Special Prize

The ChopinPianoFEST Prishtina Special Piano Festival Award is a highly anticipated award that is presented to a young pianist every year. This award has become a cherished tradition of the festival and is made possible through the generous support of Dr. Herbert Groeger from Bad Honnef/Salzburg, in collaboration with Kosova pianist Ardita Statovci, who initiated the establishment of this award in 2017.

The audition for the Special Piano Prize, which will be presented during the ChopinPianoFest Prishtina, will be held on June 7, 2023, at the New Amphitheater of the University Library. Eligible to participate in the audition are piano students of the Faculty of Arts of UP and the piano students of music schools in Kosovo who have previously won prizes in competitions and have a prepared program lasting 60 minutes.

Candidates must perform a 45-minute program in the selection audition, which should include a mandatory work by Beethoven (Sonatas, Variations, Bagatella, or other shorter works by this composer) or a work by R. Schuman. The rest of the repertoire is free, and candidates are encouraged to include some of the Albanian composers in their program. The audition program must be played by memory.

Interested candidates should apply by sending their recital program proposal in written form, including the complete program lasting 60 minutes and a part for bis (encore), to the organizers via email at [email protected], by May 25, 2023. Candidates who do not apply with the written program and the relevant details by the given deadline will not be able to participate in the audition.

It is important to note that winners of previous editions of the ChopinPianoFEST Special Prize will not be eligible to compete. In this edition, the Special Prize of Chopin Fest includes a recital concert in Germanophone countries such as Germany or Austria during the 2021-2022 season, a master class (depending on the term), a visit to places of historical musical importance in Germanophone countries, and an introduction to the culture of this region. All expenses related to the prize are covered by the sponsor.

ChopinPianoFEST Prishtina wishes all candidates good preparation and success in the audition, as they are enabled to establish their careers as pianists and win a fantastic opportunity.