9th Banff International String Quartet Competition
August 28 – September 2, 2007

Rules and Regulations

Application Deadline: March 1, 2007

Download the Competition Rules and Regulations in English or in French. (PDF)
Download the Application Form for BISQC 2007 in English or in French. (PDF)

The competition is open to string quartets of all nationalities whose members will all be under the age of 35 on September 2, 2007.

Applicants must send the application form completed in English or French to The Banff Centre, together with proof of date of birth for each quartet member, a resume of the quartet’s history, a brief description of each member’s training and experience, three letters of recommendation, and a recent recording (no cassette tapes) containing:

2.1

A complete quartet by Haydn from Opus 20, 33, 50, 64, 76, or 77

2.2

A complete quartet by Béla Bartók

2.3

A complete quartet from the romantic or nationalist repertoire of the 19th century (with the exception of quartets by Beethoven or Schubert), or the Debussy quartet, or the Ravel quartet.

The recording should be of professional quality. The recording must be recorded in real time and must not be edited or altered in any way. The Banff International String Quartet Competition (BISQC) reserves the right to disqualify studio enhanced or modified recordings or recordings which are not of professional quality. Cassette tapes will not be accepted. All recordings MUST be clearly labeled with quartet name and repertoire, identified by track.

Applications will be accepted until March 1, 2007.

The preliminary jury will audition unidentified copies of the applicants’ recordings. No more than 10 quartets will be selected to attend the competition. Those invited will be required to submit a recent, high-quality, professional photograph for use in the souvenir program and in competition publicity. (This may be included with the application.)

Quartets chosen to be contestants will be advised by April 20, 2007.

Quartets chosen to be contestants will be required to pay a deposit of $500 (CDN), which will be refunded in full at the beginning of the competition. The deposit will not be refunded to contestants who withdraw from the competition.

Competition repertoire: The quartet’s repertoire list shall include seven works which they are prepared to perform during the competition. The repertoire list may, but does not have to, include the same works as those on the recording accompanying the application form. Repertoire shall include:

7.1

A complete quartet by Haydn from Opus 20, 33, 50, 64, 76, or 77

7.2

A complete quartet by Béla Bartók

7.3

A complete quartet from the romantic or nationalist repertoire of the 19th century (with the exception of quartets by Beethoven or Schubert), or the Debussy quartet, or the Ravel quartet

7.4

A new quartet written for the competition by Canadian composer Kelly-Marie Murphy

7.5

A complete quartet from the following list: Beethoven Opus 59 (No. 1, 2, or 3), Opus 74, Opus 95, Opus 127, Opus 131, Opus 132, Opus 135; or Schubert D.804 (Rosamunde), D.810 (Death and the Maiden), D.887 (G Major)

7.6

Webern’s Six Bagatelles, Opus 9

7.7

A complete quartet from the following list: Beethoven Opus 18 (No. 1, 2, 4, 5, or 6); or one of the ten celebrated Mozart quartets (K.387, K.421, K.458, K.428, K.464, K.465, K.499, K.575, K.589, K.590)

The works from the repertoire list as stated on the application form will be the repertoire performed during the competition. No other work may be substituted without prior written approval of the director, BISQC.

Competition format: Each quartet invited to Banff will perform in the first four rounds and if selected, will perform for a fifth time during the Final Round.

Recital Round — August 28, 29: one Haydn quartet (see section 7.1) followed by one Bartók quartet, in recital format. Ensembles may leave the stage briefly between works.

Romantic Round — August 30: one quartet from the romantic or nationalist repertoire of the 19th century (see section 7.3)

Canadian Commission Round — August 31: a new quartet by Canadian composer Kelly-Marie Murphy

Beethoven or Schubert Round — September 1: one Beethoven or Schubert quartet (see section 7.5)

Following the Beethoven or Schubert Round, the jury will select four ensembles to advance to the fifth and final round.

Final Round — September 2: Webern’s Six Bagatelles, Opus 9, followed by one of either a quartet from Beethoven Opus 18 or one of the 10 celebrated Mozart quartets (see section 7.7). Ensembles may leave the stage briefly between works.

The Banff Centre will supply the following to all invited quartets:

9.1

The Banff Centre will contribute to the cost of travel from the quartet’s home base to the Calgary International Airport. Invited quartets will be expected to use their best efforts to secure travel funding, however, lack of success in finding travel support will not preclude an invited quartet from attending the competition;

9.2

Return transportation to The Banff Centre from the Calgary International Airport;

9.3

Accommodation, two persons per room, at The Banff Centre from Sunday, August 26 to Sunday, September 2, inclusive. Single rooms will be provided where shared rooms would be inappropriate;

9.4

All meals from Sunday, August 26, through Monday, September 3; and

9.5

A separate rehearsal room for each quartet.

10.

The following prizes shall be awarded:

1st — $20,000

A quartet of gold-mounted bows custom-made by the Canadian bow-maker François Malo
Winner’s Concert Tour of Europe and North America arranged by The Banff Centre
A two-week residency at The Banff Centre including the production of a compact disc, recorded and produced by The Banff Centre’s Music & Sound program.

In total the value of the first prize is in excess of $55,000.

2nd — $12,000

3rd — $ 8,000

4th — $ 5,000

Székely Prize: $3,000 for the best performance of a Bartók quartet.

Canadian Commission Prize: $2,000 for the best performance of a quartet by Canadian composer Kelly-Marie Murphy.

All prizes are in Canadian dollars.

All quartets accepted into the competition must agree that, if they win first prize, they will perform in the Winner’s Concert Tour arranged for them by BISQC or its designates in the fall of 2007, and the spring and fall of 2008.

BISQC does not retain any fees for its management service in arranging the Winner’s Concert Tour but reserves the right to enter into agreement with other management to secure concert engagements. Concert engagements obtained by BISQC or its designates as part of the first prize will not be subject to any fee payable to the prize-winner’s current or future artist management. In addition, the winning quartet and its current or future artist management agree to give exclusivity within a 100 km radius to Winner’s Concert Tour presenters for the concert season in which the quartet appears.

Exact concert dates will be available to all accepted quartets on April 20, 2007.

11.

The decisions of the preliminary jury and the competition jury shall be final, and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the decisions of either group.

12.

Contestants shall not communicate with jury members during the competition, nor shall any other person communicate with the jury members on behalf of any competitor. Violation of this rule will result in automatic disqualification from the competition.

13.

Obtaining appropriate travel documents and insurance is the sole responsibility of each competitor. BISQC accepts no liability of any kind whatsoever for any personal illness or injury sustained by the competitor or for loss or damage to a competitor’s belongings, including instrument, during transit or while at the competition.

14.

BISQC has the right, without payment of any fee, to record, videotape, film, broadcast, or photograph any competition concerts or events for any purpose. All rights, including copyright in such media shall vest in and be owned by BISQC in perpetuity.

15.

BISQC has the right to produce and distribute without limit or payment of any fee, audio and/or video recordings of all competition concerts or events in whole or in part including the Winner’s Concert Tour.

16.

The official language of the competition is English.


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BISQC Home BISQC 2007 Competitors Afiara String Quartet Ariel Quartet Attacca Quartet Koryo String Quartet Rubens Quartet Rusquartet Talisker Quartet TinAlley String Quartet Tokai String Quartet Zemlinsky Quartet Audience Information Lecture Series Package Registration Jury Quartet Applications Quartet in the Community Repertoire, Rules, Regulations RBC Awards Schedule News Listen BISQC 2004 Winner’s Tour Competitors Overview Past Winners Media Contact Us	9th Banff International String Quartet Competition August 28 – September 2, 2007 Rules and Regulations Application Deadline: March 1, 2007 Download the Competition Rules and Regulations in English or in French. (PDF) Download the Application Form for BISQC 2007 in English or in French. (PDF) 1. The competition is open to string quartets of all nationalities whose members will all be under the age of 35 on September 2, 2007. 2. Applicants must send the application form completed in English or French to The Banff Centre, together with proof of date of birth for each quartet member, a resume of the quartet’s history, a brief description of each member’s training and experience, three letters of recommendation, and a recent recording (no cassette tapes) containing: 2.1 A complete quartet by Haydn from Opus 20, 33, 50, 64, 76, or 77 2.2 A complete quartet by Béla Bartók 2.3 A complete quartet from the romantic or nationalist repertoire of the 19th century (with the exception of quartets by Beethoven or Schubert), or the Debussy quartet, or the Ravel quartet. The recording should be of professional quality. The recording must be recorded in real time and must not be edited or altered in any way. The Banff International String Quartet Competition (BISQC) reserves the right to disqualify studio enhanced or modified recordings or recordings which are not of professional quality. Cassette tapes will not be accepted. All recordings MUST be clearly labeled with quartet name and repertoire, identified by track. 3. Applications will be accepted until March 1, 2007. 4. The preliminary jury will audition unidentified copies of the applicants’ recordings. No more than 10 quartets will be selected to attend the competition. Those invited will be required to submit a recent, high-quality, professional photograph for use in the souvenir program and in competition publicity. (This may be included with the application.) 5. Quartets chosen to be contestants will be advised by April 20, 2007. 6. Quartets chosen to be contestants will be required to pay a deposit of $500 (CDN), which will be refunded in full at the beginning of the competition. The deposit will not be refunded to contestants who withdraw from the competition. 7. Competition repertoire: The quartet’s repertoire list shall include seven works which they are prepared to perform during the competition. The repertoire list may, but does not have to, include the same works as those on the recording accompanying the application form. Repertoire shall include: 7.1 A complete quartet by Haydn from Opus 20, 33, 50, 64, 76, or 77 7.2 A complete quartet by Béla Bartók 7.3 A complete quartet from the romantic or nationalist repertoire of the 19th century (with the exception of quartets by Beethoven or Schubert), or the Debussy quartet, or the Ravel quartet 7.4 A new quartet written for the competition by Canadian composer Kelly-Marie Murphy 7.5 A complete quartet from the following list: Beethoven Opus 59 (No. 1, 2, or 3), Opus 74, Opus 95, Opus 127, Opus 131, Opus 132, Opus 135; or Schubert D.804 (Rosamunde), D.810 (Death and the Maiden), D.887 (G Major) 7.6 Webern’s Six Bagatelles, Opus 9 7.7 A complete quartet from the following list: Beethoven Opus 18 (No. 1, 2, 4, 5, or 6); or one of the ten celebrated Mozart quartets (K.387, K.421, K.458, K.428, K.464, K.465, K.499, K.575, K.589, K.590) The works from the repertoire list as stated on the application form will be the repertoire performed during the competition. No other work may be substituted without prior written approval of the director, BISQC. 8. Competition format: Each quartet invited to Banff will perform in the first four rounds and if selected, will perform for a fifth time during the Final Round. Recital Round — August 28, 29: one Haydn quartet (see section 7.1) followed by one Bartók quartet, in recital format. Ensembles may leave the stage briefly between works. Romantic Round — August 30: one quartet from the romantic or nationalist repertoire of the 19th century (see section 7.3) Canadian Commission Round — August 31: a new quartet by Canadian composer Kelly-Marie Murphy Beethoven or Schubert Round — September 1: one Beethoven or Schubert quartet (see section 7.5) Following the Beethoven or Schubert Round, the jury will select four ensembles to advance to the fifth and final round. Final Round — September 2: Webern’s Six Bagatelles, Opus 9, followed by one of either a quartet from Beethoven Opus 18 or one of the 10 celebrated Mozart quartets (see section 7.7). Ensembles may leave the stage briefly between works. 9. The Banff Centre will supply the following to all invited quartets: 9.1 The Banff Centre will contribute to the cost of travel from the quartet’s home base to the Calgary International Airport. Invited quartets will be expected to use their best efforts to secure travel funding, however, lack of success in finding travel support will not preclude an invited quartet from attending the competition; 9.2 Return transportation to The Banff Centre from the Calgary International Airport; 9.3 Accommodation, two persons per room, at The Banff Centre from Sunday, August 26 to Sunday, September 2, inclusive. Single rooms will be provided where shared rooms would be inappropriate; 9.4 All meals from Sunday, August 26, through Monday, September 3; and 9.5 A separate rehearsal room for each quartet. 10. The following prizes shall be awarded: 1st — $20,000 A quartet of gold-mounted bows custom-made by the Canadian bow-maker François Malo Winner’s Concert Tour of Europe and North America arranged by The Banff Centre A two-week residency at The Banff Centre including the production of a compact disc, recorded and produced by The Banff Centre’s Music & Sound program. In total the value of the first prize is in excess of $55,000. 2nd — $12,000 3rd — $ 8,000 4th — $ 5,000 Székely Prize: $3,000 for the best performance of a Bartók quartet. Canadian Commission Prize: $2,000 for the best performance of a quartet by Canadian composer Kelly-Marie Murphy. All prizes are in Canadian dollars. All quartets accepted into the competition must agree that, if they win first prize, they will perform in the Winner’s Concert Tour arranged for them by BISQC or its designates in the fall of 2007, and the spring and fall of 2008. BISQC does not retain any fees for its management service in arranging the Winner’s Concert Tour but reserves the right to enter into agreement with other management to secure concert engagements. Concert engagements obtained by BISQC or its designates as part of the first prize will not be subject to any fee payable to the prize-winner’s current or future artist management. In addition, the winning quartet and its current or future artist management agree to give exclusivity within a 100 km radius to Winner’s Concert Tour presenters for the concert season in which the quartet appears. Exact concert dates will be available to all accepted quartets on April 20, 2007. 11. The decisions of the preliminary jury and the competition jury shall be final, and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the decisions of either group. 12. Contestants shall not communicate with jury members during the competition, nor shall any other person communicate with the jury members on behalf of any competitor. Violation of this rule will result in automatic disqualification from the competition. 13. Obtaining appropriate travel documents and insurance is the sole responsibility of each competitor. BISQC accepts no liability of any kind whatsoever for any personal illness or injury sustained by the competitor or for loss or damage to a competitor’s belongings, including instrument, during transit or while at the competition. 14. BISQC has the right, without payment of any fee, to record, videotape, film, broadcast, or photograph any competition concerts or events for any purpose. All rights, including copyright in such media shall vest in and be owned by BISQC in perpetuity. 15. BISQC has the right to produce and distribute without limit or payment of any fee, audio and/or video recordings of all competition concerts or events in whole or in part including the Winner’s Concert Tour. 16. The official language of the competition is English.
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