1. The Tapiola Youth Piano Competition is organized in connection with the PianoEspoo Festival. The organizer is Espoo Music Festivals Association in cooperation with the Competition Committee. The competition for groups I and II takes place in Espoo Cultural Centre, Finland, between September 19–21, 2023. The prize ceremonies take place at the end of each competition day. 

2. Groups I and II are open for contestants who are piano students at the music institutes of the Finnish Uusimaa region, excluding students from the Sibelius Academy. The exact dates of each group are announced on June 12th, 2023.

3. Groups

Group I - contestants up to 11 years of age
Group II - contestants between 12–15 years of age

Contestants’ considered age is their age on the starting day of the entire competition (September 19th, 2023). In addition to applying for group I or II, contestants may also apply for group III. In that case, the application for group III is prioritized. Contestants can only compete in one group.

4. The applicants must submit the electronic application form no later than May 31st, 2023, at 11.59 pm (Finnish time). The application form will be activated on this site on April 3rd. The application must be made with permission from the contestant's teacher. The teacher will be the primary contact person.

5. If the number of applicants is too large in terms of the competition schedule, the organizer will limit the number of the participants. For the video selection, the applicants must send a link (e.g., Youtube, Dropbox, etc.) to a video containing one solo work. The work doesn’t have to be part of the actual competition repertoire.  The video selection is made by the video jury of the competition.  

6. The names of the contestants selected into the competition will be announced on the competition’s website on June 12th, 2023. The contestants selected into the competition will also be notified by email. 

7. Each contestant must pay the application fee of €50 no later than August 15th, 2023, into the account (IBAN) FI60 8000 1770 8312 96 Swift: DABAFIHH, account holder: Espoo Music Festivals Association, Ahertajantie 6 D, 02100 Espoo, Finland. The information field of the payment must state the competitor’s name. Failing to submit the application fee on time will be considered as a cancellation of the participation. In case a contestant cancels the participation after having paid the application fee, the application fee shall not be returned.

8. The contestants may make adjustments into the competition repertoire until August 31st, 2023. The possible changes must be submitted by email to competition(at)pianoespoo.fi with “Repertoire adjustment / competitors name / competition group” in the subject field of the email.

9. The competition’s philosophy is that of a survey. Each contestant will receive personal feedback from the jury and a diploma. In addition, special prizes will be awarded.

10. The playing order will be drawn by the Competition Committee after the confirmation of participation. The playing order will be stated on the competition website, and contestants will be notified by email on August 21st, 2023.

11. The contestants and their teachers must take care of travel arrangements, accommodation, and meals during the competition. The contestants are responsible for taking any necessary insurance themselves. 

12. The competition is a public event. The organizer has the right to photograph, record, video record, broadcast, televise, and live-stream for the internet the competition performance without financial compensation to the contestants, including the music composed by the contestants. It is not allowed to photograph, record, or video record the competition, excluding performances by your own children or students. The Jury has the right to order a contestant to stop the performance in case the maximum time is exceeded.

13. The organizer has the right to make changes into the competition schedule. 

14. Questions relating to the repertoire or organization of the competition must be submitted to the competition office. In case of any dispute, it is the Competition Committee that decides upon the issues.

15. The original language of these rules is Finnish. Any disputes will be settled on the basis of the Finnish text.

1. The Tapiola Youth Piano Competition is organized in connection with the PianoEspoo Festival. The organizer is Espoo Music Festivals Association in cooperation with the Competition Committee. Group III takes place in Espoo Cultural Centre, Finland between September 22–24, 2023. The prize ceremony takes place on September 24, 2023.

2. Group III is open for contestants between 10–15 years of age from everywhere in the world, regardless of nationality. However, the Competition Committee has decided to exclude Russian and Belarussian participants living permanently in Russia or Belarus from the competition. Contestants’ considered age is their age on the starting day of the entire competition (September 19th, 2023).

3. The maximum amount of 20 pianists will be selected to the competition from the video selection round. The actual competition consists of two rounds, the first taking place on September 22nd, 2023, and the second taking place on September 24th, 2023. The Jury will select approximately 10 contestants to the second round.

4. The applicants must submit the electronic application form no later than May 31st, 2023, at 11.59 pm (Finnish time). The application form will be activated on this site on April 3rd. The application must be made with permission from the contestant's teacher. The teacher will be the primary contact person.

5. Along with the application form, the applicants must send a link (e.g. youtube, dropbox, etc.) to a video containing two works, which must fill the following requirements:

• At least one work must be part of the actual competition repertoire

• At least one work must be in a fast tempo

The two works can be recorded separately but they must open through one link. The performances on the video must be recorded with one take, without editing. The duration of the videos must not exceed 10 minutes. The works on the video must be solo works.

6. The names of the contestants selected into the competition will be announced on the competition’s website on June 12th, 2023. The contestants selected into the competition will also be notified by email. 

7. Each contestant must pay the application fee of €50 no later than August 15th, 2023 into the account (IBAN) FI60 8000 1770 8312 96 Swift: DABAFIHH, account holder: Espoo Music Festivals Association, Ahertajantie 6 D, 02100 Espoo, Finland. The information field of the payment must state the competitor’s name. Failing to submit the application fee on time will be considered as a cancellation of the participation. In case a contestant cancels the participation after having paid the application fee, the application fee shall not be returned.

8. The contestants may make adjustments into the competition repertoire until August 31st, 2023. The possible changes must be submitted by email to competition(at)pianoespoo.fi with “Repertoire adjustment / competitors name / competition group” in the subject field of the email.

9. The competition’s philosophy is that of a survey. Each contestant will receive personal feedback from the jury and a diploma. In addition, prizes will be awarded in the categories according to the repertoire requirements.

10. The playing order will be drawn by the Competition Committee after the confirmation of participation. The playing order will be stated on the competition website and contestants will be notified by email on August 21st, 2023.

11. The contestants and their teachers must take care of travel arrangements, accommodation, and meals during the competition. The contestants are responsible for taking any necessary insurance themselves. The contestants needing a visa for Finland must obtain it themselves.

12. The competition is a public event. The organizer has the right to photograph, record, video record, broadcast, televise, and live-stream for the internet the competition performance without financial compensation to the contestants, including the music composed by the contestants. It is not allowed to photograph, record, or video record the competition, excluding performances by your own children or students. The Jury has the right to order a contestant to stop the performance in case the maximum time is exceeded.

13. The organizer has the right to make changes into the competition schedule.

14. Questions relating to the repertoire or organization of the competition must be submitted to the competition office. In case of any dispute, it is the Competition Committee that decides upon the issues.

15. The original language of these rules is Finnish. Any disputes will be settled on the basis of the Finnish text.