Premio Bruno Mezzena

Regulations

Official Competition Announcement
FIRST BIENNIAL INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION

Premio Bruno Mezzena

An event conceived and organized by Franco Mezzena in collaboration with Odradek Records

1. Time and Place of the Competition

The first edition of the Bruno Mezzena Prize, organised by Associazione Musicale "Progetto Odradek" to highlight young musicians and showcase their talent, foster international cultural exchanges and culturally enhance the Abruzzo region, will be held in Montesvilano at The Spheres (Via Tamigi, snc) from Jan. 3-7, 2025.

The piano used for the competition will be freely chosen between a Steinway D (Hamburg) from the Fabbrini Collection or a Shigeru Kawai EX. 

The Premio Bruno Mezzena will be held every two years.

The competition is open to participants of any nationality.

2. Jury

Artur Pizarro (President), Franco Mezzena, Muriel Chemin, Stefano Giavazzi, Aki Kurodam, Pina Napolitano, Stefania Santangelo.

  • The jury's decision is final and unchallengeable for all stages of the Competition.
  • The jury's deliberations are valid with the presence of at least five members.
  • The jury has the right not to award prizes.
  • If the Absolute First Prize in the Soloist category is not awarded, the jury reserves the right to award the concerts to other winners.
  • Jury members with familial and/or educational ties to the competitors will abstain from voting, with a specific indication written in the minutes.
  • The jury will announce the winners of the first edition of the Bruno Mezzena Prize at the end of the competition.

3. Categories

Participants can register for a higher category regardless of age but are not allowed to register for more than one category.

  • Category A: Born between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2018
  • Category B: Born between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2016
  • Category C: Born between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2014
  • Category D: Born between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2012
  • Category E: Born between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2010
  • Category F: Born between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2007
  • SOLOISTS: Born between January 1, 1995, and December 31, 2004

4. Prizes

First Absolute Prize (Grand Prize)

Cash Prize of €800,00 (eight hundred/00 euros)

  • 6 (six) concerts in 2025/26:
    • Taranto (Puglia)
      Salone della Provincia (Recital in the 2025/26 Concert Season of Associazione Musicale Art Jonica)
    • Bari (Puglia)
      Castello di Sannicandro (Recital in the 2025/26 Concert Season of Associazione Musicale Art Jonica)
    • Mantova (Lombardia)
      Recital in the 2025/26 Concert Season of MantuaMusica
    • Lago d’Iseo (Lombardia)
      Recital in Festival Onde Musicali 2025/26
    • Messina (Sicilia)
      Recital in the 2025/26 Concert Season of Associazione Orchestra da Camera di Messina
    • Sacile (Pordenone)
      Recital in the 2025/26 Concert Season of “Concerti a Palazzo”
  • Inaugural Concert in 2027 at The Spheres opening the second edition of the Bruno Mezzena Prize
  • 1 day of recording at The Spheres, including editing, mixing and mastering (for up to 30 minutes of music).  
  • Digital release of the single on all platforms (Spotify, Apple, Amazon, Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, Idagio, Presto Music, etc.).
  • Professional portrait photo and cover for digital single (from vist.co) 
  • Professional multicam video trailer for digital single
  • 2 free 1-hour sessions of career planning consultancy divise in via Zoom with the chiefs of Odradek Records and vist.co Kulturmanagement 
  • Participation in the winners' concert
  • Professional multi-camera promotional video of the performance in the winners' concert (without editing)
  • Professional multi-camera video of the performance during the competition (without editing)
  • Bruno Mezzena Award Plaque – First Edition 2025
  • Diploma of Merit
First Prize
  • Cash Prize of €500,00 (five hundred/00 euros)
  • Professional multi-camera promotional video of a musical work (without editing)
  • Professional portrait photo and cover for digital single (from vist.co) 
  • Participation in the winners' concert
  • Professional multi-camera promotional video of the performance in the winners' concert (without editing)
  • Professional multi-camera video of the performance during the competition (without editing)
  • Bruno Mezzena Award Plaque – First Edition 2025
  • Diploma of Merit
Second Prize
  • Cash Prize of €250,00 (two hundred and fifty/00 euros)
  • Professional multi-camera promotional video of a musical work (without editing)
  • Participation in the winners' concert
  • Professional multi-camera promotional video of the performance in the winners' concert (without editing)
  • Professional multi-camera video of the performance during the competition (without editing)
  • Bruno Mezzena Award Plaque – First Edition 2025
  • Diploma of Merit
Third Prize
  • Cash Prize of €200,00 (two hundred/00 euros)
  • Professional multi-camera promotional video of a musical work (without editing)
  • Participation in the winners' concert
  • Professional multi-camera promotional video of the performance in the winners' concert (without editing)
  • Professional multi-camera video of the performance during the competition (without editing)
  • Bruno Mezzena Award Plaque – First Edition 2025
  • Diploma of Merit

 

In the event that more than one participant is an ex æquo winner (except for the Absolute First Prize), the prize amount will be divided equally.

 

Categories “A-F”

First Absolute Prize (Grand Prize) (per ogni categoria):
  • Cash Prize of € 100,00 (one hundred/00 euros)
  • Professional multi-camera promotional video of the performance in the winners' concert (without editing)
  • Professional multi-camera video of the performance during the competition (without editing)
  • Participation in the winners' concert
  • Premio Bruno Mezzena Medal – First Edition 2025
  • Diploma of Merit
First Prize (per ogni categoria):
  • Professional multi-camera promotional video of the performance in the winners' concert (without editing)
  • Professional multi-camera video of the performance during the competition (without editing)
  • Participation in the winners' concert
  • Premio Bruno Mezzena Medal – First Edition 2025
  • Diploma of Merit
Second Prize (per ogni categoria):
  • Professional multi-camera video of the performance during the competition (without editing)
  • Premio Bruno Mezzena Medal – First Edition 2025
  • Diploma of Merit
Third Prize (per ogni categoria):
  • Professional multi-camera video of the performance during the competition (without editing)
  • Premio Bruno Mezzena Medal – First Edition 2025
  • Diploma of Merit

 

Premio Speciale Bruno Mezzena

For the best performance of a 20th or 21st century non-tonal composition.

  • Cash Prize of €500,00 (five hundred/00 euros), offered by Franco Mezzena
  • Professional portrait photo and cover for digital single (from vist.co) 
  • Professional multi-camera promotional video of the awarded work(without editing)
  • Participation in the winners' concert
  • Professional multi-camera promotional video of the performance in the winners' concert (without editing)
  • Professional multi-camera video of the performance during the competition (without editing)
  • Bruno Mezzena Award Plaque – First Edition 2025
  • Diploma of Merit

 

A certificate of participation will be issued to all competitors in all categories.

5. Obligations of Contestants

Participants must:

  • perform the programme specified in paragraphs 6 and 7;
  • show up at least 30 minutes before the start of their performance;
  • deliver copies of the pieces they will perform to the jury.

6. Music Programmes

“SOLOIST” CATEGORY
All rounds must be performed from memory. It is not possible to repeat the same pieces in more than one round.

  • Eliminatory Round (of a maximum 40-minute duration):
    • An etude chosen among those of: Alkan, Bartok, Unsuk Chin, Chopin, Debussy, Ives, Ligeti, Liszt, Messiaen, Rachmaninov, Schumann, Skrjabin, Stravinskij; 
    • a sonata by Mozart or Beethoven 
    • a composition written in the 20th or 21st century 
  • Semifinal Round: a 40-minute free program;
  • Final Round with Orchestra: a concerto chosen among:

Bach, J.S.

  • No 1 BWV 1052 in D minor
  • No 2 BWV 1053 in E major
  • No 3 BWV1054 in D major
  • No 4 BWV 1055 in A major
  • No 5 BWV 1056 in F minor
  • No 6 BWV 1057 in F major
  • No 7 BWV 1058 in G minor


Handel, George Frideric: Piano Concerto in B-flat major (arr. Lambert)

Haydn, Franz Joseph

  • Concerto Hob.XVIII:5 in C major
  • Concerto for Violin & Piano, Hob.XVIII:6 in F major

 

Mendelssohn: Concerto for Piano & Strings in A minor

Mozart, W.A.

  • No 1, K37 in F major
  • No 2, K39 in B-flat major
  • No 8, K246 in C major (“Lützow”)
  • No 9, K271 in E-flat major (“Jenamy”)
  • No 11, K413 in F major
  • No 12, K414 in A major
  • No 14, K449 in E-flat major
  • No 15, K450 in B-flat major

CATEGORIES "A-F"

  • Category A: a freely chosen programme lasting 5 minutes
  • Category B: a freely chosen programme lasting 8 minutes
  • Category C: a freely chosen programme lasting 10 minutes
  • Category D: a freely chosen programme lasting 15 minutes
  • Category E: a freely chosen programme lasting 20 minutes
  • Category F: a freely chosen programme lasting 30 minutes

7. Competition Rounds

“SOLOIST” CATEGORY

The Premio Bruno Mezzena for the Soloists’ category will consist of three rounds: an Eliminatory Round, a Semi-Final Round and the Final Round accompanied by orchestra. 
The detailed rehearsal schedule will be communicated to participants in due time after the registration period has expired. 

Eliminatory Round
Depending on the number of applications received, one or more elimination rounds will be held. The order of performance for the elimination round will be determined by drawing lots based on the initial letter of the contestant's last name. Contestants must show up for the round with a valid identification document.

During the elimination round, contestants must perform the programme specified above. The jury reserves the right to hear contestants in whole or in part and may interrupt the performance at its discretion or require them to perform again, in whole or in part, the programme presented. The jury will make a simple judgment of suitability or ineligibility.

Contestants who have obtained a positive judgment of suitability will be admitted to the semifinal round. Admission to the semifinal round will be notified at the end of the day by e-mail to the address provided in the application or by a notice on the website https://mezzena.org.

All rounds must be performed from memory. It is not possible to repeat the same pieces in more than one round.

The Semifinal Round 
A maximum of 10 (ten) soloists will be selected to advance to the Semifinal Round. The order of performance for the semifinal round will be determined by drawing lots based on the initial letter of the contestant's last name. Competitors should perform the program as indicated in Section 6 for the semi-final round.

The jury reserves the right to hear the contestants in whole or in part and may interrupt the performance at its discretion or require them to perform again, in whole or in part, the submitted program. The jury will make a simple judgment of suitability or ineligibility.

Admission to the final round will be announced at the end of the day by e-mail to the address provided in the application or by a notice on the website https://mezzena.org.

The Final Round (with orchestra)
A maximum of 4 (four) soloists will be selected to advance to the Final Round. The order of performance for the final round will be determined by a draw based on the initial letter of the contestant's last name. Contestants will be required to present the planned programme for the final round, as outlined in below. The jury reserves the right to hear the contestants in whole or in part and may interrupt the performance at its discretion or require them to perform again, in whole or in part, the presented program. 4 competitors perform one concerto, selected from the list below. The concerto will be performed without conductor.

The jury reserves the right to hear the contestants in whole or in part and may interrupt the performance at its discretion or require them to perform again, in whole or in part, the presented program. 

The jury will evaluate the performances by casting a grade in hundredths (from a minimum of 60/100 to a maximum of
Prizes will be awarded according to the following scoring table:

  • Absolute First Prize 100/100
  • First Prize from 95/100 to 99/100
  • Second Prize from 90/100 to 94/100
  • Third Prize from 85/100 to 89/100

 

CATEGORIES "A-F"

Each competition will be held in a single round per category. The schedule of rehearsals will be communicated to competitors in due time after the registration deadline. The order of performance for the rehearsal will be communicated through a summons, starting with Category A.

Competitors will be required to come to the rehearsal with a valid identification document. The jury reserves the right to hear competitors in whole or in part, interrupting the performance at its discretion or requiring them to perform again, in whole or in part, the programme presented.

The jury will evaluate the performances by casting a grade in hundredths (from a minimum of 60/100 to a maximum of 100/100). 
Prizes will be awarded according to the following scoring table:

  • Absolute First Prize 100/100
  • First Prize from 95/100 to 99/100
  • Second Prize from 90/100 to 94/100
  • Third Prize from 85/100 to 89/100

8. Application And Deadline

Competitors must submit the application no later than October 18, 2024. The application can be submitted directly through the website https://mezzena.org or sent electronically by e-mail to premio@mezzena.org, using the form attached to this regulation. Underage competitors must fill out the relevant section,which also includes the data of one of their parents or legal guardians, who must accompany them at all times during the competition.

Associazione Musicale “Progetto Odradek” will acknowledge receipt of the application but does not accept responsibility for any non-receipt.
The application, complete and signed in its entirety as required, must be accompanied by:

1) A copy of a valid identification document;
2) An artistic curriculum (for the SOLISTS category only).

Along with the application, the following payment must be made:

  • Categories A-B € 60,00 (euro sixty/00)
  • Categories C-D € 80,00 (eighty/00 euros)
  • Categories E-F € 100,00 (one hundred/00 euros)
  • Category SOLOISTS € 120,00(one hundred and twenty/00 euros)

Payment can be made by bank transfer to Banca Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. payable to Associazione Musicale “Progetto Odradek” on the account:

IBAN: IT53 V030 6909 6061 0000 0068 411

BIC/SWIFT: BCITITMX

Memo/Reason for payment: NAME and SURNAME – Premio Bruno Mezzena

No refunds will be given to contestants for any reason.
Applications for which the application fee has not been paid will not be considered.
Submission of the application for participation in the competition implies full and unconditional acceptance of all the rules contained in this regulation and the obligation to comply with all the provisions herein.

9. Exclusion From The Competition

Associazione Musicale “Progetto Odradek” will not consider applications that are incomplete and/or not duly signed in all required parts. Contestants will be excluded from the competition in the following cases:

  • there emerge inconsistencies, inaccuracies, errors or mismatches in the documents submitted;
  • any who do not show up for the competition rounds as stipulated in the convocation;
  • any who do not show up for the first round with a valid identification document;
  • any who adopt behaviour that is inappropriate to the context, offensive and/or indecorous;
  • any who have not paid the prescribed participation fee.

10. Audio/video Filming And Photography

Participants authorize Associazione Musicale “Progetto Odradek” to take audio/video footage and photographs at all times during the competition, as well as the use and exploitation of such materials at their sole discretion, waiving all claims and rights to the use of such materials. The entire competition will be live-streamed. It will be possible to accommodate any requests from participants to receive copies of the video and/or audio footage for a fee of €20. The video will be sent out in the days following the end of the contest. Contestants are allowed to record their own performances.

11. Processing Of Personal Data

Participants authorize Associazione Musicale “Progetto Odradek” to process their personal data for the purpose of entering the contest and for all administrative and publicity activities that Associazione Musicale “Progetto Odradek” decides to undertake. 
In accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in force in all countries of the European Union, participants have the right to request at any time access to their personal data, as well as its modification and/or deletion.

12. Disputes

In case of disputes, the Court of Pescara shall have jurisdiction and the text of this regulation in its Italian language version shall prevail.

13. Cancellation Of The Competition

In the event that the minimum number of participants is not reached by October 15, 2025, which is necessary for the smooth running of the competition, the organization will cancel the competition and refund the previously paid registration fee.

Pescara, March 2024
Associazione Musicale “Progetto Odradek”
Via Tamigi, snc
65015 Montesilvano (PE)
ITALIA

Tel: +39 085 468 0779
Email: premio@mezzena.org