About Concertino Praga
Concertino Praga, 14.6.2008 Rudolfinum - Koncert vítězů/Concert of WinnersFoto: Martin Kutil
The International Radio Competition for Young Musicians Concertino Praga, which has been organized by Czech Radio since 1966, is directed at young beginning performers aged 18 or under. It is held in different categories in a three-year cycle, each year either in the categories violin, piano, cello and guitar, woodwinds such as flute, oboe, clarinet and trumpet, or in the category chamber music, either performed in a duo or a quintet. The National Radio Competition Concertino Praga takes place ahead of the international competition. A five-member jury chooses the best candidates, who advance to the international round and represent the Czech Republic there.
Young musicians from all around the world take part in the international competition through professional audio recordings, from which a seven-member jury of internationally renowned performers chooses the best through listening to the CDs in an anonymous fashion. Due to the strictly anonymous way in which the choice is made, the results are very objective. The jury is not given any information about the candidates until after all awards and honorary mentions have been handed out. Usually, each country is only represented by one member in the jury, and it is therefore very diverse. The audio recordings and application for the competition are provided by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the International Music Council (IMC) and the European Music Council (EMC).
The competition is a member of the European Union of Music Competitions of Youth (EMCY) and is organized under the patronage of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Each year, its highlight is a special concert ceremony in Prague’s Rudolfinum, where the award winners give their first performance in front of TV cameras and radio microphones. Solo performers are usually accompanied by the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (SOCR).
The winners also perform at the traditional South Bohemian festival Concertino Praga, giving a total of four concerts in the marvelous halls of South Bohemian castles. Czech Radio publishes a CD that profiles the overall winner; winners in other categories are featured on a compilation CD with a selection of winning competition selections. The organizer also offers further concert opportunities to the winners, not only in the year that the competition was held, but also in the years after.
