A music contest is an event in which people compete for prizes by performing music. A music contest can be for solo performers or for small or large groups, such as orchestras, bands, or choirs. Some contests are for young people who are beginning to pursue a professional music career. Other music competitions may be for amateurs, which means that professional musicians are not eligible to compete.
The person who decides who the winner is is called the judge. At some major festivals, the team consists of several judges, who together decide who wins.
The British and International Federation of Music Festivals organizes music competitions for amateurs in many parts of the British Isles. Children and adults can participate by competing in music, speech, drama, and dance classes. Contests like these are often called “festivals” because the main reason for participating is to enjoy the performance, not just to win.
Many major international competitions are held for some of the most talented musicians from around the world. Winning a big competition can help a young musician launch a successful career. Some people think that winning a big competition can also be a bad thing, especially for musicians who are still very young. It may make them a star for a short time, but they still need to get better and mature as a musician and as a person.
Types of international music competitions vary widely: competitions of individual performers, choirs, musical ensembles, conductors, competitions in mastery of a particular type of musical instrument, etc.
The structure of competitions is usually stipulated in advance. Traditionally, they consist of three or four rounds. The number and size of prizes vary. Places are usually calculated on the basis of a 25-point system.
The locations of the contests can be:
- state capitals;
- large cities – cultural centers;
- the birthplace of a great composer;
- sometimes an international resort or tourist center with developed infrastructure and large tourist flows.
There are also “itinerant” contests, the place of which is not precisely fixed: they are usually held in different cities and have no permanent address.
The timing and timing of contests varies, but usually the most suitable months for the climate are chosen. It is customary for the same contest to be held at approximately the same time. The duration ranges from three to four days to two weeks.
The organizers and founders of competitions can be public authorities, government agencies, private individuals, commercial firms, musical institutions and organizations, and even individual musicians. Sometimes contests can act as promotional events.
The conditions of contests are very democratic and are set by the organizers. The most common restriction is the age: for performers – 35 years, for conductors – 40. Musicians of all nationalities, from any country, without distinction of gender, are allowed to take part in competitions.
Some competitions are particularly difficult to preselect, based on credentials and recommendations, in order to identify applicants who match the overall level of competitors. Performances then follow a pre-announced schedule. As a rule, the competition consists of a certain number of auditions-tours: from two to four.