top of page

CON BRIO BOWED STRINGS COMPETITION 2026

NOTES ON REPERTOIRE

  • Choose pieces which showcase your technical and musical ability in the best possible way.

  • Balance your programme in terms of styles and moods.

  • You may include individual pieces or movements from large scale works such as sonatas.

  • Use your discretion when deciding whether or not to perform a repeat.

  • Ensure that the duration of your programme falls within the prescribed time limit of each round, including all breaks between pieces. Prescribed programme durations are given below.

  • You may perform your pieces using the score. You may not however use a page turner. Memorise or use photocopies of short sections to ensure that the music is not interrupted by page turns.

  • For the semifinals and finals, you may choose solo or accompanied works. You are required to present accompanied works with an accompanist.

VIDEO RECORDING GUIDELINES FOR ROUND 1 - PRESCREENING

  • Record the two Pre-screening videos, each in a single, uninterrupted, unedited take. There is one compulsory and one own choice piece – record each piece in a separate video.

  • Ensure that the video resolution is sufficiently high (minimum 360p).

  • Sound quality is very important and should not be distorted.

  • The recording should be in landscape mode.

  • Use a mount of some kind for the recording device, such as a tripod, to ensure that the image is completely still, and do not change the position of the device during the performance.

  • You are strongly advised to record audio and video on the same device, as synchronisation issues between sound and video will not be accepted.

  • You must record on an acoustic violin, viola, cello or double bass, well in tune.

  • The camera should be placed in front of you and provide at all times a clear view of the entire instrument, your face and upper torso, including the bowing arm.

REPERTOIRE

Round 1 (Pre-screening):

1. Compulsory Set Work: The Swan, No. 13 from Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns. You may use any transcription reasonably close to the cello original, or click here to access the sheet music for your respective instrument.

2. A piece of your own choice, lasting between 2 to 4 minutes.

​

The two Pre-Screening pieces may be performed unaccompanied or accompanied (live OR backing track).


Round 2 (Semifinals):
A subset of your Final Programme. The subset will be revealed to the selected semifinalists closer to the event.


Round 3 (Finals):
A Programme lasting 10-12 minutes comprising works of your own choice.

HOW TO ENTER

After you have prepared the two pre-screening works to the best of your ability, record your
performances. Upload the two clips to YouTube. Ensure that they can be viewed in all countries simply with a link.

 

To enter fill up the following form: ENTRY FORM

​

You will be required to provide/fill in the following:

1. Your primary email address.

2. Your phone number, active on Whatsapp.

3. Your Full name, as you would like it to appear in the programme and certificate.

4. Your date of birth.

5. Your home town or city in India, i.e. where you consider yourself to be most from.

6. A scan of your passport data pages containing your photograph, name, and date of birth.

7. The two links to the two videos of your pre-screening works.

 

The last date for entering the competition is May 10, 2026 and the ENTRY FORM will be deactivated at midnight. Confirmed semifinalists will receive an e-mail by/on May 31, 2026. Late entries MAY be accepted if an adequate number of deserving semifinalists have not been selected. If you wish to enter after May 10, please email us to check, but please note this cannot be guaranteed.

bottom of page