„JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH - Soli Deo Gloria“
SECOND  INTERNATIONAL CONTEST

The Second International Contest under the name of Johann Sebastian Bach - Soli Deo Glroia – is the only contest event of this scope in Bulgaria focused on the works of the great German composer and the “treasury” of the Baroque period in music. The launching of this event is intended to nourish the high aesthetic taste through spreading the musical heritage of one of the most eminent artistic phenomena of all times – the composer Johann Sebastian Bach.

The contest is held under the auspices of the Prof. Asen Diamandiev Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Art, whose Rector is Assoc. Prof. Jean Pehlivanov, PhD, and is reliant on the prestige the academy has throughout the country and abroad. The immediate organiser of the forum is Full Prof. Zornitsa Petrova, PhD – Dean of the Faculty of Music Education in cooperation with its Department of Piano and Accordion.

The Second International Contest under the name of Johann Sebastian Bach - Soli Deo Glroia provides several directions of positive outcomes that make plausible its becoming a prestigious contest forum for classical music performers instrumentalists namely:

• A venue for creative expression;
• Means of popularizing own artistic accomplishments;
• An incentive for expressing „the best of self“ in the course of preparing for the contest;
• A litmus for artistic maturity and knowledge;
• A practical opportunity to compete in a well-intended peer environment;
• A contest forum for a wide age group (from early childhood to 27-year olds)

GENERAL CONDITIONS

- The Contest shall take place on 7th December 2024, Saturday, at Prof. Asen Diamandiev AMDFA – Plovdiv in a mixed mode of performance:

• Piano A group (students from grade 5 to grade 7) – live at the hall in the Prof. Asen Diamandiev AMDFA – Plovdiv;
• The rest of the section and age groups – on-line by sending links with the recordings uploaded on YouTube.

Participants admitted to the Contest:

• Students from grade 5 to grade 12
• Trainees of extracurricular art schools;
• Undergraduates, PhD students, postgraduates;
• Classical instrumentalists who are aged 27 or younger, for Organ and Harpsichord - 35.

Documents:

• Application (form available)
• CV
• Proof of enrollment issued by the relevant institution of learning where the candidate studies in the academic year 2024-2025, where applicable;
• Participation fee proof of remittance in the amount of BGN 30 for the 5-7 grade students, and BGN 40 – for the rest of the participants made to the following bank account:
  AMDFA Plovdiv
  IBAN:  BG32UNCR75273154632600
  BIC: UNCRBGSF
  UniCredit Bulbank, Plovdiv branch
  J.S. Bach Soli Deo Gloria Second International Contest

The deadline for receipt of documents and links is 30th November 2024, Saturday, sent to the following e-mail address:
jsb@artacademyplovdiv.com

Contact officials :
Full Prof. Zornitsa Petrova, PhD – tel. +359 (0)879287181
Assoc. Prof. Nadezhda Kuzmanova, PhD – tel. +359 (0)0888938008
Asst. Prof. Angel Marinov – tel .+359(0)878352389

In case a candidate who has applied, decides to cancel their participation, documents and fees are not subject to returning/refunding.

CONTEST PROGRAMME

It is a one-round contest in the following categories:

• Piano (A, B, C Groups)
• Organ and Harpsichord (A Group)
• Accordion (A and B Groups)
• Classical guitar (A Group)
• Music studies and Performance (theoretical category – A Group)
• Obligatory piano – academic review of contest nature for  AMDFA students

PIANO
(A Group – 5-7 graders of music schools, extracurricular art schools and general schools)

1. A piece by J. S. Bach (by choice)
2. Another by J. S. Bach or his contemporary by choice

Duration of the contest performance – up to 10 min.

(B Group – students in upper secondary schools (8-12 graders) of general education)

1. J. S. Bach – two part of a Suite (Partite) or a Prelude and Fugue  from The Well-Tempered Clavier (volume I and II)
2. Another piece(s) by J. S. Bach or his contemporary

Duration of the contest performance – up to 15 min.

(C Group – age range from 19 to 27 years of age)

Selection by choice of pieces of the Baroque period, one of which by J. S. Bach. Transcribed pieces, as well as parts of Suits and Partites are allowed. In this category, the contest programme may include a single large original piece by J. S. Bach.

Duration of the contest performance – up to 20 min.

ORGAN AND HARPSICHORD
(Age range: from 19 to 27 years of age)

Selection by choice of pieces of the Baroque period, one of which by J. S. Bach. Transcribed pieces, as well as parts of Suits and Partites are allowed. In this category, the contest programme may include a single large original piece by J. S. Bach.

Duration of the contest performance – up to 20 min.

ACCORDION
(A Group – students in upper secondary schools (8-12 graders) of general education)

1. A piece by J. S. Bach
2. Another piece by J. S. Bach or his contemporary (transcriptions are allowed)

Duration of the contest performance – up to 15 min.

(B Group – age range from 19 to 27 years of age)

Selection by choice of pieces of the Baroque period, one of which by J. S. Bach. Transcribed pieces, as well as parts of Suits and Partites are allowed. In this category, the contest programme may include a single large original piece by J. S. Bach.

Duration of the contest performance – up to 20 min.

CLASSICAL GUITAR
(Age range: from 19 to 27 years of age)

1. Two contrasting parts from a composition in cyclic form by J. S. Bach
2. Two pieces by a Baroque composer or a piece by choice of the candidate

Duration of the contest performance – up to 20 min.

MUSIC STUDIES AND PERFORMANCE (Theoretical category)

Written research on musical-theoretic or performing issues concerning the works of J. S. Bach or another composer of the Baroque period. The award-winning materials shall be published in the year-book 2024 of the Prof. Asen Diamandiev Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Art.
Submission by e-mail to:
 jsb@artacademyplovdiv.com

Technical specifications of text to be met:

• Texts in MS Word, page format А4.
• Maximum volume – 8 pages, including the bibliography list, notes exhibits, charts, etc.
• Page margins: Left -25mm; Right - 25mm; Top - 25mm; Bottom - 25 mm.
• Title: font - Times New Roman; size – 14pt.
• Text body: font - Times New Roman; size – 12pt.
• Each submission should contain an abstract of up to 10 lines in Bulgarian and in English, as well as key words in Bulgarian  and English.
• The author’s name should be spaced by one empty line below the title, and should be given in full as follows: forename, middle name/patronymic, surname, name of the higher institution of learning they represent.
• Any inserted images (notes exhibits, pictures, etc.) should be submitted in addition as a separate electronic file suitable for publishing. In case those are not inserted in the text, their location in the text should be clearly noted. Images should be fit for black-and-white printing.
• Any referenced literature (including quotations) should be given in accordance with the bibliographic description standards.

OBLIGATORY PIANO - Academic review of contest nature for  AMDFA students

1. A piece by J. S. Bach.
2. A piece by J. S. Bach or another Baroque composer.

Duration of the contest performance – up to 10 min.

PANEL

The participants in each group of the contest shall be assessed by a panel composed of outstanding instrumentalists and educators from Bulgaria and other countries who are experts in their field.
The members of the panel may decide to not award all the prizes, as well as to partition them (in terms of fund values as well) among the participants in the contest.

AWARDS

GRAND PRIX – BGN 700, a Diploma and Medal

The winner of this award in addition shall take part in the Chamber Music Festival.

PIANO

A Group

• First prize – BGN 120 and an honourary diploma
• Second prize – BGN 90 and an honourary diploma
• Third prize – BGN 60 and an honourary diploma

B Group

• First prize – BGN 150 and an honourary diploma
• Second prize – BGN 120 and an honourary diploma
• Third prize – BGN 80 and an honourary diploma

C Group – BGN 600

• First prize – BGN 300 and an honourary diploma
• Second prize – BGN 200 and an honourary diploma
• Third prize – BGN 100 and an honourary diploma

ORGAN AND HARPSICHORD

• First prize – BGN 250 and an honourary diploma
• Second prize – BGN 150 and an honourary diploma
• Third prize – BGN 80 and an honourary diploma

ACCORDEON

A Group – a sponsored group in honour of the eminent Bulgarian accordeonist and educator – Assoc. Prof. Petar Marinov

• First prize – a cash prize and an honourary diploma
• Second prize – a cash prize and an honourary diploma
• Third prize – a cash prize and an honourary diploma
  

B Group

• First prize – BGN 150 and an honourary diploma
• Second prize – BGN 120 and an honourary diploma
• Third prize – BGN 80 and an honourary diploma

CLASSICAL GUITAR

• First prize – BGN 200 and an honourary diploma
• Second prize – BGN 120 and an honourary diploma
• Third prize – BGN 80 and an honourary diploma

MUSIC STUDIES AND PERFORMANCE

(Theoretical category)

• First prize – BGN 200and an honourary diploma
• Second prize – BGN 120 and an honourary diploma
• Third prize – BGN 80 and an honourary diploma

OBLIGATORY PIANO

Academic review of contest nature for  AMDFA students

• First prize – BGN 200 and an honourary diploma
• Second prize – BGN 120 and an honourary diploma
• Third prize – BGN 80 and an honourary diploma

7  SPECIAL AWARDS