Contemporary Talent F.V.G. and Astor Piazzolla Prize — An International Competition in Trieste for Young Pianists, Accordionists and Bandoneonists, Piano and Accordion by Year of Birth plus a Nuevo Tango Prize

Music Festival · General

Punto Musicale’s international competition in Trieste for young pianists, accordionists and bandoneonists: piano and accordion in eight birth-year categories, plus the Astor Piazzolla Prize for Nuevo Tango soloists and ensembles, all scored out of 100 with first, second and third bands from 95, 90 and 85.

A ready-made music competition for piano and accordion in age classes set by year of birth, with a separate prize for bandoneon soloists and small ensembles, every performer scored out of 100 and placed in a first, second or third band.

This template models an international instrumental competition held in Trieste, Italy, for young pianists, accordionists and bandoneon players. It is built from the competition’s own English regulation for its 2025 edition, so the structure follows what that document printed: the sections, the age classes, the time limits and the way results are decided. Editions change their dates, fees and rules, so check the current regulation before reusing any figure.

Three sections run side by side. The piano section has eight classes, A to H, and the accordion section has seven, B to H, with no accordion class for the youngest children. Classes are set by year of birth, from A for those born in 2018 or later up to H for adults up to 35. The platform needs whole-year age ranges, so each birth year has been converted to the age reached in the event year, and the conversion has to be repeated for any later edition. The third section is a prize for the bandoneon and for Nuevo Tango compositions, open to soloists and to ensembles of up to five players aged up to 35, with an ensemble’s age taken as the average of its members.

Every performer plays a programme of their own choice, and the printed maximum grows with the class: 8 minutes for the youngest, 10 for classes B and C, 15 for D and E, and 20 for F, G, H and the bandoneon prize. The commission may stop a performance that runs over. In eTalenter this becomes one competition per instrument, assigned to the classes that play it, with the time limit set per class, which gives 17 assignments across 9 groups.

Results are decided on a mark out of 100 with no printed criteria. A mark of 95 or more places a performer first, 90 to 94 second and 85 to 89 third, each earning a prize and a participation diploma, and the highest mark of at least 98 in a class is named its overall winner. The regulation prints no points for placings, so the three bands install as grades worth no points, and the overall-winner rule is kept with the registration notes. Entry fees, which differ by class, are installed as zero.

Where this event is run

This template suits a classical or contemporary instrumental competition that groups young players by year of birth and wants a separate open prize for a niche instrument or for chamber-style ensembles. A conservatory showcase, a regional music society competition or a youth concours with a piano section, an accordion section and one specialist prize can use it almost as it stands. Rules that the platform has no field for, such as the fees by class, the rule that one person may enter several sections but only one class within a section, entering a class above one’s own age, the three copies of each piece and an identity document that entrants submit, the teachers’ honorary diploma and the concerts offered to overall winners, are kept as registration-page rules for the coordinator to publish rather than enforced by the software.

• Italy

Key facts

• Three items: Piano (classes A to H), Accordion (classes B to H) and the Bandoneon Astor Piazzolla Prize (class I)
• Nine groups: eight classes set by year of birth, from born 2018 onwards up to adults aged 25 to 35, plus the open Piazzolla Prize group for ages 0 to 35
• Own-choice programme with a time limit by class: 8 minutes for class A, 10 for B and C, 15 for D and E, and 20 for F, G, H and the prize
• The bandoneon prize is entered as a soloist or as an ensemble of up to five players, with the average age used for an ensemble
• Scored as one mark out of 100, with first place from 95, second from 90 and third from 85; no criteria are printed, so none are installed
• The printed birth years for classes F and G overlap, and the template keeps both as printed with an overlapping age range; the organiser should confirm the intended years

Age groups

9

Competition items

3

Competitions

17

Grade bands

3

Rank awards

0

Age groups

Every candidate is placed into one of these groups by age, and competitions are run per group.

A - Born 2018 onwards

0From

–

7To

Candidates aged 0 to 7 compete in this group

B - Born 2015 to 2017

8From

–

10To

Candidates aged 8 to 10 compete in this group

C - Born 2012 to 2014

11From

–

13To

Candidates aged 11 to 13 compete in this group

D - Born 2009 to 2011

14From

–

16To

Candidates aged 14 to 16 compete in this group

E - Born 2006 to 2008

17From

–

19To

Candidates aged 17 to 19 compete in this group

F - Born 2002 to 2005

20From

–

23To

Candidates aged 20 to 23 compete in this group

G - Born 2001 to 2004

21From

–

24To

Candidates aged 21 to 24 compete in this group

H - Adults up to 35

25From

–

35To

Candidates aged 25 to 35 compete in this group

I - Piazzolla Prize

0From

–

35To

Candidates aged 0 to 35 compete in this group

Competition items

The events themselves — each with the category it belongs to and how judges score it.

Piano

MusicMarks

Accordion

MusicMarks

Bandoneon - Astor Piazzolla Prize

MusicMarks

Frequently asked questions

Can I change this template after installing it?

Yes — installing it creates a fully configured, live event, not a locked package. Every age group, competition item, rule and scoring setting can be edited afterwards to match exactly what your event actually needs.

Do I need technical knowledge to set this up?

No. Installing a template does the setup work for you; you only need to review the details (dates, unit or house names) and open registration.

Want the fuller picture first? See our guide to instrumental music judging criteria guide.