5th

Open to:

INSTRUMENTALISTS (Open and Junior Categories)

COMPOSERS

Cash Prizes
Video/Score Submission (no travel required)
Winning instrumentalist receives roundtrip airfare to perform in France.
Winning composer receives premieres in New York and South of France

The 5th Zodiac International Music Competition aims to discover exceptional musical talent, both in performance and composition, from across the globe and bring it to the Zodiac Music Academy & Festival stage in the South of France and New York.

The competition invites artists from all parts of the world to participate via recorded video submission (or score submission for composers).

PARTICIPATION VIA VIDEO (instrumentalist) OR SCORE (composers)

The lack of need to travel makes this opportunity available to artists who might not otherwise have the ability to compete and opens it to a much wider array of musicians across the globe.

PERFORM IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE

The winning instrumentalist of the open category will receive a cash prize, roundtrip airfare, and accommodations to give a solo or chamber music performance on the French Riviera. The recital will be recorded and live-streamed.

COMMISSION PREMIERED IN SOUTHERN FRANCE AND NEW YORK (US)

The winning composer will be offered a commission to write for the internationally-recognized Zodiac Trio (founders of the Festival) or its individual members, as well as a cash prize. The Zodiac Trio will perform in New York and at the Zodiac Music Academy & Festival in the South of France. The winning composer will also receive a professional video recording of the piece.

JUNIOR CATEGORY (INSTRUMENTALISTS)

To encourage developing young artists and allow them to compete on a more even playing field, artists under the age of 18 may compete in a "junior" category. Applicants who choose to participate in this category must be born after March 1st, 2005. Please note that prizes for this category are different from the open category. Applicants born after March 1st, 2005, can choose to participate in EITHER open or junior categories.

INSTRUMENTALISTS

(OPEN CATEGORY):

1st PRIZE

$1000 Cash Prize
Performance (repertoire to be discussed on an individual case basis) at the Zodiac Music Academy & Festival.

Roundtrip airfare to Nice, France from anywhere in the world, hotel accommodations, local transportation and meals.

Audio/Video recording of the performance, as well as live-stream of the concert

Diploma & Trophy

2nd PRIZE

$300 Cash Prize

Diploma

3nd PRIZE:

Diploma

FINALISTS' CONCERT

All ten finalists will be featured in an online concert, premiered on YouTube & Facebook on the Zodiac Music Academy & Festival channel on Sunday, March 3, 2023.

Applicants can choose which performance video from their application is to be featured for the concert.

JUNIOR CATEGORY

FIRST PRIZE

$300 Cash Prize

SECOND PRIZE

Diploma

THIRD PRIZE

Diploma

PRIZES

COMPOSITION

1st PRIZE:

$1,000 Cash Prize

Commission to write a work (up to 10 min) for the Zodiac Trio (clarinet-violin-piano) or its individual members in any combination

World Premiere performance at the Zodiac Music Academy & Festival in France

Meals and Accommodations at the Zodiac Music Academy & Festival (for composers wishing to attend the performance)

US Premiere in New York City

Professional Audio/Video recording of the performance

Diploma

2nd PRIZE

$300 Cash Prize

Diploma

3nd PRIZE:

Diploma

FINALISTS' CONCERT

All ten finalists in the composition category will be featured in an online concert, premiered on YouTube & Facebook on the Zodiac Music Academy & Festival channel on Sunday, March 19, 2023.

Composers can choose which works are to be featured for the concert. Should no video exists, images, the composer's headshot, score or other visuals can be used for the virtual concert.

*Piece for the Zodiac Trio instrumentation (Clarinet, Violin, Piano) or any combination of those instruments

Eligibility

The competition is open to artists of any nationality, without age limit*, in the following categories:

SOLOIST (following instruments):

STRINGS

(Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Classical Guitar new)

WINDS

(Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone)

BRASS

(French Horn new)

PANO

HARPSICHORD new

COMPOSITION

*SOLOIST category applicants (instrumentalists) born after March 1, 2005 can choose to participate in the JUNIOR category. This is not obligatory. Applicants born after March 1, 2005 can also choose to compete in the OPEN category.

Application Process

We invite applicants to submit an online application, which includes a short biography (250-word maximum) and a minimum of two (2) contrasting video samples, with a total viewing time not to exceed 30 minutes. Videos should be unedited and offer one continuous shot. Professional multi-camera recordings of performances with orchestra are acceptable. If you have a question about the validity of your video, please feel free to write us at contastus@zodiaccompetition.com Videos should be uploaded to YouTube, Vimeo or any other online video hosting service, and links sent as part of the application.

Composition applicants should submit two (2) scores in PDF format, along with links to a recording (midi is acceptable). Pieces can be of ANY instrumentation, from solo works to large orchestral works, and of ANY length.

Selection Process

The submissions will be judged in two rounds: the preliminary round by the zodiac trio and the final round by an international jury, and will use a points-based system. 10 soloist and 10 composer finalists will be selected and published on the competition website by March 16, 2023

Final winners will be announced on March 28, 2023, via email and posted on the competition website.

Application Deadline & Entrance Fee:

The application fee is $35 for applications received by February 1st, 2023.

Late applications will be accepted until March 1st, 2023 (the final deadline). Applications will be subject to a $25 late fee.

In an effort to extend this opportunity to the broadest possible pool of artists from all backgrounds and countries, we offer a fee-waiver program for applicants whose financial situation does not allow them to afford the application fee. Potential applicants should email contactus@zodiaccompetition.com explaining their case to the committee to apply for a waiver. Fee waivers are available until the early application deadline of February 1st, 2023.

FINALISTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED on March 16th, 2023

WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED on March 28th, 2023

Schedule

February 1, 2023 - Early Bird Application Deadline

March 1, 2023 - Final Application Deadline (applications no longer accepted past this date)

March 16, 2023 - Finalists Announced

March 18, 2023 - Virtual Concerts Featuring Finalists in the Instrumentals Category

(two separate concerts for Open and Junior Categories)

March 25, 2023 - Virtual Concert Featuring Finalists in the Composition Category

March 28, 2023 - Winners Announced

Winner's Recital

The winning soloist will perform at the Zodiac Music Academy & Festival in July 2024. The exact date of the recital will be discussed with the winner. The festival will provide the winning soloist with a collaborative pianist (if needed). The recital might include chamber music selections in collaboration with the festival's faculty and students. Specific repertoire will be mutually agreed upon between the festival and the winner. The Zodiac Music Academy & Festival is invited to perform at various venues on the Côte D'Azur. The exact venue for the winning recital will be specified at a later date.The winning recital will be broadcast live on Facebook and posted on the website.

Winning Composer's Commission

The winning composer will be invited to write a work (up to 10 minutes) for the Zodiac Trio or its members. The work will receive its North American premiere in New York at a mutually agreed-upon time and will receive its European premiere in France at the Zodiac Music Academy & Festival, which takes place every summer during the first week of July. Additionally, a professional video recording will be provided to the composer and promoted via social media on various platforms.

The festival will not provide airfare for the winning composer, however, should the composer choose to attend the performance, the festival will provide meals and accommodations during the duration of the composer's stay (maximum of three days).

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*Cello and Double Bass Applicants:

Should a cello or double bass applicant be chosen as a soloist, the competition will offer a professional-grade instrument rental of the highest quality for the performance, free of charge. The competition will not cover airfare or transportation cost for the instrument. Winning soloist is welcome to bring their own instrument at their expense.