About
The ArmSymphony AI Violin Competition is an online competition. Violinists from around the world will showcase their skill and musicianship using the latest artificial intelligence technology. Contestants will submit a video excerpt from Aram Khachaturian’s beautiful, challenging Violin Concerto with virtual accompaniment from the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, provided by the Cadenza Live Accompanist app for iOS devices. In addition to prizes for the winners, all contestants’ submissions will help to advance the growing field of music AI research.
Eligibility
The competition is open to all violinists residing anywhere in the world, without restriction. Entrants will be judged in three age (as of September 15, 2021) categories:
14 and below
15 - 17
18 and above
Accompaniment
Cadenza Live Accompanist is an iOS app that provides virtual accompaniments for skilled musicians, following their playing, remembering their gestures and allowing them to perform their own interpretations of the repertoire. For this competition, the concerto accompaniment has been newly recorded by the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sergey Smbatyan.
The app, including the Khachaturian Violin Concerto, is available without charge at the iOS app store. For information on the app and a download link, visit https://metamusic.ai/
Khachaturian's Violin Concerto recording produced by PARMA Recordings
Schedule
All entrants must submit a completed registration form, pay the entry fee of $40, and upload their recording no later than September 15, 2021.
Winners will be announced and prizes will be distributed by October 15, 2021.
Prizes
14 and below: 1st = $500 2nd = $250
15 - 17: 1st = $500 2nd = $250
18 and above: 1st = $1000 2nd = $500
The first through sixth place winners in all categories will be awarded a free account for the Cadenza Live Accompanist app, for iOS or Mac.
Judges
Anna Andriasova is the Concertmaster of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra. She also plays first violin in the Symphony Youth Orchestra of Armenia Leaders Quartet. Along with her solo career, Ms. Andriasova collaborates with many different musical ensembles. She graduated from the Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan in 2008. In 2016 she was awarded with RA Ministry of Culture Gold Medal.
Sargis Balbabyan has served for fifteen years as the Director General of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, leading the orchestra’s artistic management team. He has a Ph.D. in Arts.
Anthea Kreston has been a member of the internationally renowned Artemis String Quartet, served on the faculty at the Universitat der Kunst, been a Master Teacher Queen Elizabeth Chapel in Brussels, and taught at the Curtis Institute. Her chamber music collaborations have won many awards including the grand prize at the Concert Artists Guild Competition. She currently serves on the Inside Music Academy violin faculty.
Paul Roczek is a Professor of Violin at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, having been appointed in 1969. He has won several international competitions and served for 30 years as the first violinist in the Austrian String Quartet and Webern String Trio. He has been a jury member for many major international violin competitions, as well as serving as President of the Austrian National Youth competition, "Music der Jugend."
Rules
Contestants must first register using the link below and pay the $40 entry fee.
Contestants will submit a video of at least 5 minutes from any single movement of the Khachaturian Violin Concerto, the excerpt to be chosen by the contestant. The video must be made with the Cadenza Live Accompanist app, played without interruption or editing, made with the app's built-in video capacity. (Please note that contestants must have access to an iOS device capable of running the app.)
The contestant's submission must include the following information in addition to the video: a publicity-appropriate picture of the contestant, contestant's full name, age, a photograph of a document or id card verifying the contestant's name and age. The contestant will participate in the category according to their age at the submission deadline. Contestants agree that their submission video will become the property of MetaMusic and the ASSO, and can be used for promotional purposes.
Contestants under the age of 16 must provide a consent form signed by the contestant’s parent or legal guardian. The consent form may be obtained here:
Contestants' audio data may be anonymized and distributed to the music-AI research community for academic research purposes. The winners will be determined by the judges. The judges' decisions are final.
Registration
To enter the competition, complete the registration form below and submit the application fee of $40 US Dollars. Contestants under the age of 16 will be required to provide consent of a parent or guardian.
Submissions
Beginning on June 1, 2021, registered contestants may upload their entries and other required information here.