The 2025 Murdock International Competition is open to pianists of all ages from all over the world.

The competition consists of two rounds: The Preliminary Round and the Final Round, which will select the 1st, 2nd, 3rd Prize winners as well as Awardees of the Absolute Prize, the Honorable Mentions and the Special Prize Laureates.

The competition takes place in accordance with the following timetable:

• Acceptance of applications until 10 July

• Preliminaries 11-13 July

• Notification of Preliminary Round results 14 July

• Acceptance of entries for the final round 14-19 July

• Final round 20 – 24 July

• Announcement of Results: Friday, 25 July, at 6pm CET

Video requirements

A. Entrants are requested to submit a video recording of their performance (YouTube or similar platform link) on our “Apply” page.

B. The video needs to clearly show the musician(s) performing the repertoire they wish to present at the competition.

C. There is no minimum requirement for the length of the video. It is normal for a submission to include one piece of a couple of minutes. Younger soloists often play several very short pieces. The maximum length of the recording should not exceed 30 minutes, with the jury having the right to listen to only the first 15 minutes if they consider this sufficient.

D. The Final Round will be based on the same recording as the first round.

E. A single movement or a selection of movements from a cyclical form such as a sonata, suite, etc. may be submitted.

Awards:

Prizes will be awarded from Absolute, 1st, 2nd, 3rd prize as well as honorable mentions and special mentions in each category and age group.

All winners:

• receive their diploma

  • After the preliminary round you can receive a certificate of participation (for those who made it to the Final Round but did not want to participate).

• will receive certificates for teachers and accompanists upon request

• will have their names and achievements placed on the list of winners

• can be promoted on our Social Media

Selected winners:

• will be interviewed in Maestro Magazine (Absolute Winners and 1st Prize with Special Mention – subject to availability)

• will have their winning video published on the website (Absolute Winners)

• will have their portrait photo published on the website (1st Prize with Special Mention Awardees)

• will have created their own Winners web page (Absolute Winners and 1st Prize with Special Mention Awardees)

• will receive cash prize (Absolute Winners)

Jury:

A. Competitors will be judged by a panel of world-class musicians. For the purpose of maintaining impartiality, the names of the members of the Jury will not be made public.

B. A juror will not judge a contestant who turns out to be their student.

C. The minimum number of jurors to evaluate a category is 3.

D. Verdicts of the Jury are final and irrevocable.

Disclaimer:

By entering the competition, I consent to the publication of my image and video online, on www.classicalmusicstars.com and on the competition’s social media and partner websites and will not claim any ownership rights.