Competition, The Competition Committee will organize a number of concert engagements for the competition winners. Scheduling of these engagements will take into account any prior commitments of the winners, but the winners will be expected to fulfill all prize engagements. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of a winner’s claim to prizes, awards, and engagements.

5. The names of all prize-winners, including the Diploma recepients, as well as finalists, etc. will appear on the G.Gershwin Competition Website. No exceptions.

6. The Grand Prix as well as any I Prize in any Category can not be divided.

PARTICIPATING LIVE OR ONLINE

1. G.Gershwin Music Competition welcomes participants of all nations. While Preliminary Round can be done via submitting an online recording(s), by the competition rule Semifinal and Final Rounds must be performed Live in New York.
However, a number of important exceptions makes it possible for participant to deliver their performance via a LiveStream or pre-recorded material for either Semifinal or a Final Round. These exceptions are:

A) Inability to attend the competition live due to inability to obtain US visa or other travel document problem.

B) Inability to travel due to the natural disaster or political/civil unrest in the country of competitor's origin.

C) A local outbreak of an infectious desease (such as Covid-19).

D) Individual circumstances (to be discussed by the Gershwin Competition Committee).

2. All performances via a Livestream or via a Pre-recorded performances will be watched by the Competition Jury members Live and can be observed by the competition participants and audience.

3. Online participants are eligible to receive the same prizes as Live participants. However, if suspected of a sound manipulation, misrepresentation of an audio or similar, an online participant may be disqualified and the prize will be annuled.

4. In case an online participant is unable to attend the Competition's Awards Ceremony, monetary prize will be transferred to the bank account of a participant.

COMPETITION ACCOMPANISTS

Gershwin Competition does NOT cover any costs related to piano accompanists. All costs of rehearsals (including space rentals), and performances are to be born by the contestants. Gershwin Competition can facilitate the process for contestants coming outside of New York by offering contacts of accompanists.

JURY RULES

1. All decisions of the Jury and the Gershwin Competition Committee shall be final, and no correspondence will be entered into regarding its decisions.
2. The Jury of the Competition shall have the rights:

Not to award all or some of the prizes
To share prize(s) among the established number of finalists, except the I prize, which can not be shared in any category.

3. Participants shall not communicate with jury members for as long as they take part in the Competition, nor shall any other person communicate with the jury members on behalf of any participant. Violation of this rule will result in automatic disqualification from the Competition.

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