Festival Regulation

9th edition of the International Festival for young pianist “CITTÀ DI MINERBIO"   
September 28 – October 4, 2025

Registration from May 1 to September 10, 2025

EMCY member and Alink-Argerich Foundation Federation

After the great success of the 2024 edition, we are hppy to announce the 9th edition of the International Piano Competition "Città di Minerbio" and the 9th edition of the International Festival for Young Pianists "Città di Minerbio," which will take place from September 28 to October 4, 2025, at the "Teatro Minerva" in Minerbio (BO). The 9th edition aims to continue the tradition of excellence and talent development, while also striving to engage the local community through live events and performances in which the candidates will be the protagonists, giving the event the feel of a musical festival. In the 2025 edition, candidates will have the option, upon registration, to request accommodation with host families in Minerbio, who will volunteer to host them for the duration of the competition. The competition and showcase are held annually and are reserved for solo pianists, with no age limit.  
We are proud to announce that our competition is a member of EMCY and the Alink – Argerich Foundation Federation, reflecting the artistic level achieved in previous years and confirming our commitment to the future of classical music.

The Festival is divided into 4 categories (Cat. JUNIOR up to 7 years, Cat. A up to 10 years, Cat. B up to 13 years, Cat. C up to 16 years). Each category consists of a single round with required pieces. Registration will be open from May 1 to September 10, 2025.

EVENT PROGRAM

The competition and the festival will take place from September 28 to October 4, 2025, at the "Teatro Minerva," via Roma 2, Minerbio (BO). All auditions will be open to the public and regulated according to the NO COVID guidelines.  
The event will begin on Sunday morning, September 28, with the first categories of the piano festival, and continue in the afternoon at 6:00 PM with the opening ceremony, hosted by the Absolute Winner of the 8th edition (2024), MARTINA MEOLA. The elimination rounds of the competition, featuring a double test, will start on the morning of September 29 with the first round of Category III, which has no age limits.  
Throughout the event, there will be Masterclasses and concerts given by the jury members, as well as performances by the candidates.  
The performance schedule will be published on www.comune.minerbio.bo.it on September 14, 2025. During the competition, practice pianos will be available for the competitors, and they can be booked at the time of registration. During the event, candidates who have given their availability will perform in concerts around the area (candidates must confirm their participation through the registration form, and information about venues and times will be available at the secretary’s office on the day of arrival, immediately after check-in). The event will conclude on Saturday, October 4, 2025, with the winners' concert.  
Key moments of the competition, the rehearsals, and the winners' concert can be followed on www.minerbiopianocompetition.it and on the Facebook page Città di Minerbio International Piano Competition.

CATEGORIES AND PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

The festival is divided into 4 categories:

Cat. JUNIOR: up to 7 years

The performance will last a maximum of 4 minutes with a free program

Cat. A: up to 10 years

The performance will last a maximum of 6 minutes with a free program, but it must include a piece from the Baroque or Classical period*.

Cat. B: up to 13 years

The performance will last a maximum of 8 minutes with a free program, but it must include a piece from the Baroque or Classical period*.

Cat. C: up to 16 years

The performance will last a maximum of 10 minutes with a free program, but it must include a piece from the Romantic period.

Notes

Pieces from the Baroque or Classical period refer to works by Bach, Handel, Scarlatti, Rameau, or other composers from the same period (individual pieces from Suites, Partitas, etc. are allowed), or works by Haydn, Mozart, Clementi, Beethoven, or other composers from the same period, such as a Sonata movement, Rondo, Theme and Variations, etc.

REGISTRATION FEES AND ACCOMMODATION

Registration for the "International Festival for Young Pianists" can only be done online via the form on the website from May 1 to September 10, 2025. Registration may close before the deadline once the maximum number of 70 applicants is reached.

The specific registration form, available on www.minerbiopianocompetition.it, must be completed with all required attachments.

For information call +39 3491786453 or write to info@minerbiopianocompetition.it

The registration fees are as follows:

9th International Festival for Young Pianists

Travel expenses are the responsibility of the candidates.

For accommodation, candidates will be able to:

• Request hospitality from the families of the Municipality of Minerbio
• Use special offers from our partner hotel, Hotel Nanni, with discounted rates for competition participants and their families. For bookings, contact Hotel Nanni at +39 051 878276 or visit  www.hotelnanni.com
• Take advantage of the other agreements and special prices offered by the b&b in the area. Go to the dedicated page

ACCEPTANCE

Candidates must register the day before or at least two hours before their category at the theater venue (detailed information will be sent by email to all registrants). The schedule for the acoustic tests and the alphabetical list of candidates will be published on the website starting from September 14, 2024. All candidates are required to wear appropriate attire during the selection process, and the winners must perform at the awards concert in concert attire. 
The event will begin on the Sunday morning, September 28, with the first categories of the Piano Festival and continue in the afternoon at 6:00 PM with the opening ceremony, led by the Absolute Winner of the 8th edition 2024, MARTINA MEOLA. The elimination rounds of the competition, with double trials, will start on the morning of September 29 with the first round of Category III (no age limit). 
Throughout the event, there will be masterclasses and concerts given by jury members, as well as concerts by the candidates. 
The performance schedule will be published on www.comune.minerbio.bo.it on September 14, 2025. During the entire competition, studio pianos will be available to candidates, which can be booked at the time of registration. During the event, candidates who have indicated their availability will perform concerts in local venues (to participate, candidates must confirm their availability via the registration form and can inquire about locations and times directly at the secretariat on the day of arrival, immediately after check-in). The event will conclude on Saturday, October 4, 2025, with the winners' concert. 
Key moments of the competition, including the trials and the winners' concert, can be followed on www.minerbiopianocompetition.it and on the Facebook page Città di Minerbio International Piano Competition.

THE JURY

The jury is composed of renowned teachers and pianists. The five jurors are completely free from any teaching relationship with the candidates (no teaching relationship for at least two years). For this purpose, the jurors will sign a specific declaration. Relatives or in-laws of the jury members cannot participate in the competition. The jury is composed of: 
   • RICCARDO RISALITI (President of the Jury, Italy) 
   • OXANA YABLONSKAYA (USA) 
   • MARKUS SCHIRMER (Germany) 
   • GIOVANNA VALENTE  (Italia) 
   • BORIS BEKHTEREV (Russia) 
Artistic Direction: Prof. Luisa Grillo

EVALUATIONS

Evaluations will be given in twenty-fifths and entered directly into a computer immediately after each performance, providing an objective mathematical average. Results will be announced at the end of each category. The overall winner of the competition and the winners of special prizes will be announced after all categories have been performed and must perform at the winners' concert. The results for all categories will be made public at the end of the competition on the website www.minerbiopianocompetition.it.

PRIZES

For each category, participation diplomas, merit diplomas, third prizes, second prizes, and first prizes will be awarded according to the mathematical score achieved. Tied prizes may be awarded. The overall winner of the category, who will receive a scholarship, will be the one with the highest score, provided they reach the appropriate artistic level (no ex aequo will be awarded for the overall first prize).

VIEW PRIZES

Thanks to:

 Proloco Minerbio, 
La Regione Emilia Romagna, 
Il Comune di Minerbio, 
Il Comune di Granarolo dell'Emilia, 
Il Comune di Baricella, 
Il Comune di Malabergo, 
Emilbanca Minerbio, 
La Parrocchia San Giovanni Battista di Minerbio, 
L'Accademia pianistica di Imola "Incontri con il Maestro", 
San Giacomo Festival, 
L'Istituto Liszt di Bologna, 
Kawai Italia per la messa a disposizione dei pianoforti Shigeru Kawai, 
Accademia Distretto della Musica ADDM Scuole di Musica, 
DoReMiusic Busseto PR, 
Associazione Amici di Verdi, 
2R Studio Produzioni Multimedial e 2R Digital Classics, 
Confommercio Imprese per l'Italia Bologna, 
Hotel Nanni,  
Sherwin-Williams 
L'arte della Pasta di Bologna, 
Dottor Michelangelo Poletti, 
Giovanni Andalò e Erica Caravita, 
Dott.ssa Eleonora Scaramagli. 
 

The event has been designed and realized with the Contribution of the Emilia-Romagna Region and the Contribution of the Municipality of Minerbio.