Competition Regulation

9th edition of the International Competition for young pianists “CITTÀ DI MINERBIO"
From September 28 to October 4, 2025

Registration from May 1 to September 10, 2025

EMCY member and Alink – Argerich Foundation Federation

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 RELATED PROGRAM

The competition is divided into 3 categories based on age (Cat. I up to 17 years, Cat. II up to 23 years, Cat. III without age limit). Each category involves two live performances on stage (first round, second round) with mandatory repertoire. Registration for the competition will be open from May 1 to September 10, 2025, the deadline for applications.
Registrations may close before the deadline once the maximum number of 70 participants is reached. For each category, no more than 10 candidates will be selected and admitted to the final round.

Cat. I: up to 17 years of age

This category includes two rounds: first round and second round.
The first round will last 8 minutes and be a free programme, which must include a piece from the Baroque or Classical period*.
The second round will last 15 minutes and be a free program, but must include a piece from the Romantic period and cannot include any piece performed in the first round.

Cat. II: up to 23 years of age

This category includes two rounds: first round and second round.
The first round will last 10 minutes and be a free programme, but must include a piece from the Baroque or Classical period* and a brilliant étude.
The second round will last a maximum of 22 minutes and be a free program, but must include a piece from the Romantic period and cannot include any piece performed in the first round.

Cat. III, without age limits

This category includes two rounds: first round and second round.
The first round will last 12 minutes and be a free programme, but must include a piece from the Baroque or Classical period* and a brilliant étude.
The second round will last a maximum of 25 minutes and be a free program, but must include a piece from the Romantic period and cannot include any piece performed in the first round.

Notes

For pieces from the Baroque or Classical period, the following applies:

Works by Bach, Handel, Scarlatti, Rameau, or any other composer from the same period (individual pieces from Suites, Partitas, etc. are also allowed)
OR
Works by Haydn, Mozart, Clementi, Beethoven, or any other composer from the same period, such as a movement of a Sonata, Rondo, Theme and Variations, etc.

REGISTRATION FEES AND ACCOMMODATION

Registration for the "International Competition for Young Pianists" can only be done online through the registration form on the website from May 1 to September 10, 2025. Registration may close before the deadline once the maximum number of 70 participants is reached.
It is necessary to complete the specific registration form available on the website www.minerbiopianocompetition.it, including all required attachments.
For information, call +39 3491786453 or email info@minerbiopianocompetition.it

The following registration fees apply:

9th International Piano Competition “Città di Minerbio”

Cat. I	€ 60
Cat. II	€ 80
Cat. III	€ 100

Travel expenses will be the responsibility of the candidates.

For accommodation, candidates can:

Request hospitality from the families of the Municipality of Minerbio
Take advantage of special offers from our partner hotel, with discounted rates for competition participants and their families. HOTEL NANNI, TEL +39 051 878276 www.hotelnanni.com
Utilize other special rates and offers provided by local B&Bs (the list is available on the website) Go to the dedicated page

ACCEPTANCE

Candidates must register the day before or at least two hours before their designated category at the theater's venue (detailed instructions 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 morning of Sunday, 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, featuring double trials, will start on the morning of September 29 with the first round of Category III (without age limit).
Throughout the event, there will be masterclasses and concerts by the jury members, as well as concerts featuring 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, and these can be booked at the time of registration. During the event, candidates who have indicated their availability will perform concerts in various locations. (To participate, candidates must express their willingness through the registration form and can inquire about venues 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 winners' concert, can be followed on www.minerbiopianocompetition.it and 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.