2024 BMFSO Int'l Concerto Competition for the Blind and Visually Impaired

2024 BMF Symphony Orchestra International Concerto Competition 
​for the Blind and Visually Impaired

General Information and Regulations:

1. The 2024 BMF Symphony Orchestra International Concerto Competition is open to previous winners of BMF competitions under the age of 30. Additionally, instrumentalists and singers, regardless of nationality, who are blind or visually impaired and are over the age of 31, are also eligible to participate.
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: 
   1) All contestants must complete and submit the 2024 BMFSO International Concerto Competition Application Form. https://forms.gle/1eVvaBVYM8EAc746A
   2) Application & Preliminary Round Video Submission Deadline: March 1, 2024
   3) At registration, the contestant is required to submit an official identification document, a confirmation document of legal blindness, a copy of the music, an artistic résumé, a headshot, and a link to a video of their performance. Submitted materials will not be returned.
   4) Application fee: You will be asked to pay the $80 USD (non-refundable) application fee upon submitting the application form.
   
   5. Competition Procedure:
   1) Audition Repertoire: Maximum 20 minutes.

• For instrumentalists: One movement from a concerto.
• For singers: A piece from a work that can be accompanied by an orchestra and has published orchestration, or an opera aria.
• Only one movement from a concerto for instrumentalists and one piece for singers will be accepted as repertoire. Multiple pieces are not accepted, even if they do not exceed the 20-minute maximum time limit.
• No changes to the submitted repertoire are allowed once a contestant is admitted. 
  2) Preliminary & Final Round Auditions:
• A) Preliminary Round: Recorded Video Audition
• Upload a video recording of your performance to YouTube and include the link in your application by March 1, 2024. Ensure that all uploaded videos can be accessed without any additional permissions.
• Performances should not exceed 20 minutes.
• Make sure the participant's body, hands, and instrument (including pedals for piano) are clearly visible throughout the video.
• Record the performance in one take with no editing. The concerto must be performed with a live piano accompanist or an orchestra.
• Recordings must be current and made after November 2023.
• Finalists will be notified by email on March 8, 2024, at 1 PM EST.

           B) Final Round: Virtual Live Audition on March 15-16, 2024

• Finalists will receive information about the virtual live audition schedule on March 8th.
• Each finalist's performance is strictly limited to 20 minutes.
• All finalists are required to perform with a pianist.
• The Final Round Audition will be recorded, and BMF will retain the rights to the video.
• The winners will be notified by email and announced on the website on March 18, 2024, at 1 PM EST.
  3) Prizes: Concerto Performance and Cash Award
• Each of the three winners will have the exclusive opportunity to perform as soloists with the BMF Symphony Orchestra during the 2024 BMF International Music Festival for the Blind on April 28th at the Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee, NJ, USA. 
• In addition, each winner will receive a cash prize of $1,000 USD, to be awarded by check after their performance.  

                                                           
    6. The winners are required to perform at the BMF Music Festival on April 28th and participate in the rehearsals scheduled with BMFSO. Failure to do so will result in the forfeiture of the placement.
    7. The winners are required to cover their own travel expenses to and from the venue of the BMF Music Festival on April 28th.
    8. For winners residing outside of the USA, BMF will transfer the cash prize to their account, with the wire transfer fee deducted from the prize.
    9. The repertoire for the final round and the BMF Festival should match the one presented in the preliminary round.
 10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. Bella Music Foundation Inc. reserves the right to the interpretation of the Terms and Conditions of the Regulations.
 13. Bella Music Foundation Inc. reserves the right to make necessary changes as circumstances dictate.​

Bella Music Foundation
​[email protected] / 1-551-255-0570 

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Application Checklist:

• Submit the 2024 BMFSO Concerto Competition Application Form: https://forms.gle/1eVvaBVYM8EAc746A
• An official identification document or a copy of your passport 
• A confirmation document of legal blindness
• A copy of the music
• An artistic résumé
• A headshot or a photo that shows your face
• A link to a video of your performance on YouTube
• Pay the $80 application fee. 

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

Important Dates:

• March 1: Application & Preliminary Round Video Submission Deadline
• March 8: Finalists Announcement
• March 15-16: Final Round Virtual Audition
• March 18: Winners Announcement
• April 28: BMF Music Festival Performance