Guidelines

1. The Competition is open to contestants of any nationality, state, or country of residence.
2. All contestants must be at least 13 years of age at the time they appear in their video submission.
3. The application fee for “Category A: Soloists” is the equivalent of $90 USD. A student discount of 50% can be applied if the contestant is currently enrolled in school. Soloists may perform by themselves, or be accompanied by a pianist, at no additional cost. Any other combination of two instruments must apply for “Category B: Ensembles” as a duo.
4. The application fee for “Category B: Ensembles” is the equivalent of $60 USD per ensemble member. Duo: $120 USD. Trio: $180 USD. Quartet: $240 USD. Quintet: $300 USD. Sextet: $360 USD. A student discount of 50% can be applied if the contestants are currently enrolled in school.
5. The application fee is due when the contestant enters the competition.
6. Contestants have the option of submitting their video with their application, or at a later date that is before the application deadline.
7. If a contestant elects to submit their video after their application is submitted, instructions on how to submit the video will be provided in a confirmation email sent to the email address that the contestant supplies in their application.
8. The application fee is non-refundable, even if the contestant withdraws, is disqualified, or fails to deliver both their application and video before the application deadline.
9. The application deadline (defined as the time that the complete application and video are received by the Competition) is May 3, 2021 at 11:59PM EST (GMT-5).
10. Ensembles entering in “Category B: Ensembles” may have between two (2) and six (6) ensemble members.
11. A contestant’s video (submitted with their application or before ) must conform to all Video Requirements listed in the Competition’s Guidelines. Audio-only submissions are not eligible.
12. Videos may be recorded at any time up to ten (10) years prior to the application deadline. The date of the performance represented in the video must be included in your submission.
13. Individual contestants may participate in both “Category A: Soloists” and “Category B: Ensembles” if the contestant is both a soloist musician and also belongs to an entering ensemble. An individual contestant may be a member of multiple ensembles entering in “Category B: Ensembles” so long as the ensembles contain at least one (1) differentiating member.
14. All instrument types, and voices, are allowed to enter the Competition.
15. The following people are not eligible: 1) family members of judges, 2) staff and family members of competition sponsors, 3) staff and family members of The Piazzolla Music Competition, 4) staff and family members of PARMA Recordings, 5) contestants under 13 years of age at the time of their video recording, and 6) any contestant who does not submit a complete application.

1. Only works composed by Astor Piazzolla are eligible. Arrangements of Piazzolla’s compositions will be accepted.
2. Video submissions should include at least six (6) minutes of music of one or more pieces of music.
3. Video submissions must be of a full movement, full work, or combination of full movements and/or full works. Submissions containing only passages from works are subject to disqualification.
4. Video submissions have no maximum duration. If a video has more than ten (10) minutes of musical performance, the contestant will be judged on the first ten (10) minutes of their performance.

Contestants in “Category A: Soloists” and “Category B: Ensembles” are not required to memorize their music, and may perform with the use of sheet music.

1. Video recordings must be performed by the contestant.
2. Each contestant must upload their video to YouTube, Vimeo, or other public streaming platform. Videos can be posted publicly or be unlisted. Contestants must then supply the URL link to the video as part of the application process.
3. A download link (defined as a link that requires the Competition to download the contestant’s video file) will not be accepted and result in disqualification.
4. All videos must be submitted via the entry form located on the Competition’s official website at www.piazzollacompetition.com/enter, or after using the instructions provided to the contestant.
5. Once a video is submitted, no substitutions will be accepted.
6. Contestants will not be penalized for the quality of their video. The judges will evaluate each contestant’s performance, technique, and interpretation. To ensure that poor recording quality does not interfere with the jury’s ability to evaluate the performance, make all effort to avoid distortion and produce a video that can be seen and heard clearly.
7. Any evidence of multiple takes, or of audio that does not match the performance, will result in disqualification.
8. Videos submitted in “Category B: Ensembles” where multiple ensemble members appear “frame-in-frame” in order to facilitate social distancing between the ensemble members during the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic will be accepted. Such “frame-in-frame” videos must be recorded on or after January 1, 2020 to qualify. Any evidence of multiple takes, or of audio that does not match each individual musician’s performance, will result in disqualification.

1. There will be pre-screening, preliminary, and final rounds of adjudication.
2. The pre-screening round will ensure submissions meet the criteria set forth by the guidelines of the Competition.
3. All submissions that meet these criteria will move to the preliminary round.
4. Each qualifying submission will be assigned to a single, random juror on the jury. In the event that the contestant has a professional relationship with the randomly-selected juror, the contestant’s submission will be reassigned to another juror that does not conflict with this policy.
5. Each juror will utilize a 30-point system (10 points performance, 10 points technique, 10 points interpretation) to arrive at the contestant’s score for the preliminary round.
6. Each juror will submit their three highest-scoring contestants in each category to the final round.
7. In the event a juror has a tied score within their top three highest scored contestants, that juror may choose to submit all contestants with the equivalent score to the final round.
8. This procedure will establish the finalists for the final round.
9. The finalists, and all contestants, will be informed via public announcement.
10. During the final round, the preliminary round scores of finalists will be discarded.
11. Each finalist’s submission will be judged by the entire jury, using the same 30-point system as the preliminary round. In the event that a finalist has a professional relationship with a juror, or is a student of the juror, that juror will abstain from judging the contestant.
12. Judges will not see other judges’ scores during final round adjudication.
13. All judges’ scores from the final round will be submitted to a separate and independent panel to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the results. Each finalist’s score will be calculated by adding the scores from each judge and dividing this by the number of participating judges.
14. In the event of a tie for first, second, and third place in either category, the Piazzolla Foundation will make a tie-breaking decision to determine the final results.
15. All scores from each round, including disqualifications, are considered confidential and will not be published or reported to individual contestants.
16. The decision of the jury is final and not subject to questions, revisions, or appeal.

1. All contestants that proceed to the final round will be eligible for the special prizes.
2. The winner of the Pablo Ziegler Award will be selected by Pablo Ziegler.
3. The winner of the performance with Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra will be selected by Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra.
4. The performance with the Grosseto Symphony Orchestra will be selected by the Grosseto Symphony Orchestra.
5. The winner of the performance with Athens Philharmonia Orchestra will be selected by Athens Philharmonia Orchestra.
6. The selection of special prize recipients is final and not subject to questions, revisions, or appeal.

1. Finalists and prize winners who wish to publicize their success in the competition should credit it as The Piazzolla Music Competition. The Piazzolla Competition logo, and any intellectual property of the Competition, may only be used with express permission from the Competition.
2. Contestants agree to abide by the Guidelines of the Competition. Contestants will be disqualified at any phase of the competition when non-compliance with any part of the Guidelines occurs or is discovered.
3. Contestants give the Competition the right to issue and authorize publicity their name, likeness, and biographical data in connection with any potential exhibition, advertising, and exploitation associated with the Competition.
4. By entering the competition, contestants agree to give the Competition the right to use or promote video without remuneration, including publication on local media, social media, digital streaming online, and for marketing purposes.

Grand Prize “Pantaleón Award”

1. $1500 USD: Transferable to the soloist via wire transfer within 7 days of the announcement of the winner.
2. Recording Contract with PARMA Recordings: Soloist will receive a commercial recording contract which includes the global, digital distribution of one (1) album produced in collaboration with the soloist. Selection of repertoire will be made by the soloist in consultation with PARMA Recordings. PARMA Recordings will select the recording location, and pay for the soloists travel, hotel, and all production costs associated with the recording session. PARMA Recordings will produce all album artwork in collaboration with the soloist, and provide marketing and public relations services to support the album. The album will be released on PARMA Recordings’ label Navona Records.
3. Tour of China: PARMA Recordings will facilitate the soloist’s performance tour in China. The soloist will perform an estimated six (6) or more concerts throughout the country, over the course of one (1) week or more. Final selection of performance locations, dates and times will be determined by PARMA Recordings’, and the soloist will be consulted for their availability. All flights, hotels, and meals will be paid for by the Competition. All other costs will be the responsibility of the soloist.
4. Gold Medal: The Piazzolla Music Competition medallion recognizing the soloist as the grand prize winner of 2021.

Second Place

Silver Medal: The Piazzolla Music Competition medallion recognizing the soloist as the second place winner of 2021.

Third Place

Bronze Medal: The Piazzolla Music Competition medallion recognizing the soloist as the third place winner of 2021.

All “Category A: Soloists” Contestants

Digital participation certificate, delivered to the email address submitted with their application. Please allow at least one month after the completion of the competition to receive participation certificates.

Grand Prize “Porteño Award”

1. $3500 USD: Transferred to the ensemble via wire transfer within 7 days of the announcement of the winner.
2. Recording Contract with PARMA Recordings: Ensemble will receive a commercial recording contract which includes the global, digital distribution of one (1) album produced in collaboration with the ensemble. Selection of repertoire will be made by the ensemble in consultation with PARMA Recordings. PARMA Recordings will select the recording location, and pay for the ensemble’s travel, hotel, and all production costs associated with the recording session. PARMA Recordings will produce all album artwork in collaboration with the ensemble, and provide marketing and public relations services to support the album. The album will be released on PARMA Recordings’ label Navona Records.
3. Tour of China: PARMA Recordings will facilitate the ensemble’s performance tour in China. The ensemble will perform an estimated six or more concerts throughout the country, over the course of a week or more. Final selection of performance locations, dates and times will be determined by PARMA Recordings, and the ensemble will be consulted for their availability. All flights, hotels, and meals will be paid for by The Competition. All other costs will be the responsibility of the ensemble.
4. Gold Medal: The Piazzolla Music Competition medallion recognizing the ensemble as the grand prize winner of 2021.

Second Place

Silver Medal: The Piazzolla Music Competition medallion recognizing the ensemble as the second place winner of 2021.

Third Place

Bronze Medal: The Piazzolla Music Competition medallion recognizing the ensemble as the third place winner of 2021.

All “Category B: Ensembles” Contestants

Digital participation certificate for the entire ensemble, delivered to the email address submitted with their application. Please allow at least one month after the completion of the competition to receive participation certificates.

Pablo Ziegler Award:

The selected soloist or ensemble will receive seven (7) days of intensive coaching sessions with Maestro Pablo Ziegler. The sessions will be facilitated by PARMA Recordings, held online between the recipient and Maestro Ziegler. Each session is estimated to be approximately one (1) hour duration.

Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra:

The selected soloist or ensemble will be included in a concert program with the orchestra, target location Zagreb, Croatia. The intended timing of the performance is during the orchestra’s 2022/2023 concert season, but may be altered by the orchestra as needed. The orchestra will schedule, book, and pay for the recipient’s travel and lodging. All other expenses are the responsibility of the recipient.

Grosseto Symphony Orchestra:

The selected soloist or ensemble will be included in a concert program with the orchestra, target location Italy. The intended timing of the performance is during the orchestra’s 2022/2023 concert season, but may be altered by the orchestra as needed. The orchestra will schedule, book, and pay for the recipient’s travel and lodging. All other expenses are the responsibility of the recipient.

Athens Philharmonia Orchestra:

The selected soloist or ensemble will be included in a concert program with the orchestra, target location Athens, Greece. The intended timing of the performance is during the orchestra’s 2022/2023 concert season, but may be altered by the orchestra as needed. The orchestra will schedule, book, and pay for the recipient’s travel and lodging. All other expenses are the responsibility of the recipient.