Art. 1:

Cultural Ass. “Piano Key”, organizes The 2nd INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION “PIANO KEY” in order to promote musical culture and to promote young pianists to the international musical scene.

The Young Pianist of the Year of Macedonia selection is being held for the first time in our country, with the aim of encouraging and motivating young pianists for continued successful work, as well as fostering the development and advancement of piano performance.

Art. 2:

The competition, opened to Macedonian and foreign applicants, will take place on Saturday and Sunday December 13th & 14th 2025, at the Cultural Information Centre, Salon 19’19 in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia.

Only citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia are eligible to apply for the Young Pianist of the Year of Macedonia selection.

The competition performances will be public, except for the Discipline Online Piano Challenge

DISCIPLINES AND CHATEGORIES

Art. 3:

Competitors can register in one or more of the following disciplines:

Discipline 1: 1.1. Piano Solo, 1.2. Complementary Piano

Discipline 2: Piano Duo – 4 hands piano (2 students or piano and professor duo)

Discipline 3: Piano Fun – classical, contemporary, rock, jazz, pop, or any other style

Discipline 4: Online Piano Challenge

Art. 4:

Disciplines 1: 1.1. Piano Solo, 1.2. Complementary Piano, 3: Piano fun and 4: Online Piano Challenge are divided into the following age categories:

·         BABY Category: born 2018 and younger; max. performance duration: 3 minutes (1 - 2 compositions)

·         PRE - Category: born 2016/2017; max. performance duration: 3 minutes (1 - 2 compositions)

·         I Category:  born 2015; max. performance duration: 4 minutes

·         II Category:  born 2014; max. performance duration: 6 minutes

·         III Category:born 2013; max. performance duration: 8 minutes

·         IV Category:born 2012; max. performance duration: 8 minutes

·         V Category:born 2011; max. performance duration: 10 minutes

·         VI Category:born 2010; max. performance duration: 12 minutes

·         VII Category:born 2009 & 2008;max. performance duration: 15 minutes

·         VIII Category:born 2007 & 2006;max. performance duration: 20 minutes

NOTE: Two compositions or more are required in the categories I to VIII. In all categories, playing by memory is compulsory. For all competitor the program is free of choice repertoire.

Art. 5:

Discipline 2: Piano duo – 4 hands piano is divided into the following age categories:

·         PRE - Category: Born 2014 and younger; max. performance duration: 3 minutes (1 - 2 compositions)

·         I Category: Born 2013 & 2012, max. performance duration: 5 minutes (2 compositions)

·         II Category: Born 2011& 2010, max. performance duration: 6 minutes (2 compositions)

·         III Category: Born 2009 & 2008, max. performance duration: 10 minutes (2 compositions)

·         IV Category: Born 2007 & 2006;max. performance duration: 12 minutes (2 compositions)

NOTE: The category is determined by the year of birth of the older piano duo competitor. In all categories in the Discipline 2: Piano duo – 4 hands piano, playing by memory is not compulsory. For all competitor the program is free of choice repertoire. 

HOW TO APPLY

Art. 6

The following documents are required to apply at the International Competition Piano Key:

1.       Application form

2.       A copy of birth certificate or identity document

3.       A photo of the candidate

4.       Receipt of payment of the registration fee

All the applicants must submit the required documents in the application form on the following link:

https://forms.gle/CrS4W3McsV2kspgr9

THE REGISTRATION IS COMPLETED ONLY UNDER RECEPTION OF CONFIRMATION E-MAIL SENT BY THE MANAGEMENT.

Art. 7

The applicants for all Disciplines should apply no later than Dec. 01, 2025.

Art. 8

Information for the payment of the entry/ registration fee by bank transfer:

Bank account details:

For payments from North Macedonia

Name: Zdruzenie MA - Natprevar
Account Number: 300000005218442

For others:

Name of bank: Komercijalna banka A.D. Skopje
Bank’s registered office / Address: Orce Nikolov 3, 1000 Skopje
SWIFT / BIC: KOBSMK2X           

IBAN: MK07300701003706240

The management obligates to keep all the sensitive data confidential, according to the rules of the Personal Data Protection Law in the Republic of North Macedonia

Art. 9

The registration fee for all disciplines is:

·         BABY Category and PRE Category: 20 Euros (1200 MKD)

·         For Categories I to VIII: 25 Euros (1500 MKD)

·         For the Discipline Piano Duo in all Categories is 15 Euros (1000 MKD) per contestant

·          

In case of canceling the participation, the fee is nonrefundable.

JURY AND ASSESMENTS

Art.10

The international jury consists renowned pianists and piano professors.

The prizes are not limited. Multiple competitors can share first, second, third prizes and honorable mentions.

The decision of the jury committee is final and irrevocable.

Art 11

The participants will receive awards according to the assessment scale of the Piano Key Competition:

100 points – Absolute winner prize

90-99 points – First prize

80-89 points – Second prize

70-79 points – 3rd prize

69 points or less – Certificate of Participation

AWARDS

Art. 12

All participants will receive a diploma for participation or for a prize awarded.

Winners of the Special First Prize in each category, as well as selected participants, will receive an invitation to perform at the Final Gala Concert in Skopje, held in the Chamber Concert Hall of the Macedonian Philharmonic.

Absolute winners and specially awarded participants will receive a medal at the Award Ceremony during the Final Gala Concert of

The Jury will also present special prizes in collaboration with the Union of Macedonian Composers, the Cultural and Information Center in Tirana, and the Embassies of Austria and Japan in Macedonia, as follows:

·         Prize for the Best Performance of a Work by a Macedonian Composer

·         Prize for the Best Performance of a Work by an Austrian Composer

·         Prize for the Best Performance of a Work by a Japanese Composer