Member of the World Federation of International Music Competition
and the Alink - Argerich Foundation
Supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic

Bratislava, Slovak Republic, September 11th – 18th, 2027

Organizer: Slovak Philharmonic

Contact

Slovak Philharmonic
Medená 3, 816 01 Bratislava
Phone: + 421 2 20475 220
e-mail: hummelcompetition@filharmonia.sk
www.filharmonia.sk

JOHANN NEPOMUK HUMMEL

Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837), a native of Bratislava, was considered to be one of the Europe´s greatest composers and pianists in his lifetime. He studied with Mozart, Albrechtsberger, Salieri and Haydn. As a composer Hummel stands on the borderline between epochs. His work embraced virtually all the genres at the turn of century (except of symphony) and he is an outstanding representative in writing of virtuoso piano music. Stylistically, Hummel´s music connects classical with many proto-Romantic elements. As one of the most renowned representatives of late Classicism, be developed the styles of Clementi, Mozart and Beethoven and portends those of Schubert, Mendelssohn, Chopin, early Liszt and Schumann.

The International Johann Nepomuk Hummel Piano Competition would like to keep in memory the message of this great composer and piano virtuoso. At the same time it is the wish of the organizers that this competition will be the starting point of artistic careers of remarkable pianists.

Information and Competetion Rules

  1. The application deadline is June 30th 2027
  2. Please send the signed application form with attachments
    a) by post to
Johann Nepomuk Hummel International Piano Competition
    Slovak Philharmonic, Kristína Gotthardtová
    Medená 3, 816 01 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
    b) or scanned signed application form with attachments electronically to the e-mail address:
    hummelcompetition@filharmonia.sk
    Attachments – please attach to the application form:
    a) 2 photographs (300 dpi) 9×13 or 10×15 cm suitable for print reproduction
    b) the copy about payment of the enrollment fee 70 € to the bank account of Slovak Philharmonic,
    Medená 3, 816 01 Bratislava
    1. Cross-border SEPA transfer

    2. Cross-border transfer via an intermediary bank

    The banking fees related to the transfer of the enrollment fee shall be paid by the candidate. Otherwise, the application will be neglected.
  3. The repertoire on the application form is obligatory.
  4. The competition will be organized in three rounds: max. 12 candidates will pass from round one to round two and 3 candidates will pass from round two to round three.
  5. On September 11th 2027, 6PM, at the Slovak Philharmonic (Medená 3, Bratislava), lots will be drawn to set the order of the contestants. In the case of a participant’s absence, a member of the Competition Secretary will draw the lot instead of him/her.
  6. The Secretariat in the Slovak Philharmonic building (Medená 3, Bratislava) will be open on September 11th2027, from 12:00.
  7. All rounds will be streamed and available at stream.filharmonia.sk

Competition Rules

  1. The competition is open to pianists of all nationalities born after September 11th 1997.
  2. The candidate’s identity and age will be verified before the opening of the competition.
  3. The entire program (except the Hummel’s Quintet) must be played by memory. In case of high number of participants, the jury is entitled to reduce the program of the 1st stage.
  4. The following main prizes will be awarded to winners of the 12th Johann Nepomuk Hummel International Piano Competition (in Euros):
    1st prize of the National Bank of Slovakia – EUR 6.000 (and three concerts at Slovak Philharmonic)
    2nd prize – EUR 4.000,
    
3rd prize – EUR 2.000.
    The winners of the main prizes get at the same time entitled the Competition Laureates. 
    Besides that, other special prizes may be awarded.
  5. The results of the competition will be announced publicly following the Competition finals on 18th September 2027 with the festive awarding of the prizes. The decision of the Jury is final.
  6. The Jury is entitled not to award certain prizes, to join or divide them. 1st prize cannot be shared.
  7. The competitor agrees that his/her performance may be recorded by Radio, TV and transmitted by internet. The shots can be used to promote the Competition or its laureates at noncommercial base.
  8. Competition performances are not anonymous, and they are accessible to public.
  9. Competitors can request accommodation reservations from the competition secretariat.

Obligatory Repertoire

1st Round

  1. a sonata by W. A. Mozart
  2. an etude by J. N. Hummel
  3. an etude by F. Chopin from Op. 10 (except for No 3 and No 6) or from Op. 25 (except for No 7)
  4. an etude by F. Liszt or A. N. Scriabin or S. Rachmaninoff or C. Debussy or B. Bartók or I. Stravinsky

Time limit for 1st round – 25 minutes

2nd Round

  1. One of the selected sonatas by L. van Beethoven (Op. 10 No. 1–3; Op. 13; Op. 22; Op. 26; Op. 27 No. 1–2; Op. 28; Op. 31 No. 1–3). 
  2. Free program from other style periods. A piece from the previous round may not be repeated.

Time limit for 2nd round – min. 50, max. 60 minutes

3rd Round

  1. J. N. Hummel: Piano septet in D minor, Op. 74
  2. one of the following concerts:
    W. A. Mozart – No. 9 in E flat major, KV 271; No. 25 in C major, KV 503; No. 27. In B flat major, KV 595

    L. van Beethoven – No. 1 in C major, Op. 15; No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37; No. 4 in G major, Op. 58

    J. N. Hummel – No. 2 in A minor, Op. 85; No. 3 in B minor, Op. 89

JURY

Chairman of the International Jury
Pavel Gililov Germany

Members
Eliso Virsaladze Georgia

Andrew Brownell USA

Jingge Yan China

Leo de María Spain

Ivan Klánský Czech Republic

Marian Lapšanský Slovakia

Jakub Čižmarovič Slovakia