International Tchaikovsky Competition

Vladimir Putin at the gala concert of winners of the XV International Competition

The International Tchaikovsky Competition is a classical music competition held every four years in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, Russia, for pianists, violinists, and cellists between 16 and 32 years of age and singers between 19 and 32 years of age. The competition is named after Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

The International Tchaikovsky Competition was the first international music competition held in the Soviet Union, beginning in 1958. For the XIV competition in 2011, Valery Gergiev was appointed the competition's chairman, and Richard Rodzinski, former president of the Van Cliburn Foundation, was appointed general director. A new voting system was instituted, created by mathematician John MacBain, and used by the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis, the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, and the Cleveland International Piano Competition. All rules and regulations also underwent a complete revision. Emphasis was placed on the composition of the jury, which consisted primarily of well-known and respected performing artists.[1]

The XIV International Tchaikovsky Competition was held in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia, from 14 June to 1 July 2011, under the auspices of the Russian federal government and its Ministry of Culture. The competition disciplines were piano, violin, cello, and voice (male singers and female singers). The XV competition took place in June 2015.[2] The XVI competition took place 17–29 June 2019, in Moscow and St. Petersburg; woodwind and brass competition disciplines were added.[3] The XVII International Tchaikovsky Competition was held in Moscow in 2023. The XVIII International Tchaikovsky Competition will take place in 2027.[4]

  1. ^ "Everything to play for at the Tchaikovsky competition". the Guardian. 20 September 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  2. ^ Brown, Ismene (6 July 2015). "Tchaikovsky piano competition sees self-taught Frenchman take Russia by storm". The Telegraph. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  3. ^ "The XVI International Tchaikovsky Competition". Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  4. ^ "The XVII International Tchaikovsky Competition". Retrieved 22 October 2024.