Proposition 2026

Time limits and categories

The competition has one round. It is not compulsory to be a student at a music school or institution. Participants are categorised according to year of birth.

Solo piano

Category           Age (year of birth)        Time limit

I.                         2019 and younger         2-4 minutes

II.                        2018, 2017                     3-5 minutes

III.                       2016, 2015                     4-7 minutes

IV.                      2014, 2013                     5-8 minutes

V.                      2012, 2011                      6-9 minutes

Piano concerts

Category A     born in 2011 and younger           1 movement from a concerto
Category B     born between 2006 and 2010   1 movement from a concerto

Competitors in the piano concerto category may also enter the solo competition and vice versa.

Repertoire

Solo piano

At least one composition by W. A. Mozart. 
Other compositions may be works by other composers, exclusively contemporaries of W. A. Mozart, e.g.:

A. Fr. Bečvařovský, L. van Beethoven, J. A. Benda, J. L. Dusík, Fr. X. Dušek, J. N. Hummel, J. Jelínek, L. Koželuh, J. Kř. Kuchař, V. V. Mašek, L. Mozart, J. Mysliveček, J. J. Ryba, J. A. Štěpán, V. J. Tomášek, J. Kř. Vaňhal, J. A. Vitásek, A. Vranický, V. Jírovec, etc.

Time limits must be strictly observed. If a competitor play one longer composition (for example, Mozart Variations), time limit may be extended by 30 seconds in categories I – II and 1 minute in categories III – V.

Only pieces intended for solo piano may be played. Non-original arrangements, transcriptions, or adaptations of pieces are not permitted, with the exception of the so-called Viennese sonatas. Playing from memory is required. The number of pieces is unlimited. The time limit refers to net playing time. Failure to meet the minimum time limit may result in the competitor's disqualification.

All changes to the repertoire must be reported in writing via email to: amadeusbrno@seznam.cz by the closing date for applications the latest. If this deadline is not adhered to, this will be considered a reason for disqualification of the contestant.

The order of the contestants will be determined by drawing lots, which will be published on the competition website

Piano Concertos

One movement from a selected piano concerto:

J. Haydn: D major Hob. XVIII:111, G major HobXVIII:41
L. van Beethoven: C major Op. 15, B flat major Op. 19
W. A. Mozart: 

If the selected piece contains a cadenza, the contestant is required to perform it in its entirety, either as written or as their own composition. The competition takes the form of a duet for two pianos (solo part + piano reduction).

Competitors may perform with their own accompanist. The organizer will provide official accompanists for a fee for those who request it in their application.

Rehersals with accompanists will take place on the day of the competition in practice rooms at the JAMU Faculty of Music. The audition schedule will be sent to participants 14 days in advance. Playing from memory is required. Non-authorial arrangements are not permitted.

The winners of both age categories will have the unique opportunity to perform with a string quartet accompaniment.

November 25: Competition – Piano Concertos
November 27: Joint rehearsal with the string quartet
November 28: Rehearsal in the morning, Concert of Laureates at 3:00 p.m.

Prizes

The jury grants these prizes in each category: 1st, 2nd and 3rd place and Honourable Mention.

All prizes can be shared upon the jury´s recommendation or some might be skipped. All contestants who win one of the prizes receive a diploma, gifts and the title of a laureate on Winners' Concert. Program of the concert will be determined by the jury.

Absolut winner:

An offer to perform a concert with the symphony orchestra.

The jury may decide to award these special prizes amount to 70 000 CZK:

• The prize of the governor of South Moravia, for the absolute winner of the competition
• The Mayor of Brno´s prize for best interpretation of a work by W. A. Mozart
• The prize of the mayor of Brno – Žabovřesky for the best Czech competitor
• The prize of the mayor of Brno – Centre for the best competitor from Brno
• The prize of the director of AMADEUS Competition for the best foreign competitor
• The prize for the youngest competitor

The jury may decide to award a special prize to teachers for their efforts and preparation of the contestants. Special prizes need not be awarded and can be divided. The decision of the jury is final.

Application

The closing date for applications is: 17th October 2026 Applications must be made online at www.amadeusbrno.cz

Applications can be made through a music school or a legal representative.

Information on the application form must be correct and true. Teachers or legal representatives are responsible for the accuracy of information.

Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.

Maximum number of participants: 90

Competition schedule and rehearsal schedule (on Petrof Grand piano) will be made public and available to view on www.amadeusbrno.cz on 25th October 2026.

The organisers offer practice facilities only for duration of the competition days and winners´concert.

By sending in an application form to us, the legal representative of the contestant agrees to photos to be taken and a recording to be made free of charge of the contestant´s performance in the competition and also at the concert of laureates and its free use by public media.

Competition Fee

Payment of the fee by June 20th 2026 is 55 Euro per category

OR Payment of the fee by October 17th 2026 is 70 Euro per category

It is non-returnable. There is only one fee (depending on when it is paid). The fee must be paid by bank transfer.

Bank: Česká spořitelna, a.s., Olbrachtova 1929/62, Praha 4 - 140 00, Česká republika

Name of account: Parnas, z.s.

Account number: 1356430399

IBAN: CZ85 0800 0000 0013 5643 0399

Sort code/bank code: GIBACZPX

Variable symbol: date of birth of the contestant (DDMMYYYY)

Details of charges: OUR (it´s not possible to eneter any other code)

It is not possible to assign the payment without the variable symbol.

Contact

School of Arts, Brno, Veveří

MgA. Vladimír Halíček, director

tel.: 00 420 731 610 025

email: amadeusbrno@seznam.cz

Competition Organisation

The competition takes place under the auspices of:

the govenor of South Moravia, Mgr. Jan Grolich

the mayor of the city of Brno, Markéta Vaňková

the mayor of the Brno-centre district, Vojtěch Mencl

the mayor of the district of Brno-Žabovřesky, Filip Leder

the President of the Association of Regions of the Czech Republic MUDr. Martin Kuba

In the event of an unfavorable epidemiological situation, the organizers reserve the right to hold a contest online. 

Jury

The jury consists of 5 members, all of whom are well-known and respected Czech and foreign pedagogues and artists. The secretary of the jury is a teacher from the organising music school and the conduct of the jury is overseen by the chairman. The jury gives points between 0 and 25.

The points from all the jurors are added together and an average value is calculated. If a juror's points differ from the average by 3 points or more, this juror's mark is crossed out and not taken into consideration and a new average value is calculated. The jury marks all performances after all the contestants have played within each category and the order is established. Jurors' marks are public during the competition. Jurors are not permi ed to mark their own students or their family members.