International Piano Competition
Samson François

3rd Edition - 2024
The international competition
that will reveal the piano stars of tomorrow!

Samson François International Piano Competition 2024

June 29 to July 4, 2024

Agenda

Before midnight on June 1, 2024: registration deadline for the " Junior", " Young Talent " and " Children" categories.
Saturday June 29 and Sunday June 30, 2024: Children" and "Young Talent" category competitions
Monday, July 1, 2024: "Junior" category competition
Tuesday, July 2, 2024: "Young Artist" category competition
Wednesday, July 3 and Thursday, July 4, 2024: "Artist" category competition

For the " Artist " and " Young Artist" categories: registration closed. Announcement of successful candidates on May 18, 2024.

Candidates can choose from 5 categories:

Junior" category (15 or under - born after July 1, 2008)
Young Talent" category (aged 12 or under - born after June 30, 2011)
Children" category (9 years and under - born after June 28, 2014)

Entries are closed for the following categories:

Artist" category (32 or under - born after July 4, 1991)
Young Artist" category (aged 20 or under - born after July 2, 2003)

Important new feature: Candidates can enter and compete in several categories.

The Competition is a member of the Alink Argerich Foundation.

The regulation

Note:
By clicking on a line in the table of contents below, you can go directly to the paragraph you want!

The "Artist" category of the "Samson François" International Piano Competition

Prizes awarded: €14,000

Grand Prix: €5,000
Prix Estivales 4 Recitals (€1,100 fee)
Recital Château Grimaldi / Ville de Cagnes-sur-Mer (800€ fee)
Bernard Olivieri Prize: Recital (€800 fee)
Prix Spécial Dugenne-Bendien for the best performance of a Fauré nocturne: €1,000
Demoulin Special Prize for the best performance of the Cadenza from the Concerto by Samson François: €1,000
Special prize for the best performance of French music: €500.
Chopin Special Prize: €500. This prize may be awarded in the "Artist" or "Young Artist" or "Junior" categories.

Terms and conditions

The "Artist" category is reserved for candidates born after July 4, 1991.

Registration fee : 100€
Closing date for entries : April 30, 2024.
1st online round: 10 to 12 minutes (YouTube video link to be supplied) featuring two works from different periods and in contrasting styles, to be sent before May 1, 2024.
Pre-selection :
- May 10, 2024: Notification of results to the 24 shortlisted candidates. They will have until May 15, 2024 to confirm their participation. 6 candidates will be placed on a waiting list in case the selected candidates are unable to attend.
- May 18, 2024: Announcement of results (Samson François' birthday)

For candidates selected to compete on Wednesday, July 3 and Thursday, July 4, 2024: 35- to 40-minute free program comprising a work by Chopin and a work by Debussy, Fauré or Ravel. The cadenza from the Samson François concerto (Special Prize: €1,000) is optional. The program provided is subject to change until June 10, 2024. Requests for program changes should be sent by e-mail to: samsonfrancoiscompetition@gmail.com

Special Awards

Special Prize for the best performance of the Cadenza from the Concerto by Samson François

Mr. Frédéric Demoulin will offer a Special Prize for the best performance of the Cadenza from Samson François's Concerto, published by Billaudot. The score of Cadence is available by clicking on the image below.
Measures 907 to 986 (low C#)

the solo piano score is available on the Editions Billaudot website by clicking on the image below.

Young Artist" category (20 years or younger - born after July 2, 2003)

Prizes awarded: €2,500

1st Prize: €1,500
2nd Prize: €700
3rd Prize: €300
Chopin Special Prize: €500. This prize may be awarded in the "Artist" or "Young Artist" or "Junior" categories.

Terms and conditions

The "Young Artist" category is reserved for candidates born after July 2, 2003.

Registration fee : 80€
Closing date for entries : April 30, 2024.
1st online round: 10 minutes (YouTube video link to be provided) free program, to be sent before May 1, 2024.
Pre-selection :
- May 10, 2024: Notification of results to the 24 shortlisted candidates. They will have until May 15, 2024 to confirm their participation. 6 candidates will be placed on a waiting list in case the selected candidates are unable to attend.
- May 18, 2024: Announcement of results (Samson François' birthday)

For candidates selected to compete on Tuesday, July 2, 2024: Free program of 15 to 18 minutes, including a work by Chopin. The program provided may be modified up to June 10, 2024. Requests for program changes should be sent by e-mail to: samsonfrancoiscompetition@gmail.com

Please note It is recommended to register in the category corresponding to your age. Candidates may enter one or more categories.

Junior" category (15 years or under - born after July 1, 2008)

Prizes awarded: €1,500

1st Prize: €800
2nd Prize: €500
3rd Prize: €200
Chopin Special Prize: €500. This prize may be awarded in the "Artist" or "Young Artist" or "Junior" categories.

Terms and conditions

The "Junior" category is reserved for candidates born after July 1, 2008.

Registration fee : 70€
Registration closes: June 1, 2024
Competition: Monday, July 1, 2024
Program : Free program of 12 to 15 minutes. The program provided is subject to change until June 10, 2024. Requests for program changes should be sent by e-mail to: samsonfrancoiscompetition@gmail.com
Pre-selection: The first 35 entries will be selected.

Please note It is recommended to register in the category corresponding to your age. Candidates may enter one or more categories.

Young Talent" category (aged 12 or under - born after June 30, 2011)

Prizes awarded: €800

1st Prize: €400
2nd Prize: €200
3rd Prize: €100
Pierre Lanoë" Special Prize: €100

Terms and conditions

The "Young Talent" category is reserved for candidates born after June 2011.

Registration fee : 60€
Closing date for entries : June 1, 2024.
Competition: Saturday, June 29 and Sunday, June 30, 2024
Program : Free program of 8 to 10 minutes. The program provided is subject to change until June 10, 2024. Requests for program changes should be sent by e-mail to: samsonfrancoiscompetition@gmail.com
Pre-selection: The first 50 entries will be selected.

Please note It is recommended to register in the category corresponding to your age. Candidates may enter one or more categories.

The "Children" category (9 years and under - born after June 28, 2014)

Prizes awarded: €400

1st Prize: €150
2nd Prize: €100
3rd Prize: €50
Pierre Lanoë" Special Prize: €100

Terms and conditions

The "Children" category is reserved for candidates born after June 28, 2014.

Registration fee : 50€
Closing date for entries : June 1, 2024.
Competition: Saturday, June 29 and Sunday, June 30, 2024
Program : Free program of 3 to 7 minutes. The program provided is subject to change until June 10, 2024. Requests for program changes should be sent by e-mail to: samsonfrancoiscompetition@gmail.com

Please note It is recommended to register in the category corresponding to your age. Candidates may enter one or more categories.

The jury of the Samson François International Piano Competition

The prestigious jury includes pianists Philippe Cassard, Vittorio Forte, Akiko Ebi, Istvan Szekely, Dorian Leljak, Xin Wang, Olga Monakh, Nicolas Bringuier, Marylise Lanoë and Christine Gastaud.

Philippe Cassard
(France)

Vittorio Forte
(Italy)

Akiko Ebi
(Japan)

Istvan Szekely
(Hungary)

Dorian Leljak
(Serbia - Croatia)

Xin Wang
(China)

Olga Monakh
(Ukraine - Germany)

Nicolas Bringuier
(France)

Marylise Lanoë
(France)

Christine Gastaud
(France)

Jury composition for each category

How to register for the Samson François International Piano Competition?

Would you like to apply for the International Contest?

Step 1: Pay your registration fee by bank transfer to our account.
Step 2: Sign the payment by electronic signature or by downloading it, filling it in and signing it, then adding it to the form.
Step 3: Send us the necessary information by clicking on the form icon. Don't forget to sign the regulations if you're using a paper version.

Note: these 3 steps are mandatory to validate the registration.

===== > ATTENTION: Registration closed at midnight on June 1.

Additional or unanswered questions?

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at samsonfrancoiscompetition@gmail.com.

The competition will take place at the Salon Masséna
Hippodrome de la Côte d'Azur
Cagnes-sur-Mer (France)

Admission is free for competition spectators.

"Attack the piano ... But don't hurt it: it hasn't done anything to you! "

"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy. "

"I like to play. I like to play with things: you can't separate music from pleasure... If playing the piano isn't a party every time, it's not worth it... Pleasure makes you intelligent".

"I like poets to have their heads in the clouds and their feet in the lead, which is a bit the case with Debussy.... "

"When I discovered Chopin, I loved him immediately, it was emotional, it was irrational..."

"Music escapes through the fingers. Never play for the sake of playing well. Never try to achieve an interpretation or a technical performance, as this prevents you from listening to what the sounds are telling you."

"The ideal in Chopin is to improvise, to find the keys as the melody presents itself to you. Wait for it!... I never mark my fingerings. It forces me to concentrate more. And then, of course, I change the fingerings as I play."

Samson François, 4 syllables forming a bridge between music and magic. A name that awakens in all of us a secret desire for freedom and daring, and reminds us of the original function of the musician, as embodied in the myth of Orpheus: to charm, bewitch and enchant the listener, and even to raise the dead through the magical powers of sound. The competition is a tribute to this singular artist, a poet of the piano who continues to inspire millions of music lovers around the world. We sincerely hope that young pianists will join in this quest for the mystery of music, and that this competition will give them the impetus they need on their way to the "unattainable star".

Having had the good fortune to study for many years with Bruno Rigutto, who was one of Samson François' only disciples and his "spiritual son", I am delighted that Christine Gastaud, my first teacher in Nice, has entrusted us with the artistic direction of this competition, which took place in the wonderful setting of the Côte d'Azur Hippodrome. Indeed, Samson François had strong links with our region: as a child, he studied at the Nice Conservatoire, and later lived in Menton, where he frequently performed. Let's hope that the young pianists taking part in this event will follow in his footsteps!

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Samson François International Piano Competition 2024

June 29 to July 4, 2024

The regulation

Table of contents

The "Artist" category of the "Samson François" International Piano Competition

Prizes awarded: €14,000

Terms and conditions

Special Awards

Special Prize for the best performance of the Cadenza from the Concerto by Samson François

Young Artist" category (20 years or younger - born after July 2, 2003)

Prizes awarded: €2,500

Terms and conditions

Junior" category (15 years or under - born after July 1, 2008)

Prizes awarded: €1,500

Terms and conditions

Young Talent" category (aged 12 or under - born after June 30, 2011)

Prizes awarded: €800

Terms and conditions

The "Children" category (9 years and under - born after June 28, 2014)

Prizes awarded: €400

Terms and conditions

The jury of the Samson François International Piano Competition

The prestigious jury includes pianists Philippe Cassard, Vittorio Forte, Akiko Ebi, Istvan Szekely, Dorian Leljak, Xin Wang, Olga Monakh, Nicolas Bringuier, Marylise Lanoë and Christine Gastaud.

Jury composition for each category

How to register for the Samson François International Piano Competition?

Would you like to apply for the International Contest?

Additional or unanswered questions?

Philippe Cassard

Vittorio Forte

Akiko Ebi

Istvan Szekely

Dorian Leljak

Xin Wang

Olga Monakh

Nicolas Bringuier