FIRST ROUND: PRELIMINARY ROUNDS

The jury will select the 12 candidates for the first round based on the submitted entries. In the preliminary round, the contestants must play the pieces by heart without sheet music. Contestants are expected to send their recordings via a shared YouTube link as follows:

• Video recording not older than 6 months from submitting the registration
• Hands and whole body need to be clearly visible all the time
• Individual parts of the repertoire must be recorded as one complete recording, not separately
• Upload it as non-public (unlisted) video on YouTube

Deadline: 31 March 2025.

• Bach: Cello Suites - video recordings of three optional movements.
• A video recording of one of the optional pieces from Second Round, List II.

SECOND ROUND: SEMI-FINAL
Budapest Music Center 8-9 September 2025.
12 contestants

Requirements for the round:

One work of your choice from List I. below:

• Beethoven: Cello Sonata, No. 3 Op. 69
• Beethoven: Cello Sonata, No. 4 Op. 102
• Beethoven: Cello Sonata, No. 5 Op. 102
• Brahms: Cello Sonata in E minor, No. 1
• Brahms: Cello Sonata in F major, No. 2

A freely selected composition from List II. below:

• Kodály: Sonata for Solo Cello, Op. 8 (one optional movement)
• Ligeti: Sonata for Solo Cello
• Dutilleux: Trois Strophes sur le nom de Sacher
• S. Veress: Sonata for Cello Solo 

The semi-finals will feature internationally renowned pianists.
Piano rehearsals: 07.09.2025 Sunday, in the allocated practice rooms of the Liszt Academy.
The requirements of the semi-finals may also be played from sheets.
(The length of the second round must not exceed 55 minutes per person)

THIRD ROUND: SEMI-FINAL
Liszt Academy, Solti Hall - 11 September 2025
6 competitors

Requirements for the round:
One work of your choice from List I. below:

• C.P.E. Bach: Cello Concerto in A major
• J. Haydn: C major Cello Concerto
• J. Haydn: Cello concerto in D major

A work of your choice from list II. below:

• Schumann: Cello concerto (string orchestra version)
• Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme
• M. Weinberg: Concertino Op. 43 bis (1948)

The semi-final will feature the Liszt Ferenc Chamber Orchestra.
The compositions must be played by heart in the semi-final, without sheet music.
(The length of the third round programme must not exceed 55 minutes per person)

FOURTH ROUND - FINAL
Liszt Academy, Great Hall - 13 September 2025.
3 contestants

The contestant may nominate two from the specified competition pieces, from which the jury will choose one.

• Shostakovich: Cello Concerto, No. 1
• Prokofiev: Sinfonia Concertante, Op. 125
• Dvorak: Cello Concerto, Op. 104

The final will feature the National Philharmonic Orchestra
conducted by György Vashegyi

• The Concerto must be followed by an optional movement from Bach's cello suites.

In the final, the pieces must be played by heart, without sheet music.In the final, the pieces must be played by heart, without sheet music.

AWARDS - PRIZES

First prize: 18.000 EUR
Second prize: 12.000 EUR
Third prize: 6.000 EUR

Audience prize: 2.000 EUR
Prize for the best performance of the Kodály composition: 1.000 EUR

Valuable prizes from other sponsors.
Special prize: the opportunity to perform on a concert tour in Hungary.

All finalists will receive a certificate.
The winners will receive high-quality recordings made with a large orchestra for their free use.

THE INTERNATIONAL JURY

The international jury of seven members includes Frans Helmerson, István Várdai, and other renowned artists.

APPLICATION

Age limit: applications invited to be born after 1 September 1995.
Applications must be submitted by filling in the application form online and sending the requested supporting documents by e-mail to competition@filharmonia.hu.
Online application questionnaire

Documents to be sent by email after completing the online questionnaire: : a photocopy of the receipt for the entry fee; a photocopy of the declaration of the entry fee request, which can be downloaded from the website and signed by the applicant; a photocopy of the identity card (EU citizens only) or passport (EU and non-EU citizens); an artist's and professional curriculum vitae; and a recent photograph of the applicant of at least 2-3 MB in size.

Also to be attached as a shared link:

• An introduction of the applicant in a maximum duration of 60 seconds.
• A video recording of Bach: Cello Suites - three optional movements.
• A video recording of one of the optional works selected from Second Round  List II.

ENTRY FEE

Early Bird registration: 15 February 2025.
Early bird entry fee: 50 EUR
Entry fee: 80 EUR
Application deadline: 31 March 2025.

Deadline for sending the application: 31 March 2025.
The entry fee is non-refundable in case of unsuccessful qualification.
Notification deadline: 30 April 2025.

Please transfer the entry fee to the bank account of the organiser as follows:

IBAN: HU69 10004885-10002010-00223335
BIC (SWIFT) code: HUSTHUHB
Magyar Államkincstár 1139 Budapest, Váci út 71.
In the communication, please indicate the name of the competitor and the name of the competition as follows:
Surname Firstname - BICC

COMPETITION RULES

The competition is open to the public, so any competitors' performances in connection with the competition may be filmed, recorded, and broadcast live on television by Philharmonia Hungary Ltd. By entering, the competitor grants the Promoter, free of charge, all rights to film and audio record the competitor’s performance and to use any and all images and audio recordings of the competitor made during the competition for any and all current and future media without restriction. The Organiser will provide accommodation for the duration of the semi-finals and the final. The competitor must cover travel expenses. Except for the competition pieces and the works submitted for the video audition, the competitors can also play from sheet music. Participation in the Competition constitutes acceptance of these Competition Rules.

For further information: www.filharmonia.hu