IFFCC

1.1. The International Ferenc Fricsay Conducting Competition (hereinafter referred to as "IFFCC") is open to all applicants without age restrictions.

1.2. The IFFCC will consist of two phases: the Elimination phase and the Live phase.

1.3. The Elimination phase included the examination of videos and CVs of all applicants and ended on June 20, 2023.

Participants chosen during the Elimination phase were published on the website of the IFFCC on July 1st, 2023.

1.4. The Live phase will take place from 3rd to 10th of September, 2023 in Szeged (Hungary) with participation of the Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra Szeged.

1.5. In order to apply to the IFFCC, applicants were asked to complete the application form via MUVAC platform using this link and to attach their videos and CVs.

2.1. The LIVE PHASE consists of the following rounds:

2.2. During each round the candidates will conduct the Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra Szeged (with full instrumentation) in front of the jury and in accordance with the schedule below.

2.3. Each candidate will choose 1 work (from the attached list of repertoire) in advance of every round of the IFFCC.

2.4. In every round, the participants will have a limited amount of minutes to perform in front of the jury:

2.5. All candidates admitted to the LIVE PHASE will receive diplomas in recognition of their achievement and participation in the LIVE PHASE of the IFFCC.

3.1. FIRST ROUND (venue: Korzó Music Hall, Szeged / Hungary; September 3rd - 7th, 2023)

Number of participants: 100. Podium time per participant: 16 minutes (maximum).

3.2. SECOND ROUND (venue: Korzó Music Hall, Szeged / Hungary; September 8th, 2023)

Number of participants: 16. Podium time per participant: 20 minutes (maximum).

3.3. THIRD ROUND (SEMI FINAL) (venue: Korzó Music Hall, Szeged / Hungary; September 9th, 2023)

Number of participants: 8. Podium time per participant: 32 minutes (maximum).

3.4. FOURTH ROUND (FINAL) (venue: National Theatre of Szeged (Vaszy Viktor tér 1, 6720 Szeged / Hungary) (September 10th, 2023)

Number of participants: 4. Podium time per participant: 40 minutes (maximum).

4.1. The jury members of the IFFCC are:

Vasily Petrenko (United Kingdom, Russia) - PRESIDENT OF THE JURY

Music Director: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra London

Chief Conductor: European Union Youth Orchestra

Sándor Gyüdi (Hungary)

Music Director: Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra Szeged & National Theatre of Szeged

Thomas Sanderling (United Kingdom, Germany)

Winner: ECHO KLASSIK 2017

Hermann Bäumer (Germany)

Chief Conductor: Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Mainz

General Music Director: Staatstheater Mainz

Ewa Strusińska (Poland)

General Music Director: Gerhart-Hauptmann-Theater Görlitz-Zittau

Principal Conductor: Neue Lausitzer Philharmonie

Constantine Orbelian (USA)

Music Director & Principal Conductor: New York City Opera

Chief Conductor: Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra

5.1. The prizes include guest conducting engagements with the orchestras mentioned in paragraphs 5.2., 5.3. and 5.4..

5.2. The First prize of the IFFCC includes guest conducting engagements with the following orchestras:

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra London,
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra ,
Leipzig Symphony Orchestra,
Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra,
Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra,
Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Mainz.

5.3. The Second prize of the IFFCC includes guest conducting engagements with the following orchestras:
Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra,
Craiova "Oltenia" Philharmonic Orchestra.

5.4. The Third prize of the IFFCC includes guest conducting engagements with the following orchestras:
Craiova "Oltenia" Philharmonic Orchestra.

6.1. Each participant may choose their own repertoire for every round of the competition from the list published on the website of the IFFCC.

7.1. In order to apply to the IFFCC you must complete the application form, attach your CV and upload the videos of your performance using the MUVAC platform HERE.

7.2. The IFFCC application fee is 100 EUR to be paid via the MUVAC platform HERE.

7.3. The application fee is non-refundable and will not be reimbursed even if the applicant is accepted but unable to participate in the IFFCC except in the case of the cancellation of the IFFCC.

7.4. Requirements for videos

The videos of the applicants must:

- include performances of musical pieces from any historical period (both instrumental and vocal ensembles are acceptable),

- be playable in streaming mode and downloadable,

- be at least 5 minutes long.

• Recordings of piano rehearsals are acceptable.

• Two movements / parts of the same work are allowed.

• No more than two videos will be judged: the jury will evaluate only the first two videos sent by the applicant.

• The jury will watch all videos with no obligation to watch these entirely.

8.1. Applicants chosen to participate in the LIVE PHASE were be required to pay the participation fee in the amount of 400 EUR.

9.1. The IFFCC will be recorded and broadcasted through various media sources for promotional purposes.

9.2. All rounds of the competition will be streamed live. The broadcast will also be made available to all participants.

9.3. By submitting applications, candidates authorize the organizers of the IFFCC to use their names, surnames and images in printed publications with photographs, audio or video that can be broadcasted via radio, TV or other media sources (Internet, etc.) relating to the IFFCC.

10.1. The decisions of the jury are final and cannot be appealed.

10.2. The IFFCC is open to the public, sharing comments and images via social media platforms is welcome.