Prague Spring International Music Competition

Rules & repertoire

Registration & fee

• The 2027 disciplines are harpsichord and clarinet. Birth dates from 6 May 1995 for harpsichord, or 6 May 1997 for clarinet, inclusive. All nationalities; previous first-prize winners in the same discipline are excluded. Apply by 1 December 2026, 23:59 GMT.
• Submit ID or birth certificate copy, reproducible portrait of at least 1 MB and 300 dpi, all live repertoire, unedited video links and €50 payment confirmation. Also submit a signed authenticity and quality declaration using the organizer’s form, from a professor or another person of artistic standing such as the recording engineer. This is a recording declaration. The checklist does not separately list recommendation letters.
• Results are scheduled for 20 January 2027. Selected contestants pay another €100 by 15 February and receive the commission score. Neither fee is refundable.

Rounds & time limits

Video preselection · both disciplines

• Harpsichord: Bach Ricercar a tre BWV 1079 and Byrd The Bells MB 38. Clarinet: Françaix Tema con variazioni (piano accompaniment) and Krommer-Kramář Concerto Op. 36 movement III.
• Fixed camera, hands and face visible, no cuts within pieces. Record movements separately or index them. Provide publicly accessible cloud links, excluding YouTube. Video 720p, 1080i or 1080p; MP4/MOV/AVI/MPG/MKV; PCM/FLAC or at least 256 kbps MP3 or 192 kbps AAC. Use a suitable external microphone.

Harpsichord · Round 1 · 7–8 May

• Play Bach BWV 1079, plus one of Farnaby Woody-Cock FVB II/141, Morley Fantasia FVB II/124, Bull Pavana XXXIV, Bull Lord Lumley Pavana and Galliard FVB I/11 and I/41 (no repeats), or Byrd Fantasy FVB 52. Add one Froberger work: FbWV 633, 612, 632 or 630.

Harpsichord · Round 2 · 10 May · 45–50 min

• Four components: Bach BWV 965 or 964; one of Duphly Chaconne en fa, Fux Ciaconna in D, Couperin excerpts from Ordres 22–25, or Rameau excerpts from Nouvelles suites; Matouš Hejl commission (about 6 min); and one Kalabis choice, Op. 53, Op. 75, or three selections from Op. 20. Specify historical or modern harpsichord for Hejl and Kalabis in the application.

Harpsichord · Final · 13 May · both concertos

• Play Bach BWV 1052 with Collegium 1704 and Martinů H 246 with Prague Philharmonia. Specify historical or modern harpsichord for Martinů. Memorization is optional for harpsichord rounds.

Clarinet · Round 1 · 8–9 May

• Play Martinů Sonatina H 356 (application lists piano) and Weber Concertino Op. 26 from memory.

Clarinet · Round 2 · 11 May

• Choose and memorize one of Debussy Première rhapsodie L 116, Poulenc Sonata FP 184, Saint-Saëns Sonata Op. 167 or Widor Introduction et Rondo Op. 72. Also play Petr Wajsar’s commission (about 8 min) and Brahms Clarinet Quintet Op. 115 with the assigned quartet. Request an official pianist at application or bring your own at your expense.

Clarinet · Final · 14 May · both works

• Play Françaix Tema con variazioni with strings and Krommer-Kramář Concerto Op. 36 from memory. The regulations list the Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice.

Repertoire

• Up to 45 enter Round 1 of each discipline; up to 12 harpsichordists and 10 clarinettists advance to Round 2, then three each to the finals. Submitted repertoire is binding. Bring printed scores and do not publicly perform commissions before the competition. The jury may determine performance order.

Source: Official application and repertoire choices · Official conditions and recording declaration · Complete 2027 competition conditions (PDF)