George Enescu International Competition Extends Final Application Deadline

Due to the international political and economic crises, along with requests from potential candidates, the George Enescu International Festival & Competition, has decided to extend the competition's registration deadline until May 1, 2022.

This extension will give young musicians who are interested in participating in this year's edition extra time to prepare the required materials for the online round. Also, the registration fee will be reduced by 50% to give as many talented musicians as possible access to participate. The competitors registered so far will also benefit from this discount.

The conditions of participation have remained the same and registration is possible online at www.festivalenescu.ro/en.

Open to cellists, violinists, pianists, and composers born after 1989, the 18th edition of the competition will take place from September 4 to 18, 2022, in Bucharest, Romania.

After the success of the competition's hybrid edition in 2020/2021, the 2022 competition will similarly comprise a virtual first round, followed by in-person semi-final and final rounds — which will take place at the Romanian Athenaeum between September 4-18, 2022.

The program will include 19 recitals and concerts, representing both competition stages and recitals by this year's jury members. The winners of the 2020/2021 competition, cellist Jaemin Han, violinist Valentin Șerban, and pianist Yeon-MinPark, will also return to the Athenaeum stage as soloists.

Finalists in the violin category will perform with Wilson Hermanto, Principal Guest Conductor of the Orchestra Cameristi della Scala, and cello finalists will be conducted by Tito Muñoz, Music Director of the Phoenix Symphony. The conductor for the piano final round is yet to be confirmed.

The competition is offering 120,000 EUR in total prize money, and the opportunity for the top prize winners in the piano, violin, and cello categories to perform with major international orchestras in the next edition of the George Enescu International Festival.

Leading arts management company Askonas Holt has partnered with the competition to provide the top prize winners with career guidance and mentorship on a non-exclusive basis for one year.

The 2022 jury will comprise Frank Huang, Simon James, Paul Kantor, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, Natasha Brofsky, and Matti Raekallio, among others.

Former prize winners include Stefan Ruha, Claire Bernard, Alexandru Tomescu, Elisabeth Leontskaja, and Tian Bonian.