Cultural Association Libera AMIGDALA

Organizes

XIV AMIGDALA International Music Competition

memorial "Giuseppe Raciti"

for piano, piano and orchestra, piano four hands, piano duo, strings, winds, guitar and plucked string instruments, harp, chamber music, composition, and opera singing

ONLINE Edition 2025


Deadline: March 10, 2025
Video publications: March 20, 2025
Results and Awards: April 5, 2025


REGULATIONS

This international competition for musicians aims to promote music among young people and to identify and support the artistic success of emerging talents. One of its objectives is to contribute to the dissemination and development of an increasing interest in classical music, which plays an important educational role in civil society.


Article 1
The Competition is open to all musicians of all nationalities.

Article 2
The Competition is divided into the following sections:

  • Section 1: Piano (Solo - Piano and Orchestra)

  • Section 2: Strings (Soloist)

  • Section 3: Winds (Soloists and Ensembles)

  • Section 4: Guitar, Mandolin, Tamburitza, and all plucked string instruments (Soloists and Ensembles)

  • Section 5: Piano Duo

  • Section 6: Chamber Music (max 10 members)

  • Section 7: Harp (Soloist and Ensemble)

  • Section 8: Singers (Soloists and Groups)

  • Section 9: Composition

  • Section 10: Folk - Sounds from the World - Reserved for soloists and musical groups who use folk instruments and/or traditional voices representing the diverse musical cultures of the world.

Article 3

CATEGORIES AND ENTRY FEES

Competitors must adhere to the time limits specified for each category.
SOLOIST VIDEOS WITH A RECORDED ACCOMPANIMENT TRACK ARE ACCEPTED.

(Entry fees and age categories follow the same structure as in the original Italian document.)


Section 1 is divided into the following categories: 

Cat. Children's Musicians: born from 01/01/2018, free program max 5 min. - Registration fee: €40.00 

Cat. A: born from 01/01/2014; free program max 8 min. Fee: €40.00 

Cat. B: born from 01/01/2011; free program max 10 min. Fee: €45.00 

Cat. C: born from 01/01/2008; free program max 13 min. Fee: €50.00 

Cat. D: born from 01/01/2005; free program max 15 min. Fee: €55.00 

Cat. E: born from 01/01/2002; free program max 23 min. Fee: €60.00 

Cat. F: no age limits; free program max 30 min. Participation fee: €65.00 

Cat. G: for piano and orchestra, no age limits, max. 30 minutes - Fee: €75.00 (reduction for two pianos also accepted)


Section 2 is divided into the following categories:

Cat. Children's Musicians: born from 01/01/2018, free program max 5 min. - Registration fee: €40.00

Cat. A: born from 01/01/2014; free program max 8 min. Fee: €40.00

Cat. B: born from 01/01/2011; free program max 10 min. Fee: €45.00

Cat. C: born from 01/01/2008; free program max 13 min. Fee: €50.00

Cat. D: born from 01/01/2005; free program max 15 min. Fee: €55.00

Cat. E: born from 01/01/2002; free program max 23 min. Fee: €60.00

Cat. F: no age limits; free program max 30 min. Participation fee: €65.00 


Section 3, 4, 7 is divided into the following categories:

Cat. Children's Musicians: born from 01/01/2018, free program max 5 min. - Registration fee: €40.00

Cat. A: born from 01/01/2014; free program max 8 min. Fee: €40.00

Cat. B: born from 01/01/2011; free program max 10 min. Fee: €45.00

Cat. C: born from 01/01/2008; free program max 13 min. Fee: €50.00

Cat. D: born from 01/01/2005; free program max 15 min. Fee: €55.00

Cat. E: born from 01/01/2002; free program max 23 min. Fee: €60.00

Cat. F: no age limits; free program max 30 min. Participation fee: €65.00 

Cat. G1: Ensembles born on or after 01/01/2004; free program, maximum 10 minutes. Fee: €30.00 per person.
Groups with more than 5 members will pay a fee of €25 per person (to be paid in a single installment).

Cat. G2: Ensembles with no age limits; free program, maximum 15 minutes. Registration fee: €35.00 per person.
For groups with more than 5 members, the registration fee is €30.00 per person (to be paid in a single installment).


Section 5 is divided into the following categories (referring to the average age of the duet):

Cat. A: born after 01/01/2010; free program max 8 minutes. Fee €30.00 each.

Cat. B: born after 01/01/2001; free program max 12 minutes. Fee €35.00 each.

Cat. C: no age limit; free program max 20 minutes. Participation fee €40.00 each.

Cat. D Teachers/Students born after 01/01/2012; free program max 10 minutes. Fee €35.00 (students only).


Section 6, dedicated to all groups, with or without piano, is divided into the following categories (we refer to the average age of the group):

Cat. A: born from 01/01/2009; free program max 8 min Fee € 30,00 

Cat. B: born from 01/01/1997; free program max 12 min. Fee € 35,00

Cat. C: no age limits; free program max 20 min. Fee € 40,00 

For groups with more than 5 musicians, the fee is €25.00 per person (to be paid in a single installment).


Section 8 is divided into the following categories:

Category A: Children's voices – Free program, max 10 minutes. Fee: €40.00

Category B: Born on or after 01/01/1997 – Free program, max 15 minutes. Fee: €60.00

Category C: No age limits – Free program, max 20 minutes. Registration fee: €70.00

Category D: Opera singer groups – No age limits – Free program, maximum 10 minutes. Registration fee: €35.00 per person.


Section 9 Composition Participation

Participants in this section will be evaluated during the XIV LIVE Edition of the AMIGDALA International Music Competition, taking place from May 6-11, 2025


Section 10 is divided into the following categories:

Category A: Soloists – Free program, max 10 minutes. Fee: €50.00

Category B: Born on or after 01/01/1997 – Free program, max 15 minutes. Fee: €30.00 per person (to be paid in a single installment).


Article 4

REGISTRATION

This edition will take place online; therefore, for registration and video recording of the audition, the following guidelines must be followed:

  • The recording must be clear and free from background noise, with no location restrictions.

  • Videos do not need to be of professional quality as long as both image and audio are clear.

  • The video must be recorded using a fixed camera (camcorders, mobile phones, tablets, or professional recording systems) and must always show the musician's face, hands, and instrument in full.

  • Any video cuts within the same piece are prohibited, but cuts between different pieces are allowed as long as they are recorded in the same setting.

  • Singers' video recordings must be taken from the waist up. Full-body shots are recommended.

  • Audio-only recordings will not be accepted.

  • Grand and upright pianos are recommended. Digital pianos with 88 weighted keys are also accepted.

  • Slightly exceeding the assigned time limit is tolerated.

  • The video link, uploaded to YouTube as 'Unlisted,' must be included in the appropriate field of the registration form.

If the videos do not comply with these methods, the commission reserves the right to accept or exclude part of the video itself.


Article 5

All competitors may participate in multiple sections and categories by paying the corresponding participation fee.

Additionally, by paying the relevant registration fee, they may also participate in the LIVE competition, which will take place from May 6 to May 11, 2025, at the "L. Sciascia" Theater in Aci Bonaccorsi.

The pieces performed must be original (simplified arrangements are not permitted).

On March 20, 2025, the links to the competition performances will be published on the website: www.amigdalainternationalcompetition.it.

On April 5, 2025, the results of each category and the corresponding scores will be made public on the same website.

All participants will receive a Diploma in PDF format at the email address provided during registration.

Winners of the First Absolute Prize with a score of 100/100 will be included in the Competition's Hall of Fame.

REGISTRATION

Article 6

The international jury consists of Conservatory and Music Institute professors, renowned musicians from various areas of the music industry, the President of the Amigdala Cultural Association, and the Artistic Director of the AmigdalaMusicTalent section.

Jury members must abstain from voting in cases of family ties and/or ongoing or past teaching relationships within the two years preceding the competition.

The decisions of the judging panel are final, indisputable, and irrevocable.

The jury's activities will be conducted via videoconference.

JURY

Article 7

The organization reserves the right to modify or supplement this regulation or cancel the event due to force majeure.

If such a situation occurs, the organization will fully refund the fees paid.

Article 8

  • First Absolute Prize winners are those who achieve a score of 100/100.

  • First Prize winners are those who achieve a score between 95 and 99.

  • Second Prize winners are those who achieve a score between 90 and 94.

  • Third Prize winners are those who achieve a score between 85 and 89.

  • Fourth Prize winners are those who achieve a score between 80 and 84.

Candidates scoring between 80/100 and 100/100 will receive a Merit Diploma in PDF format at the email address provided during registration.

Candidates scoring below 80/100 will receive a Participation Certificate in PDF format at the email address provided during registration.

Article 9

The event does not fall within the category of prize competitions or promotional contests, pursuant to Article 6, paragraph 1, of DPR 430/2001. Therefore, in accordance with Resolution No. 8/1251 of 10/28/1976, prizes will not be subject to withholding tax. The responsibility for declaring the value of the award and the total amounts received in this regard for tax purposes lies with the recipient.

Article 10

PRIVACY

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE:

Board of the Amigdala Cultural Association:
Prof.ssa Maria Grazia Palermo – President
Ing. Giovanni Faro – Vice President
Dott. Tommaso Stasi – Secretary

Prof.ssa Antonella Scuderi – Artistic Director
Email: scuderiantonella59@hotmail.com
Tel: +39 338 1140344

External Collaborations:
M° Yoshiaki Shibata – Honorary Member of Ass. Cult. liberaAMIGDALA – Artistic Coordinator of the "Strings" and "Chamber Music" sections for the AMIGDALA International Music Competition
M° Jena Chun-Wah Pang – Honorary Member of Ass. Cult. liberaAMIGDALA

Organizing Secretariat:
Via Sottotenente Scuderi, 69
95029 Viagrande, CT
Tel: +39 338 1140344 / +39 348 0063108
Email: info@amigdalaweb.it