APPELBE PIANO PRIZE DETAILS – Class 101

The Appelbe Piano Prize has been a component of the North London Festival since 2013. It is both a celebration of creativity centred around the piano repertoire, and a platform for talented pianists to exhibit their technical and artistic prowess.

The 2022 competition will be live and is open to pianists currently studying in a Senior Department of any UK Music College, Academy or Conservatoire. As the Appelbe Competition is very popular, we will limit each competition to a maximum of 24 entrants. Early entry is, therefore, recommended. Every entrant will receive a written adjudication sheet and a certificate of participation.

Saturday 23 April 2022 – from 11:00 am

Venue: Hampstead Garden Suburb Free Church, Central Square, NW11 7AG

A First Prize of £750 will be awarded, generously sponsored by Felix Appelbe

A Highly Commended Prize of £100 will be awarded, sponsored by Janice Twiselton

Adjudicator – Timothy Barratt

Entry fee £40

We have extended the closing date to Monday 28th March.

Entrants are to perform two contrasting pieces by different composers, with a time limit of 15 minutes.

Entrants will find themselves adjudicated not only on the depth of their musicianship but also on how they present themselves and connect with an audience.

A spoken introduction to the musical programme is an integral part of the performance, as it forms an immediate link between the player and the listeners. The introduction should be made at the start of the programme, and announce each item and composer, as well as giving any details and points of interest about the music, or the background to the circumstances of, or reasons for, its composition.

The spoken introduction need not be given from memory – notes may be used as long as they do not interfere with the sense of communication with the audience.  After the spoken introduction, the programme should proceed without further announcements.

Both the spoken introduction, and subsequent pacing and sequence of the programme will be taken into account in the adjudication.

If an entrant has been a pupil of the Adjudicator in the year prior to the Festival or is well-known to the Adjudicator, they should contact the Section Head before entering.

Following the adjudication, there will be a short concert in the evening in the Free Church, at which winners and some outstanding players may be invited to perform. When you enter, please indicate whether you would be available to perform, should you be invited to do so. Please note that availability or non-availability to perform at the concert will have no influence over the result, and the Adjudicator will not be aware whether or not entrants can perform at the concluding recital.

Please download the syllabus for piano classes – 2022 Piano Syllabus – updated 24th January 2022

The Grand Piano chosen and hired by the Festival for these performances is supplied and maintained by Steinway & Sons, London.

Performance Opportunity

The North London Festival has a link with the Royal Orchestral Society – www.royalorchestralsociety.org.uk – which is celebrating its 150th anniversary season in 2022/2023. As part of that celebration, there will be a ‘Rising Talent’ evening in the Duke’s Hall of the Royal Academy of Music, at 6 pm on Sunday 16th October 2022. This concert will feature performances with the orchestra by talented young and upcoming soloists and will be followed by a reception with the ROS’s Patron Judith Weir, Master of the Queen’s Music.

ROS will offer one or two of these performance opportunities to recent winners of the Festival’s elite competitions, such as the Appelbe Piano Prize Competition. You can still be eligible to take advantage of this opportunity by entering this year’s Appelbe Competition.

In 2021 we moved to a new system for entries. Please click on the link below for how to apply. The first time that you use the new entry system, you will need to register. Entrants must also provide copies of the music for the adjudicator.

For full details of the piano competitions, please download the 2022 Piano Syllabus

2021, 2019 & 2018 APPELBE PIANO PRIZE PERFORMANCES

View extracts from the 2021 Appelbe Prize-winning performances, recorded by the players themselves.

View the performances from the 2019 and 2018 Appelbe Piano Prize Competitions together with interviews with Felix Appelbe and the adjudicators who explain what they are looking for from winning entries.