Vienna Fest Gala Competition
The Vienna Fest Gala Competition is a unique musical event designed to educate and inspire musicians from around the globe, helping them unlock their musical potential. The Festival aims to enhance musical culture, promote the appreciation of classical music, and implement innovative educational methods for young talents aspiring to continue their musical careers across various instruments. It provides opportunities to connect with other dedicated young musicians, experience the musical capitals of the world, and perform alongside world-renowned guest artists on prestigious international stages.
The Vienna Fest Gala Competition encourages creativity and self-expression, offering participants the chance to reach an international audience during the winners’ concert at the Ehrbarsaal in Vienna, one of the city’s most prestigious venues.
Festival Highlights
Participants will have the opportunity to:
- Connect with instrumentalists and their families from around the world.
- Perform at the Festival’s gala concert in the famous Ehrbarsaal, a venue where Brahms, Bruckner, Mahler, and other legendary musicians have performed.
- Attend live performances by all first and second prize winners of the Vienna Fest Gala Competition.
- Enjoy guided excursions to historic sites in Salzburg, Eisenstadt, and Baden, including visits to the Mozarthaus Museum, Haus der Musik, Esterhazy Palace, the Holographic Museum of Haydn, and the Beethoven Museum.
- Participate in walking tours of historic sites in Vienna, Salzburg, and Baden related to Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and other music icons.
Opportunities for Teachers and Music Lovers
The Vienna Fest Gala welcomes music lovers of all ages to attend concerts and participate in all suggested trips and excursions. Recognizing the appeal of this performance opportunity for young instrumentalists and vocalists worldwide, the mission is to provide young musicians a platform to showcase their talents on prestigious concert stages, opening doors to the enchanting world of art and self-affirmation.
Age Categories
For the 2025 festival, applicants will be evaluated in the following age categories:
- 5-7
- 8-9
- 10-11
- 12-13
- 14-15
- 16-18
- 19 and older
Program Requirements
Applicants must submit a recorded performance of the complete music selection intended for the Vienna Fest Gala concert. The repertoire should be from the standard classical music canon, encompassing the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, or Modern eras.
Note: A Sonata/Sonatina movement or a part of another cyclic form (Suite, Prelude & Fugue, Concerto, etc.) counts as one music selection. All solo pieces (excluding ensemble works with two or more performers) must be performed from memory.
Solo instrumental and ensemble performances (e.g., one piano four-hands, violin and piano duets, chamber groups) are welcome.
Note: Only one piano is available in all concert halls. Selections should typically be five minutes or less in performance time; longer selections may incur additional fees.
Multiple entries from the same participant or ensemble are accepted. Vienna Fest Gala encourages teachers to support their students by participating in ensemble performances (duets, trios, etc.).
Video Performance Requirements
Participants are encouraged to upload their pre-recorded performances to YouTube and provide a clickable link. Professionally produced recordings are not required; a home video recorded with a smartphone or simple camera is acceptable.
How to Apply
The Vienna Fest Gala 2025 is open to instrumentalists (both solo and ensembles) and vocalists ages 5 and older.
Registration: To apply for the online audition, please register before January 15, 2025 via the following link:
Before registering, please review the program requirements.
Fees
There is only one fee:
- Application Fee (Due by January 15, 2025)
Payments can be made via direct deposit or online through the website. All fees are non-refundable.
Application Fee
The standard Application Fee is €55 for a single selection up to 5 minutes. Longer selections are charged as follows:
- More than 10 minutes: €75
- Selections longer than 15 minutes are not accepted.
Live Recital Registration Requirements
Registration for the live recital is possible only after receiving audition results (usually by March 1).
To register for the live recital, please email viennagalafest@yahoo.com with the following information:
- Winner’s full name
- Composition
You will receive a confirmation within 72 hours.
Audition Results
Results will be emailed to applicants by March 1, 2025. We reserve the right to cancel applications without refunds if:
- Proof of payment or remitter’s name is not provided
- Incorrect or inaccessible video links are submitted
- Overtime fees are unpaid
- Applications are incomplete
- Requests for additional information are not addressed by January 15
- Only the first submitted application will be adjudicated if only one application fee is paid.
Awards
Gold and Silver level winners will be invited to perform in the Vienna Fest Gala Concert at the Ehrbarsaal and will receive diplomas, medals, and trophies (if eligible). Super Bronze and Bronze level winners will perform in the virtual concert and receive their diplomas, medals, and trophies online and by mail.
Participants winning First and Second awards, regardless of level, will be invited to perform at Ehrbarsaal. Teachers of participating students will receive a Certificate of Excellence if they submitted applications for their students.
Note: To receive awards, winners must register for the recital and pay the appropriate fee. If a registered winner cannot perform in the live recital, they can participate in the virtual recital at no extra cost. All participants in virtual recitals will receive diplomas by mail, but medals and trophies will not be mailed.