Competition Rules

6th International Clarinet Competition Ghent
Flanders/Belgium
October 30, 2024 –November 8, 2024

Registration Conditions

The International Clarinet Competition Ghent is an organization of INTERNATIONAL MUSIC PROMOTION (IMP). International Music Promotion is a Belgian legal non profit organization.
The 6th International Clarinet Competition Ghent is open to all clarinetists from any nationality who were born after 1 January 1988. No exceptions will be considered for the age requirement.

The competition will take place from October 30 until November 8, 2024. Candidates register on October 29, 2024. A pre-selection will be organized in advance (deadline inscription preselection is June 30, 2024 at midnight Belgian time).

Inscription

The closing date to enter for the preselection is June 30,2024 at midnight Belgian time. Applications can only be made on the website.
The following documents needs to be uploaded into the registration form (Google From):

• an official document confirming the age of the candidate (Birth certificate or copy of passport or identity card)
• a short biography: max. 1400 characters in continuous English text (studies, schools, teachers, professional activities)
• 1 recent photo (max 10MB)
• proof of payment of registration fees for the pre-selection (125€ net, cost shall be borne by the candidate.)
• videorecording of program of the preselection via hidden YouTube links.

The Official postal address of the competition is:
INTERNATIONAL MUSIC PROMOTION vzw
Mrs. Severine Sierens
Burgemeester De Schryverhof 13
B-9080 LOCHRISTI

No registered mail will be accepted.

Registration fee

The registration fee for the ‘6th International Clarinet Competition Ghent’ (edition 2024) is set at 125€ (one hundred and twentyfive euro) for the elimination round (dossier costs).

After the elimination round, the selected candidates pay an registration fee of 200€ (two hundred euros) for the actual competition. Candidates who pass the elimination round will receive 1 free copy of the obligated piece of the semi final of Johan Duijck.

This amount must be deposited in:

BELFIUS N.V.
Grote Markt 21
B-8870 IZEGEM (Belgium)

IBAN BE 48 0688 8909 2327
BIC GKCCBEBB
Account number 068-8890923-27

INTERNATIONAL MUSIC PROMOTION vzw
Burgemeester De Schryverhof 13
9080 Lochristi
(text : Registration Fee ‘6th International Clarinet Competition Ghent’ and name of the candidate)

Cheques will not be accepted. The registration fee is not refundable in case of non-participation in the competition.
 

Arrival, accommodation and transport

Candidates must report at the information desk of the competition (Koninklijk Conservatorium Hoogpoort 64, 9000 Gent) on October 29, 2024.

IMP will offer candidates to stay in host families from the semifinal and for the duration of participation in the competition so onlyas long as they are in the running of the competition. For the candidates who do not wish to stay with a hosting family, IMP will suggest a number of hotels, B&B’s and youth hostels at special rates. This list can be obtained from the secretary upon request. Candidates are RESPONSIBLE for their OWN booking and payment of these rooms.

The participants must take out their OWN health and personal insurance for the duration of their participation in the competition and their stay in Ghent/Belgium.

The organization of the competition shall under no circumstances be held responsible for injury, harm or illness of the candidate or his/her belongings during his/her stay in Ghent/Belgium.

The competition

The ‘6th International Clarinet Competition Ghent’ includes a preliminary selection round. From this round there will be chosen

• a maximum of 65 successful candidates will be selected to participate in the competition
• maximum 15 reserve candidates who will be selected to participate if candidates withdraw from participating in the competition.

By participating in the pre-selection, the first 25 non-selected candidates will be invited for free masterclasses with the jury members during the competition on November 6 and 7, 2024. This is an offer to which only they will be invited. The 15 reserve candidates (see above) will be the first to be considered for these master classes. These 25 individuals will also receive free admission to attend the selection rounds, semi-final and final concerts of the competition. These candidates are responsible for their own travel- and accommodation costs.

The results of the preselection round will be announced on the website of IMP by July 15, 2024 at the latest and all inscribed participants receive an email.

The selected candidates must register for the actual competition by the August 1, 2024 at the latest. Only after payment of the registration fee will he/she be accepted as a candidate in the competition. Reserve candidates will be informed by August 20, 2024 at the latest if they are still able to register for the competition. They then have the opportunity until August 31, 2024 to register themselves in the competition.

After payment of the registration fee of the actual competition the candidate can request an invitation from the organization (for their visa). This invitation will always include the duration of the competition. Exceptions can be discussed with the organization.

Candidates that pass one round are obliged to participate in the next round. Should the candidate, for one reason or another, fail to do so then his/her place will NOT be taken by the candidate with the next highest score or vote.

If a candidate admitted to the next round, withdraws participation in that round, the offered accommodation with the host family expires unconditionally on the same day.

The actual competition consists of 4 rounds:

• First round
• Second round
• Semi Final (with choir and string quartet)
• Final (with Casco Phil)

All rounds are open to the public.
The results will be announced after every round. The decisions of the jury are final and irrevocable.

Program

Preselection

Selection Round
The candidate is required to send a YouTube link with his/her registration with a recording of the following:

1. Première Rhapsodie – Claude Debussy with piano accompaniment
2. Three Pieces only movement 2 and 3 - Igor Stravinsky (recording as 1 continuous video)

The recordings clearly show the clarinetist including fingers and face and may not have been edited. The recording must take place indoors (outdoor recordings are not accepted).
Closing date to inscribe is June 30, 2024 at midnight Belgian time.
  

Actual Competition

1°round online:

1. W. A. Mozart / Concerto movement 1 (without pianorehearsal
2. P.G. Jiménez / Rhythms and Tones fort he angels for clarinet and electronics (edition IMD)

2°round:

1. Obligated: R. Schumann / Fantasiestücke Op. 73
2. Make your choice:
   • F. Poulenc / Sonata
   • L. Bernstein / Sonata
   • C.M. Widor / Introduction & Rondo Op. 72
   • J. Fontyn / Mime II (edition Bote & Bock)
3. Make your choice:
   • I. Gotkovsky / Concerto Lyrique (edition Billaudot)
   • A. Copland / Concerto
   • H. Tomasi / Concerto
   • J . Rueff / Concertino (edition Alphonse Leduc)

Semi-Final (with string quartet and mixed choir)

1. Obligated: J. Duijck / Ich Liebe Dich for 3 clarinets, piano and mixed choir.
   Performed with the ‘Gents Madrigaalkoor’ conducted by the composer. Candidates must prepare the 3 clarinet parts. After the 2nd round we will announce who needs to play which part.
2. Make your choice (with string quartet):
   • W.A. Mozart / Quintet
   • C.M. von Weber / Quintet
   • J. Brahms / Quintet
   • M. Reger / Quintet
3. A solo piece (without electronics, without tape... only clarinet) . If you chose a piece of more then one movement you need to play all movements.

Each candidate will play 2 concerts for the semi final:

• 1 concert where they perform the solopiece and the piece with the mixed choir
• 1 concert where they perform the quintet with the Zemlinsky Quartet

Final (with Casco Phil)

1. Obligated: E. Desimpelaere / Concerto
2. Make your choice:
   • C.M. von Weber / Concerto N°2
   • L. Spohr / Concerto N°1
   • L. Spohr / Concerto N°2
   • F. Bender / Grand Concerto (edition IMD)
   • K.L. Hanssens / Concertino N°1 (Metropolis Music Publisher)

Prizes

Official prizes

The ‘6th International Clarinet Competition Ghent’ awards the following prizes:

First Prize

• A set of Buffet Crampon clarinets. Type determined by the candidate (Bb and A)
• 15000 € (this can include 2 years of international concert management)
• Solo concert(s) and recital(s)

Second Prize

•  Buffet Crampon Bb or A clarinet (type determined by choice of the candidate)
• 4000 €

Third Prize

• 2000 €

The total of the prizes may be updated.

Special prizes

There may be awarded special prizes.

Special offers and recordings

The laureates can - for a period of 2 years after the closing of the competition - be offered concerts.
The candidates renounces all recording rights for any recordings that will possibly be made during the ‘6th International Clarinet Competition Ghent’. 

Jury

The jury will consist of a number of international soloist and pedagogues.
The decisions made by the jury are incontestable and cannot be disputed.

Master classes

During the competition (November 6 and 7, 2024) IMP will organize master classes for maximum of 25 non selected candidates from the pre-selection with the members of the jury (see ‘The Competition’). The chosen musicians will be notified by August 20, 2024 at the latest. They need to notify the organization before the September 30, 2024 whether or not they will take part. The travel- and hotel costs are to be borne by the candidate. 
These masterclasses are both active and passive. Participants can follow the lessons of others and will also receive individual lessons.

Pianists /Accompanists

The organization of the ‘6th International Clarinet Competition Ghent’ will provide the necessary official pianists/accompanists for the competition. For the 1^ste round there is no pianorehearsal. Every candidate will receive ONE rehearsal for the 2nd round. Additional rehearsals can be negotiated by the candidate with pianists, taking into account the availability of the accompanist. The costs of these additional rehearsals are to be borne by the candidate. 
Candidates may bring their own accompanists at their own expense. 

Dispute

In the event of a dispute, only the Dutch-language regulations shall apply. No dispute is possible against this.

Participation in the competition

Participation in the competition means complete acceptance of the rules and regulations.

Privacy

The personal data of the candidate is only provided to the secretariat of International Music Promotion / IMP and is only used for its organizations. Personal data is protected against irregular processing and is never passed on to parties with whom IMP has no processing agreement. The candidate can always request the personal data from IMP, view it and if necessary, correct it. The uploaded biography and photo of the selected candidates will be published on the website of the ‘6th International Clarinet Competition Ghent’.