Mission & Vision

Organised by the Sound of the Earth Music and Arts Foundation (“Foundation”), the inaugural “International Ponte Music Festival: Concert Competition” (“Competition”) is an invaluable opportunity for young and talented musicians to compete and perform as concerto soloists with Ponte Orchestra (conductor & artistic director: Mr. Stephen Lam), if selected by the international panel of jury.

The Competition will be held in three rounds, culminating in the Grand Finale on 13 March 2022, at the Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall. Application is open to instrumentalists aged between 6-25 of any nationality who reside in Hong Kong.

The competition is separated into four divisions: Junior Division (aged 6-11), Youth (aged 12-17), Open (aged 6-25) and Professional. Each division has its own set pieces for piano, strings, woodwind and brass instruments. Full details below.


Eligibility

    1. Due to the current border restrictions related to the pandemic, we accept applicants (HK resident or Non-HK resident) who currently live in Hong Kong; or those who are permitted to perform publicly in Hong Kong during the period of 12 Feb – 14 March 2022.


    2. Divisions & Age limits


    a. Children Division: aged 6 – 11 (born between 1 Jan 2010 – 31 Dec 2015)

    b. Youth Division: aged 12 – 17 (born between 1 Jan 2004 – 31 Dec 2009)

    c. Open Division: aged 6 – 25 (born between 1 Jan 1996 – 31 Dec 2015)

    d. Professional Division*: aged 18 – 25 (born between 1 Jan 1996 – 31 Dec 2003*)


    *Music graduates or current music students at a university or conservatoire MUST enter the Professional division.


Schedule
Date
Event

24 Dec 2021 or before

Deadline of early bird application

14 Jan 2022 or before

Deadline of application

21 Jan 2022 or before

Deadline of video submission

6 Feb 2022 or before

Announcement of list of Semi-Finalists

12 or 13 Feb 2022 or before

Semi-Final

20 Feb 2022 or before

Announcement of list of Finalists

13 Mar 2022

Grand Finale


How to Apply

1. To apply, please submit the online form (Here)

2. Information and materials required:

  • Candidate’s first and last names (in Roman and Chinese characters)

  • Date of birth

  • Identification number (ID/passport)

  • Residential address in Hong Kong

  • Phone number

  • Email address

  • Division chosen

  • Instrument (multiple choice)

  • Name of School/University/Conservatoire

  • Name of Teacher

  • Photo (HD quality in jpg format)

  • Proof of payment (in jpg / pdf format)

  • Guardian’s info (for candidates aged under 18)

  • i. Guardian’s name

    ii. Relationship with candidate

    iii.Guardian’s phone number

    iv. Guardian’s email address


    Remark: The personal information and identification documents collected would be used solely for this competition only and will be destroyed within 40 days after the competition.


3. Upon confirmation of receiving the submitted form, the organiser will confirm receipt via email and provide a link for participant to:

a. upload the complete score with piano and solo (as what is performed in video);

b. upload the audition video file; as well as

c. upload the video to YouTube as well.

Deadline of video submission: 21 Jan 2022


Entry Fee

Ordinary application: HK$ 750, with early bird application HK$ 650 (Apply on or before: 24 Dec 2021)

Payment methods

    1. Bank transfer

    Account Number: 741 268510 838 (Bank: Hongkong Shanghai Banking Corporation)

    Recipient: Sound of the Earth Music and Arts Foundation Limited

    2. Payme: Please go to the top of this webpage, download the regulation and scan the QR Code in the document, payment to “Sound of the Earth Music and Arts Foundation Limited”

    3. FPS (Code: 169393741)

You will be asked to upload the proof of payment on the application form, this can be a screenshot or a photo of the confirmation;

    for payments made via bank transfer, please remark the candidate’s name and contact number at an appropriate space;

    for Payme & FPS, please remark the candidates name at the payment remarks section.

All application fees are non-refundable


Competition

    1. First Round (Submission of application form and an audition video)

    a. Application deadline: 11:59pm, 14 Jan 2022 (an early bird discount is available until 11:59pm, 24 Dec 2021)

    b. Video submission deadline: 11:59pm, 21 Jan 2022.

    c. Adjudication: the jury will review the videos and select no more than 20 candidates to the Semi-Final

    d. Notification: candidates offered a place in the Semi-Final will be notified by email by 6 Feb 2022.


    2. Semi-Final (Live Audition)

    a. Date: 12 or 13 February 2022

    b. Selected candidates will attend a closed-door live audition, performing the same piece as the First Round, in front of the international panel of jury, with piano accompaniment. (Candidates to provide their own accompanists). The jury reserves the right to request any part of the selected repertoire and to stop a performance as appropriate.

    c. The jury will select no more than a total of 8 Finalists from different divisions

    d. Notification: candidates offered a place in the Grand Finale will be notified by 20th February, 2022.


    3. Grand Finale

    a. Date: 13 March 2022, 19:30

    b. Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall

    c. Finalists will perform the same piece as the previous rounds with Ponte Orchestra, in front of the jury and live audience

    d. Rehearsals will take place 14 days before leading up the concert, details to be confirmed


Prize

    1. First Round:

    Each video will be adjudicated by selected members of the jury. Points will be given, based on which the following certificates (signed by the panel) will be presented:

    a. Gold: 90 points or above

    b. Silver: 80 points or above

    c. Bronze: 70 points or above

    d. Participation: 69 points or below (Comment sheets will be given for all participants)


    2. Semi-Final:

    Semi-Finalists who are not chosen to the Grand Finale will receive a certificate signed by the panel.


    3. Grand Finale

    All finalists will receive a certificate, and all prizes below will come with a trophy

    a. Champion (“Concerto Prize”): Cash award plus an opportunity to perform with Ponte Orchestra a full concerto

    b. Orchestra Prize (to be voted upon by orchestra members based on finalist’s performance at rehearsals and the Grand Finale):

    c. Audience Prize (to be voted upon by the audience at the Grand Finale):


Jury

    1. Due to the current border restrictions related to the pandemic, foreign jury members will adjudicate online via video-meeting facilities

    2. All Jury decisions are final and are not subject to appeals or reconsiderations

    3. The list of jury members will be announced on 8th of December (Please also follow our website, IG and Facebook for the updates)


Adjudication Criteria

    In addition to assessing the overall artistic level of the candidates, the jury will pay particular attention to the requisites for a successful concerto performer, including –

    1. Technical skills

    2. Musicality

    3. Stylistic and historical awareness to the work

    4. Others (interpretation, professionalism, musical attitudes etc.)


Video Requirements (First Round)

    1. The video should be in HD quality (720p/1080p) with clear audio. The whole video must be unaltered/unedited (i.e. the performance must be recorded in one continuous take, from start to finish).

    2. The audio should be captured either by the video-recording device’s built-in microphones or one single external microphone (i.e. audio-mixing is not allowed).

    3. The video should be captured in a fixed angle and location that shows the candidate’s and accompanist’s face and hands in clear view.

    4. The video should start with the candidate’s announcement of his/her own name, division enrolled, and repertoire selected. (e.g. “My name is XXX. I’m competing in [Division] and will be playing the [name of piece])

    5. The Candidate should as far as possible perform the piece by memory.

    6. The video must be uploaded to YouTube and to the link that the organiser provides after we receive the candidate's application form.


Important Repertoire Remarks

    1. Repeats

    It is acceptable whether or not you choose to follow the repeat marks, it is not part of the adjudication.

    2. Piano Accompaniments

    a. For certain works, the organiser is aware that the piano introduction is quite long, and suggests candidates to start the performance at an appropriate place before the first solo entrance (e.g. 4 bars or 8 bars before)

    b. Piano concertos: since it might be difficult to find a suitable recording venue that houses two pianos, piano candidates can submit a video without piano accompaniment (i.e. First Round).

    c. Performing with piano accompaniment is mandatory for the Semi-Final. Candidates must bring their own accompanists.

    3. Cadenza

    For certain works, the organiser is aware that the cadenza exists in multiple versions. The jury accepts any versions and would appreciate music scores that have cadenzas written out.


Publicity/Marketing/Media

    1. It is the responsibility of the finalists to supply biographies and photos as requested by the organiser for promotional purposes

    2. Any recordings of the finalists’ performances made at the Final will be and will remain the property of Sound of the Earth Music and Arts Foundation and may be used for the promotion of the Foundation and the Festival in the future.


Instrument

    1. Piano

    2. Violin

    3. Viola

    4. Cello

    5. Double Bass

    6. Harp

    7. Flute

    8. Oboe

    9. Clarinet

    10. Bassoon

    11. Horn

    12. Trumpet

    13. Trombone

    14. Tuba

    15. Percussion


Repertoire List

    1. Please choose ONE piece from the list below and give a full performance of it with piano accompaniment, by following to the guidelines stipulated in the sections “Video Requirements” & “Important Repertoire Remarks”.

    2. Please click here to download Repertoire list

All information is correct at time of publication.