2020 Bella Music Foundation International Music Competition​

2020 Bella Music Foundation
International Music Competition​
for the Blind and Visually impaired

The Bella Music Foundation International Music Competition of 2020 Application is now closed.
The finalists will be notified by email and announced on our website on November 19, 2020 at 1PM EST.
Thank you!
​
Application Deadline: October 31, 2020

Preliminary Round (Recorded Video Audition) :
​November 03-16, 2020
Final Round (Virtual Live Audition) :
Division I: Dec. 04, 2020 EST
Division II: Dec. 11, 2020 EST

​CATEGORIES
DIVISION I : AGES 10 - 18
1st Prize: $600 / 2nd Prize: $400 / 3rd Prize: $300
DIVISION II : AGES 19 - 30
1st Prize: $2,000 / 2nd Prize: $1,000 / 3rd Prize: $500
* Dancing Dots’ accessible music notation software will be awarded to the winners.​

More Info.
1-551-255-0570 (USA)
www.BellaMF.org
info@bellamf.org

General Information
and Regulations:

1. The Bella Music Foundation International Music Competition is open to any blind and visually impaired musician of any nationality who, on the application deadline, will be ages 10-18 (Division I: Junior Division) and ages 19-30 (Division II: Young Artist Division) and who will comply with all other conditions specified below. The competition is open to all classical instrumentalists, composers, and vocalists.
2. The crucial eligibility condition is fulfilled when a candidate complies with the rating of visually impaired and/or blindness as applies in his/her country of origin. The visually impaired and /or blindness condition should be attested by an enclosed medical certificate. 
3. If any documents are in languages other than English, they should be translated into English. 

      4. Application Procedure:

• ​​All contestants must complete and submit the full Bella Music Foundation International Music Competition Application. 
• Application deadline: October 31, 2020 
• At registration, an entrant is required to submit an official identification document, an artistic résumé, and a headshot as well as a proof of application fee payment to info@bellamf.org. Submitted materials will not be returned.
• Application fee: $50 USD (non-refundable) Pay Here. An application fee waiver is available to low-income contestants with proper verification.

      5. Competition Procedure:

• Auditions

1) Preliminary Round: Recorded Video Audition from November 03-16, 2020
All contestants must provide a link to a video of their performance (Max.15 min) on YouTube or another video sharing service by October 31, 2020 via email to info@bellamf.org. Video submissions must be in one continuous shot, without edits. The contestant’s face and hands must be clearly visible throughout the recording. All contestants must email a copy of the music by the application deadline to info@bellamf.org. The video must be filmed within 12 months of submission and must comply with all specifications mentioned above.
* The finalists will be notified by email and announced on the website on November 19, 2020 at 1PM EST.
2) Final Round: Virtual Live Audition on December 4 & 11, 2020
The final round will be virtual, and every contestant will be scheduled for a virtual live audition for Max.15 min. All contestants should be in the waiting room of the video call app 10 min prior to their scheduled audition time and wait for the call from the judges. All finalists should perform with an accompanist if applicable. No professional recording facility or equipment is necessary, but equipment adequate for judging is recommended. 
The virtual audition should be set up so that judges can see the contestant’s hands and feet. This virtual audition will be recorded, and BMF will have the rights to the video. Only the contestant and an accompanist may be present at the audition location, and recording is prohibited. Final round repertoire should be the same as the preliminary round. 

Division I (ages 10-18):  December 4, 2020 at 7PM-8:30PM EST
Division II  (ages 19-30):  December 11, 2020  at 7PM-9PM EST

* The Winners will be notified by email and announced on the website on December 14, 2020 at 3PM EST.
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​

• Cash Awards: All instrumentalists, composers, and vocalists compete together, and there will be three prizes per Division. All cash awards will be awarded after the Virtual Award Ceremony on December 18, 2020, and winners must be present at this award ceremony to remain eligible for any prizes. The wire transfer fee will be deducted from the cash prize.

1) Division I: Junior Division (10-18)
First Prize: 600 USD & Dancing Dots’ accessible music notation software*
Second Prize: 400 USD & Dancing Dots’ accessible music notation software*
Third Prize: 300 USD & Dancing Dots’ accessible music notation software*
Encouragement Award: Dancing Dots’ accessible music notation software*
​
2) Division II: Young Artist Division (19-30)
First Prize: 2,000 USD & Dancing Dots’ accessible music notation software*
Second Prize: 1,000 USD & Dancing Dots’ accessible music notation software*
Third Prize: 500 USD & Dancing Dots’ accessible music notation software*      
Encouragement Award: Dancing Dots’ accessible music notation software*        
 

• Audition Repertoire: One piece from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, or Modern era must be chosen and performed. * Arrangements, simplified editions, popular music and/or non-classical music from method books are not acceptable. No changes in the submitted repertoire may be made once a contestant is admitted. No repeats are allowed at the audition performances. Composition Contestants should provide a link to a video or audio recording of their original composition (Max.15 min) on YouTube or another video or audio sharing service, a score in PDF format and a note about the music by October 31, 2020 via email to info@bellamf.org. An acoustic recording is preferable, but a MIDI rendering is acceptable.

​

• Winners’ Concert: May 1, 2021

All winners will be invited to perform at the Marc A. Scorca Hall (Opera America) in NYC, U.S.A. on May 1, 2021 at 7PM EST. However, due to potential changes because of COVID-19, we will follow up again about the official plans for the winners’ concert. This performance is mandatory to first and second prize winners. There is no recital fee. Two complimentary tickets will be given to all winners. 
For additional tickets, please email us at info@bellamf.org.
* Winners are required to cover their own travel costs related to their journey to the Winners’ Concert venue and back home. An official pianist will be provided by BMF without a fee. If a winner should bring his/her own accompanist, the winner should be responsible for any expenses. A short rehearsal will be scheduled before the performance, and the repertoire should be the same as the final round.

      6. The judges are appointed by BMF in accordance with registered disciplines/musical instruments. The judges’ debates as well as performance ratings are confidential and will not be made public. Judge decisions are final with no provision for appeals.
      7. Each performance is recorded by request of the judges, and Bella Music Foundation Inc. reserves the rights to photograph or record video of the contestants and winners and to use these for presentation purposes without additional fees paid to the contestants.
      8. A copy of one of Dancing Dots’ accessible music notation software products, donated by Dancing Dots, will be awarded to the winners. Blind performers will receive the GOODFEEL Braille Music Translator suite and performers with low vision will receive the Lime Lighter suite. *Please note that the winners will need to supply their own hardware for running Dancing Dots’ software. It requires a Windows PC. Lime Lighter also requires the AirTurn QUAD 4-switch wireless pedal board. If the winner already has Dancing Dots’ software but has an outdated version, Dancing Dots will supply a free upgrade. If the winner has the latest version already, Dancing Dots can give the winner a free upgrade to the next paid version. Since 1992, Dancing Dots has been the company that enables visually impaired musicians to independently read, write and record their music. See www.DancingDots.com for more information.
      9. Bella Music Foundation Inc. reserves the right to the interpretation of the Terms and Conditions of the Regulations.
      10. Bella Music Foundation Inc. reserves the right to make necessary changes as circumstances dictate.

Questions about the rules?
Please email info@bellamf.org or call 1-551-255-0570 
Bella Music Foundation Inc.
www.bellamf.org

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< Application Checklist >

1. Submit Bella Music Foundation International Music Competition Application online.
2. Pay the $50 application fee here.
3. Email these to info@bellamf.org.

• an official identification document or a copy of your passport 
• a confirmation document of legal blindness
• a proof of application fee payment  
• a link to a video of your performance on YouTube, 

          or another video sharing service

• a copy of the music 
• an artistic résumé
• a headshot or a photo that shows your face

*If any documents are in languages other than English, they should be translated into English.