Rules and regulations
3rd International Piano Duo Competition “Duettissimo”
Rules and Regulations
Kraków, 4–11 April 2027
§1
Organizer and Date
1. The organizer of the 3rd International Piano Duo Competition “Duettissimo” (hereinafter referred to as the Competition) is the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Krakow – Department of Chamber Music, in cooperation with the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music Foundation in Krakow.
2. The Competition will take place from 4–11 April 2027.
3. Competition auditions will be held in the Krystyna Moszumańska-Nazar Concert Hall at the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Krakow, ul. św. Tomasza 43 (Stages I and II), and at the Krakow Philharmonic Hall named after K. Szymanowski, ul. Zwierzyniecka 1 (Stage III).
§2
Application
1. Applications must be submitted no later than 31 January 2027, together with a copy of the entry fee payment, to the email address:
konkurs.duettissimo@amuz.krakow.pl
2. To apply, candidates must submit by 31 January 2027:
– a completed Application Form (available on the Academy’s website under the 3rd International Piano Duo Competition tab, Annex 1 to these Regulations),
– participation fee as follows:
1) For candidates with Polish citizenship:
– Category I: 500 PLN per duo
– Category II: 800 PLN per duo
Payment should be made to:
BANK PEKAO S.A., III Branch Krakow
41 1240 2294 1111 0000 3708 8240
with the note: “Konkurs Duettissimo”
2) For international participants:
– Category I: 120 EUR per duo
– Category II: 250 EUR per duo
Payment should be made to:
Bank PEKAO SA, III Branch Krakow
IBAN: PL 42 1240 2294 1978 0010 2649 8028
BIC/SWIFT: PKOPPLPW
with the note: “Konkurs Duettissimo”
Confirmation of payment must be sent to: konkurs.duettissimo@amuz.krakow.pl along with the completed Application Form.
3. Candidates cover their own travel, accommodation, and meals.
§3
Participants, Schedule, and Categories
1. Candidates will be notified electronically by 15 February 2027 about their inclusion on the participant list. Inclusion requires correct completion of the application form, fulfillment of formal conditions, and submission of the payment confirmation. The Organizer verifies formal compliance.
2. The preliminary audition schedule is Annex 2 to these Regulations. The Organizer reserves the right to modify the schedule. The detailed schedule will be published on the Academy’s website (amuz.krakow.pl) at least 30 days before the Competition.
3. The Competition will have the following age categories:
– Category I – the total age of duo members (as of 4 April 2027) may not exceed 42 years.
– Category II – the total age of duo members (as of 4 April 2027) may not exceed 70 years.
4. Participants are required to perform the following repertoire:
Category I (25–30 minutes):
1) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – I movement of any Sonata for 4 hands or 2 pianos
2) Any work by a Polish composer (excluding Witold Lutosławski, Variations on a Theme by Paganini)
3) Additional pieces to fill the required time
Category II:
Stage I (20–25 minutes):
1) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – I movement of any Sonata for 4 hands
2) Any 2-piano program to fill the required time
OR
1) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Sonata in D major, KV 448 for 2 pianos
2) Any 4-hand program to fill the required time
Stage II (45–50 minutes):
1) Witold Lutosławski – Variations on a Theme by Paganini
2) One work by a Polish composer chosen from:
– Maurycy Moszkowski, 5 Spanische Tänze op. 12 (4 hands)
– Zygmunt Noskowski, Fantazja góralska op. 17 (4 hands)
– Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, Toccata op. 2 (2 pianos)
– Roman Maciejewski, Negro Spirituals (2 pianos)
– Roman Maciejewski, Oberek (2 pianos)
– Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Tatra Album op. 12, books I & II (4 hands)
– Eliza Markowska, Romance Symphonique op. 65 (2 pianos)
– Aleksander Tansman, Le train de nuit (2 pianos)
– Juliusz Zarębski, A travers Pologne op. 23 (4 hands)
– Juliusz Zarębski, Divertissement à la polonaise op. 12 (4 hands)
3) Additional pieces to fill the required time
Stage III:
Concerto for 2 pianos and orchestra (choose one):
1) Max Bruch – Concerto in A-flat major, op. 88a
2) Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy – Concerto in E major MWV O 5
3) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Concerto in E-flat major KV 365/316a No. 10
4) Francis Poulenc – Concerto in D minor FP 61
Changes to repertoire submitted after the application deadline (31 January 2027) require the Organizer’s approval.
§4
Drawing of Performance Order
Candidates must appear for the drawing of performance order on 4 April 2027 with valid identification and date of birth. The exact time and place will be communicated at least 30 days prior. At least one member of the duo must attend.
§5
Advancement Limitations
For Category II, no more than 10 duos will advance to Stage II and no more than 4 duos to the finals. In case of disputes, the Jury Chair’s decision is final.
§6
Jury
1. The Jury is appointed by the Organizer and its members will be announced publicly no later than 4 April 2026.
2. The Jury operates according to its own internal regulations approved at the first meeting. A member may not score participants who are their students.
3. Jury decisions are final, irrevocable, and unappealable.
§7
Prizes
1. Award winners receive the title of Competition Laureate.
2. Prizes:
– Category I:
I prize – 10,000 PLN
II prize – 5,000 PLN
III prize – 3,000 PLN
Special prizes:
• Best performance of Mozart Sonata I movement – 2,000 PLN
• Best performance of a Polish composer’s work – 2,000 PLN
– Category II:
I prize – 50,000 PLN
II prize – 30,000 PLN
III prize – 20,000 PLN
Honourable mention – 8,000 PLN
Special prizes:
• Best performance of Mozart Sonata I movement – 3,000 PLN
• Best performance of a Polish composer’s work – 6,000 PLN
3. The Jury may adjust prizes based on competition results.
4. Additional monetary or in-kind prizes funded by institutions or private donors must be reported before the Competition. The Jury may classify them as official or non-official prizes.
5. Prizes are subject to income tax according to Polish law; tax will be handled by the Organizer.
§8
Rights and Consent
1. Participants transfer all property rights to recordings made during the Competition to the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Krakow.
2. Participants consent to the use of their image in connection with the Competition.
3. The Organizer may record the Competition partially; recording scope is at Organizer’s discretion.
4. Personal data is processed according to data protection regulations; details are in the Application Form.
5. Participation constitutes acceptance of these Regulations.
6. Participants confirm they have read the personal data clause in the Application Form.
7. The Organizer applies Child Protection Standards, available on its website.
§9
Final Provisions
1. The Organizer may cancel or modify any stage of the Competition; such decisions are final.
2. The Organizer may amend the Regulations at any time; changes are final. Notifications will be posted on the Competition website.
3. The Organizer decides on matters not covered in the Regulations.
4. In case of interpretation discrepancies, the Polish text prevails.
5. If the Competition or a stage is canceled, fees for that stage will be refunded.
6. The Organizer may change the number and value of prizes.