2025 regulations

LITHUANIAN ACADEMY OF MUSIC AND THEATER’s PIANO DEPARTMENT and
LITHUANIAN FERENC LISZT SOCIETY “LISZTUANIA”
COMPETITION FOR PIANISTS “LISZTOFONIA V”
REGULATIONS OF THE CONTEST
27 February 2025

I. COMPETITION

The Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater, in cooperation with the Lithuanian Ferenc Liszt Society “Lisztuania”, organizes the 5th competition for Lithuanian pianists to win a personal recording. The purpose of the competition is to encourage Lithuanian pianists to perform, record and deepen their knowledge of F. Liszt’s works.

The competition events will take place on 16-19 October 2025, in Lithuania: Vilnius and Paliesius Manor (Ignalina district).

II. PRIZES

No more than 3 pianists will be announced as prize winners in each of the groups.

  • The main prize is a professional audio/video recording
    • The 1st place winners of groups A and B will be given the opportunity to record and film the program with experienced sound and film directors.
    • Audio and video recordings will take place on October 19, 2025, at the Great Hall of LMTA.
    • A professionally prepared recording (in electronic format) will be provided for the pianist’s personal use and, with the performer’s consent, will be presented online.
  • Professional audio recording
    • The 2nd and 3rd place winners in Group B will have the opportunity to record their program with a professional sound director.
    • The audio recordings will take place on October 19, 2025, at the Great Hall of LMTA.
    • A professionally prepared audio recording (in electronic format) will be provided for the pianist’s personal use and, with the performer’s consent, will be presented online.

      A detailed description of the prize can be found below in Section X of the regulations.
  • The Mini-Franz Laureate title and an encouragement prize will be awarded to the 2nd and 3rd place winners of Group A.
  • Prof. Mūza Rubackytė’s Prize for the Group B laureates – individual masterclasses at Paliesius Manor, dedicated to professional preparation for the recording day.
  • The prize of the Liszt Festival in Gödöllő Castle (Hungary) for the winner of B group – the recital in the 2026 season.
  • LMTA Art Center Prize – a concert at the Vilnius Picture Gallery or the Great Hall of LMTA.
  • “Organum” Piano Salon Prize – a concert at the “Organum” Concert Hall in Vilnius.
  • Monetary Awards: MŪZA PRIZE, established by the competition’s patron Prof. Mūza Rubackytė, PALIESIUS MANOR PRIZE and Prof. JULIUS PTAŠEKAS PRIZE.

III. HEAD OF JURY: 

Professor of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater Mūza Rubackytė-Golay (Lithuania/France/Switzerland)

IV. CONTEST PARTICIPANTS:

  • Pupils, students and graduates of music gymnasiums, conservatories, high schools under the age of 30 who are studying or have completed their studies in Lithuania.
  • Pianists under the age of 30 who have the citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania studying abroad or who graduated studies abroad.
  • Contestants will compete in 2 categories:
    A – the group of young pianists for participants up to 15 years of age;
    B – the group of adult pianists for participants between 16 and 30. 

V. PROGRAMME:

For group A participants:

  • One or more original pieces by F. Liszt for solo piano, as well as arrangements and transcriptions.
  • Performance duration: 10 min. (+/-2 min.)
  • The program must be performed by heart.

For group B participants:

  • One or more original pieces by F. Liszt for solo piano, as well as arrangements and transcriptions.
  • Performance duration: 20 min. (+/-3 min.)
  • The program must be performed by heart.

VI. REGISTRATION

Information and documents required for registration;

  • a short creative biography (CV) in Lithuanian and English,
  • the exact program of competition.

Participants submit applications online. Applications are accepted until September 5, 2025. In case of a large number of participants, the organizers have the right to select participants. Candidates will be notified of the acceptance or rejection of their application by September 15, 2025. 

VII. PARTICIPATION FEE

A group participants – EUR 35

B group participants – EUR 60.

Participants, after receiving confirmation of participation, must pay the registration fee and send a copy of payment per e-mail info@lisztuania.com.

Payment details:

   VŠĮ “Ferenco Listo Draugija”
   Įmonės kodas 301753662
   Vokiečių g. 16-13, 01130 Vilnius
   A.S. LT10 7180 3000 0270 0667
   AB Šiaulių bankas

In the purpose of payment, specify: YOUR NAME AND SURNAME participation fee for the competition “Lisztofonija”.

VIII. PROCEDURE OF THE COMPETITION

  • October 16, 2025, at 10:00 AM – Competition Auditions at LMTA Great Hall (Gedimino Ave. 42, Vilnius). Results announcement and laureates’ concert ~ 6:00 PM.
  • October 17, 2025 – Masterclasses for Group B laureates. Location: Paliesius Manor, Ignalina District.
  • October 18, 2025, at 4:00 PM – Laureates’ Concert (Group B) at Paliesius Manor.
  • October 19, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM – Winners’ Recordings at LMTA Great Hall.

IX. COMPETITION RULES

  • Participants take care of accommodation and meals during the trip to Vilnius and back themselves.
  • The competition organizers will cover the travel, accommodation (from October 17 to 18), and meals for Group B laureates at Paliesius Manor.
  • The laureates commit to:
    a) Participating and performing for free at the laureates’ concerts in Vilnius and Paliesius Manor.
    b) Recording their program at the LMTA Great Hall on October 19, 2025. Recordings will not be scheduled on any other date.
  • The day before the competition, participants will be given 1 rehearsal in the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater Great Hall.
  • The auditions, the masterclasses and the concert are open to the public.
  • The Jury has the right to cancel a performance that is not professional enough.
  • The decisions of the Jury are final and non-appealable.
  • The Jury has the right to announce a maximum of three winners in each group.
  • The prizewinners undertake to attend the prizewinners’ concert.

X. MAIN PRIZE – PROFESSIONAL RECORDING TERMS

  1. Laureates’ Prizes
    Group A: 1st place: video/audio recording
    Group B: 1st place: video/audio recording
    2nd place: audio recording
    3rd place: audio recording
     
  2. Recording Organization and Coordination
    The recording process is organized and coordinated by Lisztuania. For the implementation of video and audio recordings, Lisztuania will delegate sound and video directors. Lisztuania retains the rights to publicize the recordings. Due to limited time for recordings, the organizers reserve the right to shorten the recording programs of the 2nd and 3rd place winners in Group B.

    All laureates’ video and audio recordings will be uploaded to the Lisztuania YouTube account and the website www.lisztuania.com.
     
  3. Participants’ Obligations
    All participants in the Lisztofonija V competition commit to attending the recording on the designated date if they become laureates. If laureates fail to attend the recording on the scheduled date, no additional recording days will be organized.

    Laureates’ Responsibilities:
    – Send the sheet music of the pieces to be recorded in PDF format to info@lisztuania.com no later than one day before the recording.
    – Arrive on time for the recording.
    – Cooperate with the sound and video directors during the recording.
    – After receiving the first edit, confirm its receipt and send any desired corrections within 7 days of receiving the recording.
     
  4. Sound and Video Directors’ Obligations

    4.1. The sound director commits to making professional audio recordings.
    Sound Director’s Responsibilities:
    – Organize professional audio recording equipment.
    – On the scheduled day, record all laureates’ performances.
    – Carry out the editing and sound mixing work.
    – Take into account the competition organizers’ or the performer’s comments regarding editing corrections (no more than 2 edits).

    4.2. The video director commits to making professional video recordings.
    Video Director’s Responsibilities:
    – Organize professional video recording equipment.
    – On the scheduled day, film the performances of the winners from Groups A and B.
    – Carry out the video editing work.
    – Take into account the competition organizers’ or the performer’s comments regarding editing corrections (no more than 2 edits).

    4.3. The sound and video directors commit to collaborating to ensure a smooth recording process and high-quality final results.
     
  5. Recording Process

    5.1. The Lisztofonija V competition recordings will take place in the LMTA main hall on Sunday, October 19, 2025. The specific recording time for the performer will be scheduled after coordinating the schedule with the sound and video directors, but no later than October 18, 2025.

    5.2. On the recording day, the time allotted to performers is:
    Group A: 1st place – 2 hours
    Group B: 1st place – 2.5 hours
    2nd place – 1.5 hours
    3rd place – 1.5 hours

    5.3. Editing Process:
    – The sound director is responsible for the audio editing and sound mixing. The first edit will be presented to the performer no later than 5 weeks after the recording day. The performer may request corrections. The performer must send any correction requests no later than 7 days after receiving the recording. The sound director retains the right to make the final decision regarding changes. Once the sound director approves the final version of the audio recording, the audio material of the first-place laureates from Groups A and B will be forwarded to the video director.

    – The video director is responsible for video editing. The first edit will be presented to the Lisztuania team and the performer. The performer or Lisztuania must send any correction requests no later than 7 days after receiving the recording. The video director retains the right to make the final decision regarding corrections.
     
  6. Lisztofonija V Competition Directors:
    Sound Director: Dominykas Girčius
    Video Director: to be confirmed, will be announced separately