Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský
International Vocal Competition

26th Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský International Singing Competition
 

STATUTE
 

PREAMBULE

The Competition Statute is a binding document that regulates in detail the rules and conditions of the competition.
 

I.
Contest announcer

Music Centre Slovakia, Michalská 10, 816 36 Bratislava, Slovakia
represented by PhDr. Igor Valentovič – Director
ID number: 00164836

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II.
Goals of Competition

The aim and purpose of the competition is to search for young talented performers of vocal art, to stimulate their further artistic growth, to promote vocal art with an emphasis on the work of Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský, and to select participants for other international vocal competitions.

III.

The date and venue of the competition

The competition will take place from 18th to 25th May 2025 in Trnava, Slovakia.

IV.

Authorized contestants

The competition is open to competitors born after 2001 (women) or 1999 (men) in the 1st category or after 1992 (women) or 1989 (men) in the 2nd category.

V.
Rules and conditions of the competition

The competition will take place in two categories:
Category I has three rounds and a less demanding competition repertoire. This category is open to competitors born after 2001 (women) or 1999 (men). 
Category II has three rounds and a more demanding competition repertoire. This category is open to competitors born after 1992 (women) or 1989 (men).
The condition for participation in the competition is sending the application form by the date specified by the organizer and payment of the registration fee. The registration fee for category I participants is 50 EUR, for category II participants 75 EUR. The registration fee is compulsory and in not-refundable.
Winners (1st place) of the 2020 – 2025 international singing competition do not have to participate in Round 1 of the competition, but advance automatically to Round 2, with the registration fee remaining unchanged. The 1st prize from 2020 – 2025 is documented by a photocopy of the diploma when sending in the application form.

VI.
Compulsory repertoire for Category I

1st round
a/ a folk song from the competitor's country
b/ a composition from the 17th or 18th century

 

2nd round
a/ An operatic aria or aria from an oratorio, mass or concert aria from the Classical period
b/ An art song from the Romantic period
(the maximum time limit for a competition performance is 10 minutes)

 

3rd round 
a/ an operatic aria from the Romantic period
b/ an art song by Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský
(the maximum time limit for a competition performance is 10 minutes)

 

VII.
Compulsory repertoire for Category II

1st round
a/ operatic aria or oratorio aria from the Baroque period
b/ an art song from the 20th or 21st century

 

2nd round
a/ an operatic aria by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
b/ 1-3 art songs from one cycle by a Slavonic composer
c/ an operatic aria from the Romantic period
(the maximum time limit for a competition performance is 15 minutes)

 

3rd round
a/ an art song by Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský
b/ an operatic aria from any period
c/ an operatic aria from the 20th or 21st century
(the maximum time limit for a competition performance is 15 minutes)

 

VIII.
Other conditions for the competition

1. The order of the songs in each round is chosen by the contestant.                           
2. Transposition of arias is not allowed. Songs may only be interpreted according to the printed materials for the respective voice type. Songs by Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský may only be transposed for deep voice types according to the original published in print.
3. A competitor may not repeat in any round a song he/she has already performed in the competition.                                                                       
4. Competition repertoire must be performed in the original language and key.                                               
5. Singing by heart is a requirement (except for arias from oratorios, cantatas or masses).                     
6. Men and women will be judged separately in each category. The jury has the right to combine the prizes, to divide them equally, or not to award any of the prizes (the first prize is indivisible).                                                                                                                                                   
7. The jury's decisions are final.                                                                                                                    
8. The competition is non-anonymous and the performances are open to the public.                               
9. A competitor who does not have an accompanist may request in writing organiser to provide one for him/her before the competition.
10. The contestants agree to any public audio-visual recording for free.

 

IX. 
Prizes

1st category
1st prize 2 000 €
2nd prize 1 500 €
3rd prize 1 000 €

 

2nd category
1st prize 3 000 €
2nd prize 2 000 €
3rd prize 1 500 €
 

The organiser reserves the right to change the amount of prize money or not to award a prize.

 

X.
Special prizes

* The Mayor of Trnava City Award for talent up to 21 years of age
* The City of Trnava Award for the best piano accompaniment
* The Head of the Trnava Self-Governing Region Award
* The Dr. Janko Blaho Award for a budding tenor
* The Prof. Eva Blahová Award for the best performance of an aria by W. A. Mozart
* Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský Society Award for the best performance of a song by Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský

* Mária Kišonová-Hubová Award for the best performance of the song Ružičky
* Award of the opera singer and Mayor of Nové Zámky City Otokar Klein
* Music Fund Award
* Music Centre Slovakia – a concert on the International Festival Allegretto Žilina 2026
* Awards of the theatres - prizes for the finalists of the competition (the possibility of hosting or pre-singing in a given theatre) on the basis of the choice of the representatives of the theatres or the recommendation of the jury:   
State Opera Banská Bystrica
National Theatre Košice
National Theatre Moravian-Silesian Ostrava
Moravian Theatre Olomouc
National Theatre Prague
South Bohemian Theatre České Budějovice

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The organizer reserves the right to change the prizes.

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XI. 
Place and time of awarding prizes

The prizes will be awarded on 24th May 2025 at the Jan Palárik Theatre in Trnava, directly at the concert of the laureates of the competition. Financial prizes will be sent by wire transfer to the account of the winners.

 

XII.
Final provisions

1. This Statute shall enter into force on the date of signing by the competition organiser.
2. By participating in the competition, the contestants agree to the wording of the Statute.
3. In the event of any ambiguities or disputes that may arise during the course of the competition, the opinion of the jury and the competition organiser shall always prevail.
4. The Statute is publicly available and can be found at the headquarter of the competition organiser or on the competition organizer website https://hc.sk/medzinarodna-spevacka-sutaz-mikulasa-schneidera-trnavskeho/statut.
                       
In Bratislava, date 10th March 2025

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The Announcer                            

PhDr. Igor Valentovič
Director of the Music Centre

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Statute of the competition to download