The International Piano Competition BCN "Victoria" is open to pianists of all nationalities, and is divided into different age categories:

· "Young Pianist" Category for those born between 2013-2016

· "Junior Pianist" Category for those born between 2008-2012

· "Advanced Pianist" Category for those born between 2003-2007

· "Senior Pianist" Category for those born between 1999-2004

The piano competition will take place in the City of Barcelona at "Victoria Music Center" Concert Hall from: Friday, April 12th until Sunday, April 14th (2024). 

The Application Deadline is on Monday, February 12, (2024).

PROGRAM:

"Young Pianist" >  One round 

• Performance of one classical music piece of maximum ten minutes long of the candidate's choice.

"Junior Pianist" > Two rounds

• Preliminary Round: Performance of one Study (Etude) and one Invention (3 voices) by Bach of the candidate's choice.
• Final Round: Performance of one classical music piece of maximum ten minutes long of the candidate's choice. 

"Advanced Pianist" > Two rounds

• Preliminary Round: Performance of one Study (Etude) by Moszkowski, Bortkiewicz or Chopin of the candidate's choice and Preludium and Fuge by Bach or Shostakovich.
• Final Round: Performance of an important composition of 19th, 20th or 21st century of the candidate's choice  (not less than 30 minutes and not longer than 45 minutes).

"Senior Pianist" > Three rounds

• Preliminary Round: Performance of one Study (Etude) by Chopin, Liszt, Saint-Saens, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Bartok, Prokofiev of the candidate's choice  and Preludium and Fuge or three movements from any Suite or Partita by Bach.
• Second Round: Performance of two important representative compositions from 19th century of  candidate's choice (not less than 30 minutes and not longer than 45 minutes).
• Final Round: Performance of two important representative compositions from 20th and 21st century of candidate's choice (not less than 40 minutes and not longer than 45 minutes).

JURY:

Tamara Atschba, jury president nominated for the Grammy Awards® in 2022, Opus Klassik 2022 and Deutsche Schalplatten Kritik for her last Album "20th Century feminine" that received a Diapason d'Or. She has been described by the critic as "incomparable, inspired pianist", she has toured all over the world.

Through her career, Tamara Atschba came across fascinating artistic personalities, such as Valentin Berlinsky, Claudio Abbado, Ruggero Ricci, Martha Argerich, Boris Berezovsky and Maxim Vengerov. Her strong musical personality, the high quality of her playing and the exceptional colours of her piano sound have been noticed by outstanding musicians such as Yehudi Menuhin, Zubin Mehta ("such a wonderful and powerful sound!"), Vladimir Ashkenazy ("an exquisite piano playing"), Vladimir Krainev, Liana Isakadze, Wolfgang Marschner, Ivry Gitlis („she is an amazing musician!“) and Yuri Bashmet.

Tamara Atschba has been frequently invited to give master classes throughout Europe and Asia, as well as a juror at international music competitions. 2015 she became a member of the „International Academy of Performing Arts and Sciences“.

Since 1995, Tamara Atschba has worked as a teacher at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. From 2016, Tamara Atschba is a co- founder and Vice - President of the Esperus Art Fund and Summer Music Academy in France and President of the Esperus Concerts Assosiation in Vienna. From 2020 Tamara Atschba is also Professor at the Schubert Concervatory in Vienna.

Xavier Chavarria is a musicologist, journalist and music critic.  Graduated in Catalan Philology, History and Music Science, has and Master in Musicology. He studied piano, singing and choral conducting in Barcelona and England. He is producer, scriptwriter and presenter at "Catalunya Música" Radio.

For ten seasons, he was the scriptwriter and presenter of the Clàssica de Televisió de Catalunya program.                                                          

He instructs Master's and Postgraduate courses at multiple Catalan universities, and presents lectures and Music History Seminars for various organizations in Catalonia and Spain.                                              

He is the creator and artistic director of the Audicions Intimes recital festival, and writes reviews and articles for several magazines such as Revista Musical Catalana and Serra d'Or, and is a jury member in several contests.

Victoria Montserrat is a music consultant and producer, she was a student of the great violinist Xavier Turull i Creixells (a pupil of Yehudi Menuhin and Pau Casals) and Antònia Pich i Santasusana her piano teacher.

Both of them, as well as giving her a great music education, guided her to start a successful career as a manager.  

She has organized concerts throughout Europe and the United States of America, and is jury member and artistic director in several internacional music competitions.

PRIZES:

Note: All prize winners will receive a diploma and a trophy.

"Young Pianist" Category:

1st prize: Scholarship for a master course at "Victoria Music Center" in one of our courses during the season 2024-25

2nd prize: Scholarship of 250€

3rd prize: Schorsphip of 125€

"Junior Pianist" Category:

1st prize: Scholarship for a master course at "Victoria Music Center" in one of our courses during the season 2024-25

2nd prize: Scholarship of 300€

3rd prize: Schorsphip of 150€

"Advanced Pianist" Category:

1st prize: Scholarship for a master course at "Victoria Music Center" in one of our courses during the season 2024-25. Solo Recital in our festival at "Victoria Music Center" in Barcelona and Concert with Orchestra in Italy.

2nd prize: Scholarship of 300€

3rd prize: Schorsphip of 150€

"Senior Pianist" Category:

1st prize: Scholarship of 1,500€. Solo Recital in our festival at "Victoria Music Center" in Barcelona and Concert with Orchestra in Italy.

2nd prize: Scholarship of 300€ and Solo Recital in our festival at "Victoria Music Center" in Barcelona.

3rd prize: Schorsphip of 150€

ACCOMODATION:

The closest hotel is:

• The Room Mate Gerard Hotel located at c/ d'Ausiàs Marc 34. Please contact us before booking to obtain a 12% discount.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

1. A completed online application form: (HERE)
2. Application fee payment of 95€ (you will receive an email to pay once your application has been submitted)