The competition will be held in two rounds. In the first round, two pieces that differ in style and character must be registered via YouTube or Vimeo links on www.viaf.at by April 30, 2025.

The organizing committee will send a notification for participation in the second round (finals) via email within 10 days of receiving the registration video.

The second round will take place as live performances on August 6 and 7, 2025, in Vienna. The venue is the Kaisersaal at Musikquartier, Kaiserstraße 10, 1070 Vienna, Austria.

The gala concert and award ceremony will take place at the Ehrbar Hall on August 8, 2025.

The masterclasses will be held from August 2 to 5, 2025. Participants have the opportunity to attend three-day masterclasses before the competition. Further details can be found under: Masterclasses.

The registration process is complete upon receipt of a completed registration form, a video recording, and full payment of the participation fees. Receipt of the relevant documents will be confirmed by email. By registering, the applicant declares his/her acceptance of the competition rules.

The jury consists of professional and experienced artists and educators. There will be three permanent members as well as guest judges.

• Piano Solo

• Strings (Violin – Viola – Cello – Double Bass)

• Woodwinds; Brass (Flute – Oboe – Clarinet – Bassoon Trumpet – French Horn – Trombone – Saxophone)

• Chamber Music (Piano Duo, Duos – Trios – Quartets – up to 10)

• Solo Voice

a. Solo Instruments

The program should correspond to the musical abilities of the artist and meet the technical and musical requirements of the pieces.

• Repertoire of the baroque: early classical, classical, romantic, and contemporary periods.

• 2 original pieces from different musical periods, e.g. one baroque piece and one contemporary; or one classical and one romantic.

• Solo-piano category: the pieces must be played from memory, no reading is allowed.

Duration of playing must be within the time limits (see below “AGE CATEGORIES AND TIME LIMITS”)

b. Chamber Music

• Reading is allowed.

Pieces must also be selected from different musical periods, as described above.

c. Solo – Vocal

• A (6–9 years): 4–5 minutes
  1 to 3 vocal pieces of free choice (e.g., children's songs, folk songs, art songs)

• B (10–14 years): 5–8 minutes
  The program should include at least two repertoire areas (musical periods, concert, and opera repertoire) and be performed in two different languages (e.g., folk songs, art songs, Aria antica [old Italian aria], or a simple aria from musical or opera literature).

• C (15–19 years): 9–11 minutes
  The program should include three repertoire areas (musical periods, concert, and opera repertoire) performed in at least two different languages, including one piece in the original German language (e.g., a song or an Aria antica [old Italian aria], a song in German, and an aria from an oratorio, opera, operetta, or musical).

• D (20–27 years): 12–16 minutes
  The program should include at least three repertoire areas, including an aria from an oratorio, operetta, or opera from three different periods and in three different languages. At least one piece must be in German.

Calculation of Age Group
The key date is January 1, 2025

• For chamber music ensembles, the age group is determined by the oldest member of the ensemble.

SELECTION OF PIECES

In the second round, all participants must perform pieces of their own choice, ensuring that the performance time does not exceed the specified time limit. It is recommended to select pieces that sufficiently showcase the performer’s musicality and technique. At least one piece should be repeated from the first round.

The second round has the following time requirements:

Solo instrument and Chamber Music:

Age Group A (6-9 years): 3-5 minutes

Age Group B (10-14 years): 5-8 minutes

Age Group C (15-19 years): 8-15 minutes

Age Group D (20-27 years): 15-25 minutes

Solo – Voice

Age Group A (6-9 years): 4-5 minutes

Age Group B (10-14 years): 5-8 minutes

Age Group C (15-19 years): 9-11 minutes

Age Group D (20-27years): 12-16 minutes

First Round The jury reviews all applicants' videos and decides on participation in the final round. The results will be announced via E-mail.

Second Round The final round will take place in the Kaisersaal at Musikquartier, Kaiserstraße 10, 1070 Vienna. All participants will be given a scheduled audition time (date and time). This schedule will be announced in writing after the registration deadline. Failure to appear for the scheduled time in the second round will be considered a disqualification. Participants have the option to book practice rooms at Musikquartier online at their own expense at www.musikquartier.at.

Accompanist For vocal and chamber music groups, participants must arrange their own accompanist. However, the competition organizers can offer the services of an accompanist on-site for a fee. Please indicate this service on the registration form and send the repertoire for the final round in advance.

The results of the final round will determine who participates in the Gala Concert. The jury will direct the proceedings in the competition by, for example, selecting the pieces to be played as well as requesting shorter versions of certain pieces, if necessary. The jury is free to interrupt or cut short any performance, based on their own discretion. The jury is free to declare any prize “not awarded”. All legal claims against such decisions are prohibited.

It is the responsibility of the participants to ensure that children and adolescents under 18 years of age are supervised by a parent or guardian during the competition. Submitted documents from participants will not be returned after withdrawal or completion of the event. The registration fee will not be refunded in the event of withdrawal after the registration process is complete.

The recognition of the prize winners will take place in the form of a public concert. The gala concert, announcement of the awards, and award ceremony will be held on August 8, 2025, at the historic Ehrbar Hall, Mühlgasse 30, 1040 Vienna. The number of participants is limited, and the distribution of prizes is final. Prizes must be collected in person; prizes, diplomas, etc., will not be sent by mail.

• An unedited video of the performance forwarded to Vienna International Music Competition as a YouTube or Vimeo PUBLIC LINK.  It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the video link is openable. Failure to provide a working link could lead to disqualification.

• Videos edited in any way to alter the performance will not be accepted.

• The video must clearly show the face and hands of the performer.

• Please clearly indicate the name of the participant, and name of piece on the Title of the Video

In judging the performances, equal weighting will be given to the overall musical impression and precisely reciting the piece exactly as written. Additional factors considered include the difficulty of the piece as well as the energy and charisma transmitted by the performer and the player’s technical abilities.

Number of points: 100

Certificate of Successful Participation in the VIMC = 1 – 40 Points

Bronze Medal = 40.01 – 60 Points

Silver Medal = 60.01 – 80 Points

Gold Medal = 80.01 – 100 Points

These may be awarded by the jury for outstanding performances and unique presentations.

Please register online on www.viaf.at until 30th of May 2025.

• Solo instrument and voice: 160 € per person

• Duos:  140  € per person

• Trio up to ten:  120   € per person

The fee is due on registration and is non-refundable. Any banking costs must be paid by the registrant.

The organizer retains the right to create photo, video, and audio recordings during the competition and the gala concert and to use recorded material for advertising purposes. Participants have no right to any royalties arising from recordings made during any part of the competition, as well as radio, internet, or TV broadcasts of the event. The recording of photo, video, and audio by persons other than the ones authorized by the competition office is prohibited.  All changes or printing errors reserved.