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Rules

1. The Competition is exclusively for string quartets.
2. The Competition is open to all nationalities provided the age of each musician in the quartet is under 35 years on 1st April 2012.
3. Applicants selected to participate in the Competition must not receive any coaching from any member of the Competition Jury on any repertoire between the date of notification of selection and the Competition itself.
4. Quartets selected to take part in the Competition will be informed on or before the 1st December 2011. Subject to the advice of the Invitation Jury, which will meet in mid-October, up to 12 quartets will be selected to compete in London.
5. The Competition proper will take place between arrival no later than Monday 26th March, and the evening of Sunday 1st April 2012. The Competition is divided into three stages:
   • Preliminary Round from Tuesday 27th March-Friday 30th March
   • Semi-finals on Saturday 31st March
   • Final on Sunday 1st April
6. The application form, documents and recordings must be returned on or before 15th September 2011.
7. Applicants must send or email the official application form, completed in English, together with the following documents:
   • Proof of date of birth for each member, e.g. photocopy or scan of passport
   • Biography of the quartet plus details of training, awards and diplomas for each member.
   • Two recent professional references, which should also verify the authenticity and date of the recording.
   • A recent colour photo
   • Applicants submitting their application form by email must also include an accompanying letter stating the name of the Quartet at the top of the page, the names of all four members in BLOCK CAPITALs, the date and signed by all four members when sending in their DVD.
   • Details of any professional engagements of the quartet in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
   • Confirmation whether the quartet has an exclusive contract with an agent, impresario, record company or similar organisation. If so, then the quartet should also supply written authorisation from such groups confirming their agreement to the quartet taking part in the Competition.
8. Applicants must also send one recording for the pre-Competition stage, as follows:
   • A recent DVD recording with audio of the quartet performing any Haydn quartet and Webern’s Six Bagatelles
   • The DVD and audio recording should be recorded by one fixed camera, to give a front view of the quartet, in one take. There is no restriction on the number or position of the microphones used for the audio recording, but the recording must not be edited or altered in any way. The Competition advises applicants not to submit recordings made at a concert, as audience and other ambient noise can detract from the quality of the recording. The Competition reserves the right to disqualify applicants entering enhanced or modified recordings. The recordings are not returnable, and no other format than DVD will be accepted.
   • The DVD disc must not be marked with the name of the quartet or any other identifying marks; please mark the DVD case only with the quartet’s name.

For further information download the Rules & Repertoire PDF document.