Registration International Carillon Competition Queen Fabiola

CONTEST RULES

Since being established in 1922, the Royal Carillon School "Jef Denyn" has been committed to the advancement and prosperity of the art of the carillon. With this objective in mind, in 1987 with cooperation of the city of Mechelen, the school organized the first International Competition Queen Fabiola. In 2019, the eighth competition will take place. The school works in close cooperation with the city of Mechelen and the Royal Association for Tower and Carillon vzw.

This competition is undoubtedly the most important in the carillon world. It is also a strong stimulant for the recognition of the art of the carillon as an artistic performance of the highest standard. During the qualifying round, the five most promising participants will be selected. During the final round, these five players will compete for the first-place prize.

The winners of former competitions used this competition to help build an international reputation: Geert D'hollander (1987), Boudewijn Zwart (1990), Gideon Bodden (1993), Tom Van Peer (1998), Twan Bearda (2003), Kenneth Theunissen (2008) and Joey Brink (2014).

1. Program

The Eighth International Queen Fabiola Carillon Competition will take place in Mechelen from July 10-14, 2019.

July 10 and 11

Qualifying round on the concert carillon of Sint-Rombouts + Improvisation competition

July 12

Finalists rehearse on the carillon of Sint-Rombouts

July 13, 1:30 pm

First day of the final round on the concert carillon of Sint-Rombouts

July 14, morning

Rehearsal with orchestra

July 14, 2:00 pm

Second day of the final round in the Cultural Center of Mechelen on the chamber carillon of the Royal Carillon School in collaboration with the Art of Brass conducted by Rik Ghesquière.

2. The Jury

All decisions of the juries are binding for the duration of the competition. During the competition, all communication between performers and members of the juries is to be avoided.

2.1 Qualifying round judges

Koen Cosaert (president)
Gerda Samyn (secretary)
Eddy Mariën
Tom Van Peer
Dina Verheyden
Erik Vandevoort
Koen Van Assche
Kenneth Theunissen
Bas de Vroome

2.2 Final round judges

Koen Cosaert (president)
Gerda Samyn (secretary)
Stefano Colletti
Frans Haagen
Eddy Mariën
Trevor Workman
Malgosia Fiebig
Dina Verheyden
Ellen Dickinson
Geert D’hollander
Tom Van Peer

3. Registration and conditions for participation

Registrations must be forwarded to the Royal Carillon School "Jef Denyn," Bruul 52-bus 5, B-2800 Mechelen, Belgium before the 1st of May, 2019. The registration is only valid if the registration contains a digital version of:

a concise curriculum vitae (maximum 1500 characters) and photograph (minimum 1 MB)
a repertoire list indicating the duration of each work
a copy of the scores
an indication of the chosen pieces for the qualifying round and final round
a notice of whether you intend to participate in the improvisation competition

By entering the competition, the participant agrees to follow all contest rules.

The organizers may refuse entries that do not reach the required level. Decision of judges is final and no appeal may be made. After candidates are accepted, they will receive confirmation and the scores of the required pieces.

By registering, the participant grants the organizer the right to any image and sound recordings made during the course of the competition or made available by the participant specifically for this competition, without compensation, for promotion purposes.

4. Repertoire

The participants are required to submit a repertoire list consisting of 10 pieces which require high virtuosity:

4 baroque or classical style works, one of which must be a prelude by Matthias Vanden Gheyn
3 works in a romantic style, originally written for carillon
3 works in a contemporary style, originally written for carillon

When compiling the repertoire, the candidate must take care that it contains works for a heavy carillon as well as works for a light, mobile carillon.

The scores submitted at registration should not give any indication of the identity or nationality of the candidate. The repertoire will be submitted for approval by the music commission of the competition. This music commission consists of teachers of the Royal Carillon School.

5. Required Works

This edition of the competition calls for two required works. The first required work for solo carillon, composed by Geert D’hollander, composer and carillonneur at Bok Tower Gardens (Lake Wales, Florida), will be performed during the qualifying round and first day of the final round.

The second required work for mobile carillon and brass ensemble, composed by French carillonneur and composer Stefano Colletti, will be played on the second day of the final round.

6. The Improvisation Competition

Every candidate in the competition is eligible to register for the improvisation competition. The improvisation will be based on a given theme and will be performed during the qualifying round after the candidate’s repertoire pieces. The improvisation will last a maximum of three minutes. The candidate will receive the theme at the door of the tower upon ascent to the playing cabin. The winner will be announced together with the five laureates at the end of the qualifying round.

7. The Instruments

The qualifying round and the first day of the final round takes place on the concert carillon of the Saint-Romboutstower of Mechelen, cast by Royal Eijsbouts of Asten in 1981. This carillon consists of 49 bells starting with Bb0, C1, D1, Eb1 chromatically to C5 (C1 sounds as G0). The pedal range is 1 1/2 octaves: Bb0, C1, D1, Eb1 chromatically to G2. Total weight of the bells is 40,000 kg. with base bell of 8,160 kg. Keyboard is European Standard.

During the final day of competition, the Chamber Carillon of the Royal Carillon School will be played in the Cultural Center of Mechelen. This carillon was cast in 2015-2016 by Royal Eijsbouts and consists of 50 bells, starting with C1, D1, Eb1 chromatically to D5 (C1 sounds as C2). The pedal range is 1 1/2 octaves: C1, D1, Eb1 chromatically to G2. Total weight of the bells is 1,951 kg with base bell of 260 kg. Keyboard is European Standard with keyfall of 45 mm.

The candidates will be given the opportunity to practice on both carillons and on the practice-keyboards at the Royal Carillon School. Registration for the practice sessions can be made at the Royal Carillon School beiaardschool@mechelen.be

8. Outline of the competition

During the qualifying round, the candidate performs three works, which together last a maximum of 20 minutes.

Required work (Geert D’hollander)
A prelude by Matthias Vanden Gheyn
A work of their own choice from the submitted repertoire
Improvisation (optional)

During the first day of the final round, the candidate performs three works, which together last a maximum of 20 minutes.

Required work (Geert D’hollander)
A work of their choice from the submitted repertoire
A work chosen by the jury

During the second day of the final round, the candidate performs three works, which together last a maximum of 20 minutes.

Required work for chamber carillon and brass (Stefano Colletti)
a work of their choice from the submitted repertoire, but different than the one performed on the first day
a work chosen by the jury

The order of candidate performances will be determined by lottery on Wednesday and Saturday. Judging of the qualifying round will be anonymous ("blind"). In calculating the score given to each performed work, the lowest and highest number will not be counted. This will also be the case during both days of the final round.
The five highest-scoring candidates in the qualifying round will continue to the final round. Participants who are not selected for the final round receive reimbursement of expenses of €125.

Every participant is expected to respect the schedule and agreements about performances. Participants who arrive late may be excluded from further participation.

9. Prizes (subject to change)

First Prize: € 3000
Second Prize: € 2000
Third Prize: € 1500
Fourth Prize: € 1300
Fifth Prize: € 1000
Improvisation prize: Prize of the Royal Carillon School ‘Jef Denyn’ € 1000
Additional prize donated by SABAM for the best performance of a Belgian contemporary piece, € 1000
Audience Favorite Prize - organized by the Association for Tower and Carillon "Jef Denyn"