Participants of the Competition
We invite pianists from Uzbekistan, CIS countries, foreign countries - students of music schools and art schools, students of music schools, colleges and institutions of higher professional education, teachers of music schools, amateur pianists to take part in the III International Competition "The Path to Mastery".

Competition procedure
The competition is held on March 29-31,2024 in Tashkent,Uzbekistan in the format of full-time participation. All compositions are performed by heart, except for works performed in the nominations "Piano Ensemble", "Teacher-Student".
Also, for participants who do not have the opportunity to take part in the full-time format of the competition, absentee auditions will be held based on the provided video recordings.

The competition is held in the following categories:
"Solo Performance"
"Piano Ensemble"
"Piano as a second subject"
"Teacher-Student"
"Amateur-pianist"
"Jazz piano"
Nomination "Solo Performance"
1st category - up to 6 years old (up to 10 minutes)
2nd category - 7-8 years old (up to 10 minutes)
3rd category - 9-10 years old (up to 10 minutes)
4th category - 11-12 years old (up to 10 minutes)
5th category - 13-15 years old (up to 10 minutes)
6th category - high school students and students of secondary schools (up to 15 minutes)
7th category - students of higher educational institutions (up to 15 minutes)
8th category - teachers of musical educational institutions (children's music school, children's art school, secondary schools, universities, age is unlimited) (up to 15 minutes).

Program requirements in the nomination "Solo Performance":

• Program requirements in all categories include - obligatory performance of a virtuoso etude;
• Free academic program of the participant's choice in accordance with the general timing.

Nomination "Piano Ensemble" (Chamber Ensemble)
1st category - up to 6 years old inclusive;
2nd category - 7-8 years old inclusive;
3rd category - 9-10 years old inclusive;
4th category - 11-12 years old inclusive;
5th category - 13-15 years old inclusive;
6th category - high school students and students of secondary schools;
7th category - students of higher educational institutions;
8th category - teachers of musical educational institutions (children's music school, children's art school, secondary schools, universities, age is unlimited).

Program requirements in the nomination "Piano Ensemble":
The contestants perform two diverse academic works. It is possible to perform parts of cyclic works and arrangements.
Performance time - no more than 15 minutes.
In the nomination "Piano ensemble" it is allowed to perform from notes or by heart (playing from notes or without notes in the ensemble does not affect the decision of the jury).

Nomination "Piano as a second subject"
1st category - up to 6 years old inclusive;
2nd category - 7-8 years old inclusive;
3rd category - 9-10 years old inclusive;
4th category - 11-12 years old inclusive;
5th category - 13-15 years old inclusive;
6th category - high school students and students of secondary schools;
7th category - students of higher educational institutions;

Program requirements in the nomination "Piano as a second subject":
The competition program includes the performance of two diverse academic plays. The total time for the performance of the competitive program is no more than 10 minutes.

Nomination "Teacher-Student"
1st category - up to 6 years old inclusive;
2nd category - 7-8 years old inclusive;
3rd category - 9-10 years old inclusive;
4th category - 11-12 years old inclusive;
5th category - 13-15 years old inclusive;
6th category - high school students and students of secondary schools;
7th category - students of higher educational institutions;
8th category - teachers of musical educational institutions (children's music school, children's art school, secondary schools, universities, age is unlimited);

Program requirements in the nomination "Teacher-Student":
The competition program includes the performance of two academic plays of different character. The total time for the performance of the competitive program is no more than 10 minutes.
In the nomination "Teacher-Student" it is allowed to perform from notes or by heart (playing from notes or without notes does not affect the decision of the jury).

Nomination "Amateur Pianist"
1st category - up to 6 years old inclusive;
2nd category - 7-8 years old inclusive;
3rd category - 9-10 years old inclusive;
4th category - 11-12 years old inclusive;
5th category - 13-15 years old inclusive;
6th category - no age limit.

Program requirements in the nomination "Amateur Pianist":
The competition program includes the performance of two diverse academic plays by heart. The total time for the performance of the competitive program is no more than 10 minutes.

Nomination "Jazz piano"
1st category - up to 6 years old inclusive (up to 10 minutes);
2nd category – 7-8 years inclusive (up to 10 minutes);
3rd category – 9-10 years old inclusive (up to 10 minutes);
4th category – 11-12 years old inclusive (up to 10 minutes);
5th category – 13-15 years old inclusive (up to 10 minutes);
6th category – high school students and secondary school students (up to 15 minutes);
7th category – students of higher educational institutions (up to 15 minutes);
8th category – teachers of musical educational institutions (secondary schools, secondary schools, colleges, Universities, age unlimited)(up to 20 minutes);

Program requirements in the nomination "Jazz Piano":
The competition program includes the performance of two different jazz pieces by heart


Criteria for evaluation:

• musicality;
• skill and technique of performance;
• sound quality of the instrument;
• artistic interpretation of a musical work;
• artistry.

Full-time participation and absentee auditions will be discussed separately.

Awarding of winners and participants:

• Winners of the Grand Prix (100 points total) will be able to take part in the master classes of the jury members (online or offline) and the winners' concert in Astana in the 2024 season.
• Participants who scored from 95 to 99 points are awarded 1st place and the title of laureate;
• Participants who scored from 90 to 94 points are awarded 2nd place and the title of laureate;
• Participants who scored from 80 to 89 points are awarded 3rd place and the title of laureate;
• The teacher who prepared the winner of the Grand Prix of the competition and is determined by a separate vote of the jury is invited to participate in the jury of the next competition.
• Participants of the competition will be awarded diplomas.
• Teachers who prepared the contestants will be awarded letters of thanks.

Video requirements:
The contestant provides one link to the entire program (YouTube link or link of the file hosting Yandex disk, Google disk or Cloud).
In the title, indicate the name of the participant, the program and open access via the link.
The performance can be recorded on any equipment (telephone, conventional and professional video camera) with good recording quality.
The performer/ensemble must be clearly visible and audible.
Videos recorded on a digital instrument are not accepted!
You can provide any archival recording from any event, filmed in any room (stage, classroom, etc.), subject to compliance with the technical requirements of the competition and recorded no earlier than January 1, 2024.

Application deadlines:
To participate in the offline competition, you must fill out an application on the website by March 15, 2024 mzkmira.com
To participate in the online competition, you must fill out an application on the website by March 20, 2024 mzkmira.com and attach a link to the video of the performance.

The cost of participation:
Offline
Soloists - 15,000 tenge, 30 euros, 400,000 soums, 3,000 rubles
duets – 25,000 tenge, 60 euros, 600,000 soums, 5,000 rubles.

Online
Soloists - 12,000 tenge, 20 euros, 300,000 soums, 2500 rubles.
duets – 20,000, 40 euros, 500,000 soums, 4,000 rubles.

The venue of the competition will be displayed on the website mzkmira.com March 1, 2024.