The 3rd Zodiac International Music Competition aims to discover exceptional musical talent, both in performance and composition, from across the globe, and bring it to the stage of the Zodiac Music Academy & Festival in the South of France and New York. 

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

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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

Winning soloist will receive a cash prize and roundtrip airfare and accommodations to give a solo and chamber music recital on the French Riviera. The recital will be recorded and live-streamed. 

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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 work will be performed in New York, as well as at the Zodiac Music Academy & Festival in the South of France. The winning composer will also receive a professional video recording of the piece.

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NEW! -  PREMIERING WORKS ON YOUTUBE

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As a response to the  COVID-19 pandemic, the Zodiac Trio (the competition founders) are launching a non-for-profit initiative that premieres short new works on YouTube.

Learn More Below

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INSTRUMENTALISTS:

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1st PRIZE

• $500 Cash Prize

• Recital (repertoire to be discussed on an individual case basis) at the Zodiac Music Academy & Festival.

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

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

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• Diploma & Trophy

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2nd PRIZE

$250 Cash Prize

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Diploma

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3nd PRIZE:

Diploma

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FINALISTS' CONCERT

All ten finalists will be featured in an online concert, premiered on YouTube & Facebook on the Zodiac Music Academy & Festival channel on Saturday, April 3, 2021.

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

COMPOSITION

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1st PRIZE:

• $500 Cash Prize

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

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

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

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• US Premiere in New York City

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• Professional Audio/Video recording of the performance

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• Diploma

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2nd PRIZE

$250 Cash Prize

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• Professional Audio/Video recording of a work of the composer's choosing*

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3nd PRIZE:

Diploma

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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 Saturday, April 10, 2021.

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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.

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

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Eligibility:

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

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SOLOIST (following instruments):

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PIANO

STRINGS

(Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass)

WINDS

(Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone)

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COMPOSITION

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Application Process:

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Interested applicants are invited to submit an online application, along with 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 a single continuous shot.  Videos should be uploaded to YouTube, Vimeo or any other online video hosting service, and links sent as part of the application.

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Composition applicants are asked to submit two (2) scores in PDF format, along with links to a SoundCloud recording (midi is acceptable).

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Selection Process:

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The submissions will be judged in two rounds: preliminary and final, and will use a points-based system. 10 soloist and 10 composer finalists will be selected and published on the competition website by April 1st, 2020. 

Final winners will be announced on April 15th, 2020 via email and will be posted on the competition website.  

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Application Deadline & Entrance Fee:

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Application deadline is March 15th, 2021 (23H59 - Local Applicant's Time Zone).  The application fee is $55 US.

Early application deadline is February  1st, 2021. The application fee is $35.

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In an effort to extend this opportunity to the widest possible pool of artists from all backgrounds and countries, and fully understanding that the current COVID situation has had devastating impact on many artists' financial situation, we offer a fee-waiver program for applicants whose financial situation does not allow them to afford the application fee.  Potential applicants in such situations should email explaining your case to the committee in order to apply for a waiver.  Fee waiver are available until the early application deadline of February 1st, 2021.  

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FINALISTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED by April 1st, 2021

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WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED by April 15th, 2021

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Schedule:

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February  1, 2021 - Early Application Deadline

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March 15, 2021 - Final Application Deadline

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April 1, 2021 - Finalists Announced

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April 3, 2021 - Virtual Concert Featuring Finalists in the Instrumentals Category

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April 10, 2021 - Virtual Concert Featuring Finalists in the Composition Category

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April 15th, 2021 - Winners Announced

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Winner's Recital:

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​​​The winning soloist will give a performance at the Zodiac Music Academy & Festival.  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 will include chamber music selections in collaboration with the festival's faculty and possibly students.  Specific repertoire will be mutually agreed upon between the festival and the winner no later than June 1st. 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.

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Winning Composer's Commission.

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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 places 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 3 days).​

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*Cello and Double Bass Applicants:

Should a cello or double bass applicant be chosen as 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.

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Bryan Young

bassoon

Poulenc Trio

Joel Diegert,

Saxophone

Five Sax

Tim Gibbs

Philharmonia Orchestra (UK)

Principal Double Bass

Riko Higuma,

 piano

Andrew List,

composer

Ofer Ben-Amots

John McDonald

Zodiac Trio

Manhattan School of Music

Berklee College of Music

Colorado College

Tufts University

Francis Kefford,

viola

 O/Modernt

Vanessa Mollard,

Zodiac Trio

Zodiac Trio

Ariel Barnes,

Cello

Nürnberger Symphoniker

Principal Solo Cello

Heading 2

PREMIERING NEW WORKS ON YOUTUBE

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In an effort to help the struggling arts community, which is being devastated by COVID 19, members of the  Zodiac Trio (the founding ensemble of the Zodiac Intl. Music Competition and of the Zodiac Music Festival) are offering to video-record short works, at no cost to the composer, under the initiative called Moving Music Forward.

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The recordings are then premiered and promoted online, allowing these works to have a life even during today's difficult times.  The goal is to provide composers with non-midi recordings of their works that composers can then add to the portfolios, use for applications, and promote to audiences world-wide.  

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At the moment, to facilitate recording, only works for solo clarinet, solo violin, solo piano and clarinet-violin duo are being considered.  We are, however, working on expanding the roster to include other instruments, as well as chamber music!  

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During these trying  times for creators and music lovers, Moving Music Forward strives to be an agent for good, connecting new music artists with audiences worldwide.

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An invitation to instrumentalists

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It is our goal to expand Moving Music Forward into a global network of composers and instrumentalists with a penchant for new music, recording and bringing works to audiences across the world .  We therefore welcome applications from performers to join us by contacting us via the "APPLY AS A PERFORMER" button below. 

Do you have a piece you would like recorded?

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If you have a piece that you would like to be considered for video recording, please click on "APPLY AS A COMPOSER" below and fill out our short form.  We will then be in touch with you.  At the moment, we can only consider works for solo clarinet, solo violin, solo piano or duo for clarinet and violin.  As we expand our platform, we hope to be able to include more instruments and larger instrumentation.

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Support the project! 

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Additionally, if you would like to support this project, or would just like to give us your thoughts, please click the link below!  

If you have any questions regarding Moving Music Forward, please feel free to contact us at

Bringing new works to life

in the face of COVID 19

Clarinetist Kliment Krylovskiy premieres "Simulacrum" (2020) by Turkish composer Amaç Edem, for the Moving Music Forward platform

COVID 19 statement:

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The current pandemic has paralysed travel and froze all nearly live performances in most parts of the world.  It is our hope that the Zodiac Music International Competition will help artists continue to promote their work during these restrictive times.  Should the current limitations restrict a live performance either by the winning instrumentalist or a live premiere of a winning composition, these obligations will be honoured once travel and performances are once again allowed to continue freely.  

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Winning composers will have their piece professionally video recorded by the Trio (or members of the trio) to be broadcast via the internet, and will be given live performances in New York and France once restrictions ease. 

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Winning instrumentalists will be invited to perform at the Zodiac Music Academy & Festival in the South of France once the festival's operations resume.