1. Competitors

The Berlin Prize for Young Artists (“BPFYA”) is curated by VAN and facilitated by Bank Julius Baer. The finals will take place on November 7 and 8, 2024 (performances on November 8). The international competition is open to musicians of any nationality born in or before 2006 who are currently studying at the university level (in any subject), or have graduated no earlier than 2019. No singers, conductors, or ensembles, sorry.

2. Applications

Applications are submitted via www.bpfya.com/apply. The application deadline is June 25, 2024, at 23:59 (11:59pm) Central European Time.

The application must include the following documents: 

• A brief artistic CV (in English).
• A written concert program with a maximum length of 30 minutes (composer and work title, publisher/rights holder). There are absolutely no restrictions on style, period, number, etc. of the works, however all works must be performed solo. For more information on this, please see our FAQ.
• A brief (max. 500 words) statement on your choice of program.
• Scan of diploma (file format .jpg or .pdf).
• A recent video recording of you performing one work from your suggested program (file format .mp4 or .mov).
• Scan of your passport or ID-card for proof of age (file format .jpg or .pdf).

3. Application Deadline

Applications that arrive after June 25, 2024 are only accepted for further consideration under exceptional circumstances and with the express approval of the competition’s organizers. 

4. Selection of Competitors

The jury will select a total of 6 (six) competitors based on the submitted applications. Finalists will be notified on July 30, 2024.

5. Travel and accommodation

• The finalist’s travel costs (including two nights in a three-star hotel) are covered by the competition’s organization. If a finalist can get to Berlin in under eight hours, we kindly ask them not to fly. 
• Those who require a visa to travel to Germany must obtain their visa from a German Consulate in their country of residence at their own expense. 
• It is the finalist’s responsibility to have valid health insurance while travelling, since the competition’s organization doesn’t cover health costs. 

6. Competition Schedule, Venue and Program

The competition has two parts. The pre-selection is the first round and is based on the recordings and documents submitted by the applicants. The finals are the second round. All finalists will perform the entire 30-minute program they submitted. The finals will take place at the Villa Elisabeth in Berlin.

First round

Please submit all documents required in “2. Applications” and the application on www.bpfya.com/apply, respectively.

Second Round

November 7–8, 2024, Berlin

Each finalist will play their 30-minute program submitted in their application on November 8 (with rehearsals, filming, and photos scheduled for November 7 — additional photos will take place November 8). The jury will make their decision after the last person plays and the two winners will be awarded immediately following. 

8. Rights / Fine Print

• The panel’s decision is final, and suing us won’t change that. (Der Rechtsweg ist ausgeschlossen.)
• All participants will submit their applications via www.bpfya.com/apply.
• All finalists must be in Berlin for the duration of the finals.
• All finalists agree to participate in promotional and marketing activities for the competition.
• All participants grant us the unlimited right to broadcast and/or stream the competition’s finals via any channel, and to film, photograph and/or record the finals without compensation to the finalists.
• We don’t discriminate.
• Prizes are non-transferrable and cannot be substituted, either with an in-kind service or cash value. Winners must claim their prizes within 365 days of the Finals.
• The applicant guarantees to submit only those files (photographs, recordings, music and texts) that are in no violation of any applicable law including intellectual property rights. In particular they must ensure that he is the originator of the application video or that they have the required permission from the rights holder. The application files and videos are used for internal purposes only during the first round and will not be used for any other purposes nor provided to any third parties.
• The finalist is responsible for insuring luggage and personal property, especially musical instruments, against theft or damage.
• The finalist expressly agrees to audio, video, and/or audio/video recording during the finals. The finalist assigns to the organizer of the Berlin Prize for Young Artists all rights to use and exploit the Recordings fully and without any restrictions as to geographical area, time, or content. The organizers have the right to use the Recordings on TV, radio, the Internet and on mobile platforms, including social media platforms as well as video, DVD, CD, and other forms of reproduction. This includes in particular the right to copy, broadcast, publish the Recordings and make them available on the homepages, social media accounts, newsletters, etc., of the organizers. The rights are transferrable, especially to sponsor and co-organizer Bank Julius Baer. The organizer shall have no obligation to pay any renumeration to the applicants/finalists as compensation for using the photos/recordings to the extent described.
• By participating in the competition, you indicate your acceptance of these rules.