International Svendsen & Grieg Competition

RULES

Deadline: 28 February 2026

Winning results will be announced on 31 March 2026.

ISGC_Rules_ENG.pdf

Instruments and Categories

Keyboard Instruments

  • Piano

  • Harpsichord

  • Organ

  • Accordion

String Instruments

  • Violin

  • Viola

  • Cello

  • Double Bass

  • Guitar

  • Harp

Woodwind Instruments

  • Flute

  • Oboe

  • English Horn

  • Clarinet

  • Bassoon

  • Saxophone

Brass Instruments

  • Trumpet

  • French Horn

  • Trombone

  • Euphonium

  • Tuba

Vocal Categories

  • Classical Voice

  • Musical Theatre

Percussion Instruments

  • Drum Set

  • Marimba

  • Xylophone

  • Vibraphone

Ensemble Categories

  • Piano Four Hands

  • Chamber Music (Duos to Octets)

Other Categories

  • Conducting

  • Composition (separate regulations apply; see below)

Age Groups

Age is determined as of the application deadline. For ensembles (Piano Four Hands and Chamber Music), the category is based on the average age of all members (e.g., sum of ages divided by number of members).

Pre-Junior Group: 6 years and under – maximum duration 7 minutes

Junior I: 7–9 years – maximum duration 10 minutes

Junior II: 10–12 years – maximum duration 12 minutes

Youth I: 13–15 years – maximum duration 15 minutes

Youth II: 16–18 years – maximum duration 20 minutes

Young Artist I: 19–22 years – maximum duration 25 minutes

Young Artist II: 23–27 years – maximum duration 30 minutes

Professional Group: 28 years and older – maximum duration 30 minutes

Rules

  1. The International Svendsen & Grieg Competition is conducted entirely online.

  2. The competition is open to participants of all nationalities and ages in the specified categories.

  3. The entry fee is €120 for solo participants and €120 per ensemble (for Chamber Music and Piano Four Hands). Payment is processed upon submission of the application form. Entry fees are non-refundable under any circumstances.

  4. Repertoire is free choice and may consist of one or more works. Performances may be solo, with piano accompaniment, or with orchestral backing (recorded or live).

  5. While repertoire is free choice, the Organizing Committee encourages participants to include works from different musical periods (e.g., Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Contemporary) to demonstrate comprehensive artistic expression.

  6. Participants are free to choose whether to perform with or without the score. Performing from memory does not provide any additional points or advantage in scoring.

  7. Video recordings must be unedited single takes with no added effects or post-production alterations (except for basic assembly of multiple pieces into one video if needed). Video and audio quality will not influence judging, but must be sufficient to clearly show and hear the performer(s). Hands, face, and instrument(s) must be visible where applicable.

  8. Submitted videos must have been recorded within 12 months prior to the application deadline.

  9. Applicants must provide full repertoire details in the application form: title(s), composer(s), and duration(s). Videos must be submitted via public or unlisted links on YouTube, Vimeo, or similar platforms.

  10. By entering, participants grant the Competition organizers irrevocable, non-exclusive rights to use submitted materials (videos, photos, and performances) for promotional purposes, including online, social media, CD/DVD releases, without any claim to compensation.

  11. Awards are assigned based on the following scoring thresholds (out of 100 points):

    Star Grand Prize: Selected by the Organizing Committee as the most outstanding entrant overall.

    Grand Prize: 98–100 points

    First Prize: 93–97 points

    Second Prize: 86–92 points

    Third Prize: 79–85 points

    Fourth Prize: 72–78 points

    Special Mention: 65–71 points

    Honorable Mention: 55–64 points

    In case of tied scores, prizes may be shared.

  12. Photos and biographies of Star Grand Prize, Grand Prize, and First Prize winners will be published on the official website. In cases of ties within the same category, younger participants will be prioritized.

  13. The Organizing Committee reserves the right to withhold the Star Grand Prize if no entrant is deemed suitable.

  14. Final rankings in cases of cross-category ties are determined by the Jury.

  15. Decisions of the Jury and Organizing Committee are final and not subject to appeal.

  16. All participants receive a digital diploma. Teachers and accompanists may request certificates upon application.

  17. The Star Grand Prize winner will be invited to join the Jury in future editions (with remuneration for judging duties).

  18. Grand Prize winners receive a cash award of €400 each.

  19. The teacher with the most winning students may be invited to join the Jury in future editions.

Composition Category (Separate and Independent)

Age Groups for Composition Category

Junior I: 12 years and under

Junior II: 13–15 years

Youth: 16–18 years

Young Artist I: 19–22 years

Young Artist II: 23–28 years

Professional I: 29–35 years

Professional II: 36 years and older

Rules for the Composition Category

1.The Composition category is open to composers of all nationalities.

2.The entry fee is €120 per submitted work. Entry fees are non-refundable.

3.Works must be scored for solo piano or string quartet only.

4.Maximum duration: 7 minutes.

5.Works must be original, unpublished, and unperformed (never publicly performed or premiered prior to the competition.

6.Submissions must include: an anonymous PDF score and an MP3 audio file (high-quality MIDI or computer-generated realizations are also acceptable).

7.Submissions are anonymized and assigned codes before review by the Jury; the composer’s identity remains confidential.

8.Awards are assigned based on the following scoring thresholds (out of 100 points):

Star Grand Prize: Selected by the Organizing Committee as the most outstanding entrant overall.

Grand Prize: 98–100 points

First Prize: 93–97 points

Second Prize: 86–92 points

Third Prize: 79–85 points

Fourth Prize: 72–78 points

Special Mention: 65–71 points

Honorable Mention: 55–64 points

In case of tied scores, prizes may be shared.

9.Works receiving the Star Grand Prize will be promoted across Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Deezer, and other major music streaming services.

10.Grand Prize winners receive a cash award of €400 each. 

11.The Organizing Committee reserves the right to withhold the Star Grand Prize if no entrant is deemed suitable.

12.Photos and biographies of Star Grand Prize, Grand Prize, and First Prize winners will be published on the official website. In cases of ties within the same category, younger participants will be prioritized.

13.Final rankings in cases of cross-category ties are determined by the Jury.

14.Decisions of the Jury and Organizing Committee are final and not subject to appeal.

15.All participants receive a digital diploma. Teachers and accompanists may request certificates upon application.

16.The teacher with the most winning students may be invited to join the Jury in future editions.

By submitting an application, participants acknowledge and accept these regulations in full. The Organizing Committee reserves the right to amend regulations as necessary for operational reasons, with updates published on the official website.

Last updated: 6 January, 2025