Concours International de Piano
Son Altesse Royale la Princesse Lalla Meryem

Rules   -   To be read carefully before registration

General Conditions :

1. The competition is open to pianists of all nationalities aged between 10 and 30 years old at the registration deadline date : Saturday, May 1st, 2010.
   Candidates are advised to register as soon as possible. The Organizing Committee can limit the number of participants in some levels.
2. The competition comprises 2 categories with age limits : Young pianists and Virtuosity
   • Young pianists category : 6 levels
     • Young pianists 1 and 2 : from 10 to 13 years old (at the registration deadline date)
     • Young pianists 3 and 4 : up to 18 years old (at the registration deadline date)
     • Superior and Excellence : up to 25 years old (at the registration deadline date)
   • Virtuosity category : up to 30 years old (at the registration deadline date)
3. Registration file :
   • Only the Organizing Committee can decide about the admission of the candidates who will be individually notified of the committee decision.
     The Organizing Committee has also the right to turn down any incomplete file or a file received after the deadline. The complete file, from any place, must be posted in only one registered letter (postmark as proof) to the following address :

     Association Les Amitiés Musicales
     Avenue Mohammed VI - 6, rue Beni Bouayache
     10170 Souissi RABAT - MAROC

   • The registration file must include the following documents :
     • the registration form (to be downloaded) duly filled up and signed (for minors, parents signature is required)
     • 3 self-addressed stamped envelopes (please respect the dimensions 11x22cm). For candidates living out of Morocco, IRCs (international reply coupons) with postmark.
     • 3 recent identity/passport photos
     • 1 birth certificate or 1 photocopy of the identity card or the passport.
     • 1 certificate from the candidate's piano teacher or from his/her piano school, or 1 C.V.
     • Registration fees, to be paid for the present edition and for each registration and each level, which will not be reimbursed, in any case, to accepted applicants. These are as follows :
       • Young pianists category :  500 dirhams
       • Virtuosity category :  600 dirhams
   • Payment will be made exclusively in the name of the ASSOCIATION LES AMITIES MUSICALES :
     • For candidates living in Morocco : by bank transfer (*) or by  bank deposit (*) to the order of the ASSOCIATION LES AMITIÉS MUSICALES, account number 181 810 21214 7266604 000 2 09  of the BANQUE POPULAIRE Hay Riad Rabat.
     • For candidates living out of Morocco : by bank transfer (*) to the ASSOCIATION LES AMITIÉS MUSICALES
       code swift : BCPOMAMC account number 181 810 21214 7266604 000 2 09  of the BANQUE POPULAIRE Hay Riad  Rabat.
   • (*) A photocopy of the bank transfer or bank deposit receipt must be enclosed in the registration file.
   • Important : postal money orders and transfers will not be accepted.
4. Once the registration file is accepted, the candidates will receive a convocation to the Competition. The Organizing Committee will not send, in any case, a second one.
5. A candidate can register in two consecutive levels after paying the corresponding registration fees.

Accommodation :

6. A list of some hotels is available on the website of the competition :
   www.concours-lalla-meryem.ma
   Upon written request, the non-resident and unaccompanied candidates may stay in host families who offer bed and breakfast.

The Jury :

7. The Jury is composed by internationally renowned pianists of different nationalities, whose identity will be made public only at the Competition opening.
8. The Jury has the right to interrupt some performances, and not to grant all prizes. The Jury’s decisions are final. In case of tie vote, the President of the Jury has the deciding vote.
9. The deliberations of the Jury are governed by internal rules.
   After each audition test, when results are publicly announced, some comments and appreciations of the Jury will be communicated to all candidates of the Competition.
10. Neither the candidate’s C.V. nor the name of his/her piano teacher or school is revealed to the members of the Jury.

Competition procedure :

11. Grand Prize of Her Highness Princess Lalla Meryem : Former winner of this Grand Prize are not allowed to participate again. There is no ex-aequo for this prize.
12. No change is accepted in the compulsory musical program. In case of error of the played piece, the candidate is listened but not graded. The arrangements of works are not accepted, only original texts are valid. Playing from memory is required.
    If some works proposed by candidates for their program of choice in Superior degree, Excellence degree or Virtuosity category do not meet the required level, the Artistic Director of the Competition has the right to reject their registration application.
13. Candidates are required to be present on the specified date and time as mentioned on their convocations.
14. The laureates are required to personally attend the Closing Ceremony on July 8th for the prize distribution. In case of absence, they will automatically lose their right of reward unless impediment with justification recognized as valid by the Competition Organizing Committee.
15. Top laureates of Young pianists and Virtuosity categories as well as some special prize winners, designated by the Jury should play at the closing concert and should not expect to be remunerated. The concerts proposed as prizes to the laureates do not necessarily implicate fee payment.
16. The organizers have the right to broadcast on radio or on television any audition test, including the closing ceremony concert.
17. Date and time of audition tests, scheduled in advance, may be modified. In this case, candidates affected by this change will be individually informed as soon as possible .
18. Playing order of candidates:
    Young Pianists category : it is set up by alphabetical order, the starting letter will be drawn from the lots.
    Virtuosity category : Drawing Lots : The draw will take place on Friday, July 2 at 20:00 (The date and time of the draw is mentioned on the convocations). The playing order will be chosen through drawing lots by candidates themselves in the presence of the Organizing Committee. Absent candidates should send a written request so that their number will be drawn by a member of the Organizing Committee. The first eliminatory audition test will take place on Saturday, July 3 at 14:30.
19. The clothing of candidates during tests and ceremonies should be correct and respectable. Any violation of the Competition rules concerning clothing or behavior will automatically lead to the elimination from the competition.
20. The Competition Organizing Committee has the right to modify, if necessary, any point of this text of rules and will inform candidates of the changes. Only  the French text of rules will be taken into consideration in case of dispute or misunderstanding.