To give their best creativity needs some limitations: a few rules are good.

Cultural Association “Piano Lovers” proclaims the 10th International Piano Competition “Piano Lovers Over 40®” for non-professional pianists, dedicated to all piano lovers and fans. The Competition will take place in Milan, 22/26 October 2024.

The Contest is open to any participant, of whatever Nationality, as long as they’re at least 40 yo on October 21st, 2024. The applicants may have any musical qualification, but they will have to self-testify that their profession, “their job”, is in no way related to the musical business, including performer, concert player or piano teacher. (Download the self-declaration template PDF)

The Competition is divided into four “soloists” categories, divided by age, and one “4 hands” category:

  • Category A: 40 to 50 years
  • Category B: 51 to 60 years
  • Category C: 61 to 70 years
  • Category D: 71 years or older
  • Category E – 4 hands: at least one of the two candidates must have reached 40 years of age.

The right category is determined by the age reached on date October 21st, 2023.
All candidates will receive a certificate of participation.

The chosen program, free and specified within the Competition entry, shall not exceed a duration of 12 minutes in total for all categories, but it will be lower. Composer pianists must bring the music sheet or manuscript of the pieces included in the program. The manuscript must be signed. Performance by heart is not mandatory.

A 1st, a 2nd and a 3rd prize will be awarded for each category.
During the final Gala Concert, the judges will choose, among the 1st winners of every category, the winner of the 1st Absolute “Piano Lovers Over40” Prize, considered particularly worthy compared to all the entrants. It shall be awarded only one 1st Absolute “Piano Lovers Over40®” Prize.

The jury also reserves the right to assign one or more special “PIANO LOVERS” prizes to the competitors. The “PIANO LOVERS” JURY SPECIAL PRIZE: a performance in a concert as part of the PIANO LOVERS FESTIVAL Ed. 2025.

Judges’ ultimate decisions are final and unquestionable. Jury can award ex-aequo prizes and can also decide not to award one or more prizes, if judges consider a lack of requirements for their assignment. The winner of “Piano Lovers Over 40®” shall not be admitted to the subsequent editions of the Competition.

Special Audience Prize. Each duly registered candidate which meets the requirements described in art.2 of this very Regulation automatically competes to the Special Audience Prize: the most voted candidate by the audience during the final Gala Concert.

The candidates of all categories, winners of 1st and 2nd prize, are required to attend and perform during the final Gala Concert, under penalty of prize revocation. The winners of the 3rd prize will also be invited to receive the prize during the Gala concert. The winner of the First absolute “Piano Lovers Over40” prize will be invited to perform at the Gala Concert of 2025 edition of the Competition.

Candidates may enter the competition no later than 1st October 2024 by one of the following methods:

  • on line – Completing the registration procedure on the website www.pianoloversover40.com.

To complete the registration process online or by registered mail, you will need to attach a payment receipt of the registration fee (bank or paypal) and a brief musical curriculum vitae, that also provides all information pertaining to musical examinations and/or studies possibly performed.
Also attach the completed self-declaration document that you are not a professional pianist (see point 2 of the regulation and online form for self-certification can be downloaded from the web site). Applications lacking the complete documentation required will not be considered valid.

Registration fee is € 70.00 for categories A, B, C, D and € 100.00 (total) for category E- 4 hands. Registration fee is non-refundable, except in the case of cancellation of the Competition for reasons not dependent by Piano Lovers Association. Registration fee can be paid by bank transfer to the account IBAN IT 43B 03069 01789 100000001131 headed to Associazione Piano Lovers, or by credit card (Paypal) directly online at www.pianoloversover40.com

Both auditions and Gala Concert are public.

In case of audio-visual recordings and/or photographs of all auditions and/or Gala Concert, applicants waive any economic and/or of any nature right, and authorize the Artistic Director of the Competition and any related production and/or transmission entities to their free publication and reproduction at the moment of the enrollment as well as live performances and recordings for the specific aims of the competition such as the Absolute First Prize Concert or the recording of the CD of the First Prizes.

Each candidate who signs the entry in the Competition agrees with these very Regulation without exception.

The Regulations in Italian language shall prevail, and the Court of Milan shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute.