It’s possible to apply up to January 23; finalists will perform in public on July 9-11

The National Centre for Early Music at York (U.K.) has announced the 2015 edition of the biennial York Early Music International Young Artists Competition. These are the requirements for admission:

• Ensembles (instrumental and/or vocal, in any combination) must have a minimum of two persons. Soloists are not eligible.
• All members must be adults, with the average age of the ensemble being 32 or under on 11 July 2015.
• Competitors must perform repertory from the period ranging from the middle ages to the nineteenth century using appropriate historically informed playing techniques, instruments and stylistic conventions.

A non-refundable fee of £100 per ensemble is charged to enter the competition. The prizes are:

• First Prize: £1,000 in cash; a concert as part of the 2016 York Early Music Festival; a CD recording professionally produced by Linn Records; the winning ensemble will be recorded and featured on BBC Radio 3’s The Early Music Show.
• YEMF Friends Prize: a cash prize awarded by the Friends of the York Early Music Festival to their chosen ensemble.

Special prizes:

• Cambridge Early Music Prize: a paid concert in Cambridge to take place within three years of the competition date, awarded by a member/s of CEM’s Board of Trustees to their chosen ensemble. The concert will be subject to the availability of the artists on the dates offered, and subject to negotiation of fees. If any member of the winning ensemble has attended one of CEM’s summer schools as a full-time participant, a further award of £500 will be made to the chosen ensemble.
• Eeemerging Project Prize: a place on the first year of the Emerging European Ensembles programme, awarded by a panel of the project co-organisers to their chosen ensemble. The programme features two artistic residencies, tailored training and two paid concerts (see details at this link) To be eligible for the prize, an ensemble must have been established for no longer than three years; that is, its first performance must have taken place since 11 July 2012.
• EUBO Development Trust Prize for the most promising young artist/s: £1,000 to be awarded by the jury either to the most promising individual instrumentalist or to the most promising ensemble. To be eligible for the prize, an individual must be both an EU national and an orchestral instrumentalist; an ensemble must consist of at least 50% EU nationals and 50% instrumentalists.

After a first selection based on CDs sent by competitors, chosen groups will be invited to take part – with expenses partly covered by the organizers – to the final phase taking place in York from July 9 to 11. Finalists will perform an informal 20 minute recital before a public audience; on the last day they will present to the jury a different 20 minute program. Keyboard instruments (organ, variously tuned harpsichords, fortepiano) will be supplied by the National Centre for Early Music.

For the Offical Competition Rules see this link
Info: education@ncem.co.uk
Webpage with flyers in English, French & German: www.ncem.co.uk