I. General conditions

1.1 These Regulations define the aims and objectives, procedure and conditions of the International Competition for Young Musicians “Symphony of Yamal” (hereafter referred to as the Competition).

1.2 The aims and objectives of the Competition are:
— identifying and supporting talented young people in the field of musical performance;
— Developing and strengthening professional and cultural relations and exchanging experiences between musicians;
— Create a creative environment conducive to the spiritual, moral and professional development of musicians.
1.3 The Founder and Organiser of the Competition is the Government of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug represented by the Department of Culture of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (hereafter referred to as the Founder).
1.4 Stages and timing of the Competition:
1.4.1. First qualifying round (remotely, video) – from 21.12.2023 to 29.12.2023.
1.4.2 Round II, Round III and Final (Closing Ceremony) from 06.02.2024 to 11.02.2024.
1.5 Location of the Competition: Russian Federation, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Salekhard, 1 Arkticheskaya St., State Autonomous Establishment YNAO “Cultural and Business Centre”.

II. Organizing Committee of the Competition

2.1 A Competition Organizing Committee (hereafter referred to as the Organizing Committee) shall be set up to carry out the work of hosting and supporting the Competition.
2.2 The composition of the Competition Organizing Committee shall be approved by a decree of the Government of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug.
2.3 The Organizing Committee is obliged to:
2.3.1 Make preparations for the successful hosting of the Competition.
2.3.2 Monitor compliance with the terms of these Regulations.
2.3.3 Approve the composition of the jury and the chairman of the jury for the competition.
2.3.4 Provide organizational and technical support for the payment of cash prizes to the laureates and diploma holders of the Competition.
2.4 The expenses of the participant and the accompanist (travel, accommodation, meals, transport during the Competition days) shall be covered by the Competition Founder.
2.5. Contestants who have received an invitation to participate in the in—person rounds (Round II, Round III and Final) of the Competition and who reside in a country that has a visa regime with the Russian Federation must apply to a Russian Federation consulate for a visa themselves. The Competition Founder undertakes to provide all necessary invitations, but shall not be responsible for obtaining a visa and related costs.
2.6 Participants who arrive to take part in the Competition and refuse to perform without a valid reason shall cover all the costs of their stay and travel, and shall reimburse the Competition Founder for expenses incurred for themselves and the accompanist. The Organizing Committee will decide whether or not to reimburse the costs to the Competition Founder, taking into account the validity of the participant’s refusal to perform.
2.7 The Organizing Committee shall have the right:
2.7.1 Not to give any explanation to the participants about the reasons why their applications were not selected.
2.7.2. in the event of unforeseen circumstances, temporarily suspend the Competition, amend these Regulations, its annexes and other terms and conditions of the Competition and related events.
2.8 The official address of the Competition Organizing Committee:
629008, Russian Federation, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area
Salekhard, 29 Republic St.
E-mail: info@yamalsymphony.com
Website: https://yamalsymphony.ru

III. Procedure for the Competition

3.1 The competition shall be held in the following categories:
— «Piano»;
— «Violin»;
— «Cello».
3.2 The Competition is open to musicians of all nationalities. The age of the participants of the Competition is from 16 to 30 years old inclusive on the date of the opening of the Competition — 06.02.2024.
3.3 All in-person auditions for the Competition shall be held in public.
3.4 All works shall be performed by the participants by heart.
3.5 All participants in the categories “Violin” and “Cello” participate in the Competition with their accompanists. In case of impossibility to have their own accompanist, a contestant will be provided with an accompanist invited by the Competition Founder. Information about the accompanist or the need for an accompanist shall be indicated in the application form.
3.6 The Competition consists of round I, rounds II, III and the Final. Round I is held remotely (using video recordings), rounds II and III and the Finals are held in person. Rounds I and II include a solo performance (in the violin and cello categories, accompanied by an accompanist if necessary); Round III and the Finals are accompanied by an orchestra.
3.7 All candidates whose application meets the requirements of these Regulations shall take part in the first qualifying round (by video).
3.8 The results of the first qualifying round shall be announced by the Founder of the Competition and posted on the official website of the Competition until 29.12.2023.
3.9 The official letter to be sent by the Founder of the Competition to the candidates who have passed the first (qualifying) round, containing an invitation to participate in the in-person rounds at the venue of the Competition from 06.02.2024 to 11.02.2024.
The official letter informs the candidates who do not pass the first (qualifying) round of selection of the decision of the jury that the candidate has not been selected.
3.10. A maximum of 5 participants in each category may take part in rounds II and III.
3.11. The order of the participants in rounds II and III shall be determined by a drawing of lots. The Jury has the right to change the order of performances. The order of the participants in the Finals shall be determined by the Jury.
3.12. All participants who have been admitted to Round II shall also compete in Round III. There is no selection (elimination) of participants between rounds II and III.
3.13. Only the first prize winners of rounds II and III (finalists) in each category shall be admitted to the Finals.
3.14. All participants are provided with rehearsal rooms and acoustic rehearsal facilities in the halls.
3.15. The Founder shall provide the participants with information materials for the Competition.
3.16. The Founder reserves the right to use audio and video recordings of the auditions and photographs of the participants to publicize the Competition in the media and on the internet.

IV. Procedure for the submission of applications to the Competition

4.1 Application for participation in the Competition must be submitted from 10.09.2023 to 20.12.2023 through the candidate’s personal account on the official website of the Competition https://yamalsymphony.ru (hereafter — the Website) in accordance with Annex No. 2 to these Regulations.
4.2 The application must be completed in Russian or English on the form provided on the Website and certified by the personal signature of the participant.
4.3 The following documents and materials shall be attached to the electronic application:
— a copy of the candidate’s identity document (passport);
— the bank details of the participant.
— biography (approximately 1,000 characters);
— colour photographs of the candidate in digital format with a resolution of at least 1024 x 768 pixels, including one close—up photo suitable for publication;
— the programme for all rounds complying with the Programme Requirements (Appendix No. 1 to these Regulations), indicating the full names of the authors, the exact titles of the works, numbers, opuses, parts or movements numbers, keys, as well as the timing of each work. Changes to the list of works to be performed at the Competition’s in—person rounds shall be permitted until 20.12.2023;
— a web link to a video file (hereafter referred to as video and/or video) of the qualifying programme.
4.4 Video recording requirements:
4.4.1 The video must be made not earlier than May 2023.
4.4.2 The programme performed on the video shall comply with the Programme Requirements (Appendix No. 1 to these Regulations).
4.4.3 Only one video file may be submitted, containing all the works complying with the Programme Requirements.
4.4.4 It is not permitted to submit videos containing performances by other musicians or any other material not complying with the purpose of the Competition.
4.4.5 The recording of the whole program must be made with a static, motionless video camera (device with video camera function) strictly on the same platform from one place (angle) without interruptions during the performance of one piece. Turning off the camera between numbers is allowed.
4.4.6 The video must show the performer in full body (view from the audience).
4.4.7 Video, including its soundtrack, must not be edited or altered in any way from the beginning to the end of the programme performance, including no sound editing of individual sounds, segments of the programme performance, editing of parts of works between them is allowed. An exception is editing to trim the video file(s) before the start of the programme (individual piece) and after the end of the programme (individual piece).
4.4.8 Videos must only be submitted in the form of a web link (entrants shall ensure that web links are operational themselves).
4.4.9 The video must have a resolution of at least 1280×720 pixels.
4.4.10 The video frame rate shall be at least 23.976 per second.
4.4.11 The title of the video file must include the candidate’s first and last name. The description of the video file must indicate all the works performed (indicating composer, number, opus, key, parts (if any) in the order of performance).
4.5 Applications received after the date specified in clause 4.1. of these Regulations or which do not comply with the requirements of these Regulations shall not be considered.
4.6 All works shall be performed by heart, except for the sonatas for violin and for cello and piano.

V. Jury of the Competition

5.1 The Competition jury shall consist of eminent personalities of world music culture. The composition of the Competition jury shall be approved by the Competition Organizing Committee.
5.2 The jury of the Competition decides on the selection of the participants of the Competition at all stages of the Competition, on the awarding of places, prizes, titles of diploma holders and laureates, the Grand Prix of the Competition.
5.3 The jury may decide to reduce a contestant’s programme or to terminate the performance, with the consent of all jurors.
5.4 The Jury may decide, if necessary, to amend the terms of these regulations.
5.5 Decisions made by the jury shall be final and not subject to revision.

VI. Prizes, honoursand awards

6.1 Based on the results of rounds II and III, two diploma winners of the Competition in each category shall be determined, and first, second and third prizes shall be awarded in each category.
6.2 Based on the results of the Final, one winner of the Grand Prix of the Competition shall be determined among the first prize—winners.
6.3 The following cash prizes shall be established in the Competition:
— Grand Prix — 1,000,000 roubles (10 673 USD)*;
— I Prize — 500,000 roubles (5 336 USD)*;
— II Prize — 400,000 roubles (4 269 USD)*;
— III Prize — 300,000 roubles (3 202 USD)*;
— Diploma holder — 100,000 roubles (1 067 USD)*.
*Cash prizes in dollar terms are indicated at the exchange rate of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation as of July 18, 2023
6.4 The Jury shall have the right:
— to award not all the prizes;
— divide the prizes among the participants (except for the First and Grand Prix).
6.5 The Jury shall be entitled to award prizes to the best accompanists of the Competition (not more than one in each category).

VII. Special conditions

7.1 The finalists of the Competition are required to attend the Closing Ceremony free of charge.
7.2 All rounds of the Competition may be broadcast live, published on the Internet and recorded for later broadcasting and publication on audio and video media.
7.3 All rights for the broadcasting, audio and video recordings of the Competition and the final concerts of the winners belong to the Founder (without payment of royalties to the participants), as well as the sale and distribution of the aforementioned materials.
7.4 The participants and their accompanists undertake to sign a document confirming that they have no claim to the use of the aforementioned materials by the Founder. The Founder has no financial obligations towards the participants for the use of the material received.
7.5 The Founder shall not provide participants, accompanists and other attendants with any kind of insurance.
7.6 Participants shall not have any other professional obligations while participating in the Competition.
7.7 The application form signed by a candidate for the Competition shall be evidence that the prospective participant fully accepts and undertakes to comply with the terms and conditions of these Regulations.