Ibla Grand Prize

located in the southernmost tip of Sicily on the hills facing the Mediterranean sea. One of the most fascinating towns in Sicily, Ragusa has caused many a visitor’s jaw to drop as they first set eyes on Ibla, the lower part of the town. Essentially Baroque, the Ragusa you will see today dates almost entirely from 1693 following a major earthquake. The surrounding area is also fascinating, featuring other lovely towns, miles and miles of sandy beaches.

"The sunbaked island of Sicily, the largest and historically richest in the Mediterranean, is the scene of the annual IBLA GRAND PRIZE, a piano competition held in a hall buried among the clusters of 17th and 18th century stone buildings that crowd the little threads of streets. The rocky town of only 80,000 lies just a few miles from where Ionian and Mediterranean meet at Sicily's southern most tip. Hearing piano-playing in this kind of setting is amazing. It is like the opening of an ornate and ancient casket only to find it stocked with glittering gems."
-Gordon Sparber, Winston-Salem Journal, NC, USA

COMPETITION The IBLA Foundation in New York City presents annual music competitions for PIANISTS SINGERS INSTRUMENTALISTS COMPOSERS which take place during the summer in Ragusa Ibla, Italy. You will not be required to attend throughout the entire duration of the competition as you will be given specific performance dates. Winners have been offered debut in such venues as Carnegie Recital Hall, Lincoln Center in New York, New York University, the Tokyo Opera City Hall, the Tchaikovsky Bolshoi Hall in Moscow as well as other prestigious venues in Canada, Europe, Russia and USA. All applications are to be sent to the New York office where all candidates selection is made on the basis of the information included in the application requirements. The competition performances for the International Jury will take place in Ragusa Ibla, Sicily, Italy. Age limits. Adult level contestants (24 and over) have no age limit. Young division is organized as following: Level Age Adult 24 and over A 7-10 B 11-14 C 15-18 D 19-23 Music programs are of free choice. We strongly encourage a free choice in presenting the music program. This is not a school jury therefore you do not have to show that you know a variety of style or a variety of languages (singers), or that you are in general a good student. Instead You are expected to perform music you feel you perform at its best. The program should represent your musicianship, your taste, your passion, your expertise, your identity in the music world or what you wish to be known for. Very creative programs are encouraged. You may present a program of all contemporary music or all baroque, all classic, all romantic or any combination. You may perform monothematic programs, music of only one composer of any style and period, if you wish to do so. Unpublished works are also welcome. As a winner you will be required to perform the same program or a selection of it. If you play everything very well you will qualify as a top winner. If you perform very well only a part of your program you may qualify for a specific award or honorable mention. This competition should serve as a venue to express your musical personality in its fullness. Also the specific durations of the music program are to be considered approximate: you may play a longer or shorter if approved by the office. You are expected to perform by memory, unless you are part of an ensemble, or perform contemporary music, or have been granted a permission from the competition office which can be requested on specific compositions. Composers are invited to present one compositionof their own free choice, with no limit of duration. For further detailed information please, do not hesitate to contact the competition office in New York via e-mail iblanewyork@gmail.com	CONCORSO La Fondazione IBLA di New York City organizza concorsi annuali per PIANISTI CANTANTI STRUMENTISTI COMPOSITORI che si tengono ogni anno in estate a Ragusa Ibla in Sicilia, Italia Non si sara' tenuti ad essere presenti durante l'intera durata del concorso. Verranno indicate date specifiche per ogni concorrente. Ai vincitori e' stata offerto il debut presso la Carnegie Recital Hall di New York, Lincoln Center, New York University, Tokyo Opera City Hall, Tchaikovsky Bolshoi Hall di Mosca oltre ad altre prestigiose Università in Canada, Europa, Russia e USA. Le domande vanno tutte indirizzate all'ufficio della Fondazione a New York City dove avverrano le selezioni dei concorrenti sulla base delle documentazioni inviate. Le prove del concorso si terranno a Ragusa Ibla per la Giuria Internazionale. Non ci sono limiti di eta' La sezione Adulti da 24 anni in su' non ha limiti di eta'. La sezione giovani e' suddivisa in categorie A B C D Categoria Eta' Adult 24 and over A 7-10 B 11-14 C 15-18 D 19-23 I programmi sono di libera scelta. Il programma deve esprimere la propria personalita' musicale. Viene incoraggiata la scelta di programmi musicali creativi, innovativi cosi come programmi monotematici o dedicati ad un solo compositore. In generale le esecuzioni vanno eseguite a memoria escluso ensemble, musica contemporanea e casi in cui si sia ottenuto il consenso specifico della segreteria del concorso, che esaminera' la richiesta per ogni specifica composizone. I compositori sono invitati a presentare una sola composizione a libera scelta senza limiti di durata e di organico strumentale. Per ulteriori informazioni dettagliate, non esitate a contattare cortesemente l'ufficio della Fondazione a New York via e-mail iblanewyork@gmail.com
MASTER CLASSES A limited number of Master Classes is offered during the IBLA Grand Prize by the International Jury panel comprised of a variety of professionals in the music industry. You may attend a Master Class after performing for the International Jury. Master Classes must be requested in advance as they effect greatly the International Jury work schedule.	MASTER CLASSES Durante lo svolgimento dell'IBLA Grand Prize, oltre a concerti aperti al pubblico, viene anche offerta la possibilita' ai concorrenti di partecipare a Master Classes tenuti da una commissione di illustri musicisti membri della Giuria Internazionale. Ai Master Classes si puo' essere ammessi dopo aver eseguito le prove richieste per il concorso. Alcune posizioni nei Master Classes sono anche aperte a musicisti non concorrenti che ne facessero richiesta.
TRAVEL Catania airport Fontanarossa is the closest airport to Ragusa IBLA, Italy, with direct flights from Rome, Milan, Frankfurt, Paris, London, Malta etcetera . The Ibla Foundation will provide discounted rates for hotels and restaurants as well as airport/hotel and local transportation services for contestants and their guests. Great beaches and historical sites surround the IBLA area, should you wish to take a vacation during your stay. Ragusa IBLA is an astonishingly beautiful wonder of baroque architecture and is located approximately 15 miles from the Mediterrenean sea and close to the vulcano Mount Etna, Taormina, Siracusa and the Greek temples of Agrigento. During your stay, upon discretion of the artistic director, you will be offered the opportunity to perform in evening concerts. However, you are not necessarily required to attend throughout the duration of the competition, should you have other professional commitments.	TRAVEL L'aeroporto Fontanarossa di Catania e' il piu vicino a Ragusa. I concorrenti non sono tenuti a restare a Ragusa durante tutto lo svolgimento del concorso e possono approfittare delle splendide spiagge che circondano a pochi kilometri i quartieri barocchi di Ragusa IBLA. La Fondazione inoltre offre assistenza per prenotazioni alberghiere e di trasporto locale. Per ulterori informazioni non esitate contattare l'ufficio della Fondazione a New York iblanewyork@gmail.com

The 2013 IBLA Grand Prize

The 2013 IBLA Grand Prize World Music Competitions