I. GRUNEWALD INTERNATIONAL MAKERS COMPETITION 2024

COMPETITION

The first International Violin and Bow Making Competition "Grunewald International Makers Competition" will take place in the former Mendelssohn family palace in the middle of Berlin's Grunewald, idyllically located on a large park area, on December 2nd - 22nd, 2024.

Open to three string instruments - violin, viola & cello as well as three string bows for violin, viola & cello and judged by internationally known and renowned violin and bow makers and musicians, the competition is aimed at talented instrument makers from all over the world and will welcome them to Berlin, Germany. The focus is on the impressive sound of the instruments and bows. Special recognition is also given to sounding replicas of old masterpieces.

The aims of the competition are to support highly talented instrument makers on their career path, to enable exchange between colleagues, to establish contact with recognized soloists and professors and to expand experience. The competition also supports instrument makers through further exhibitions and commission sales in countries such as Germany, Austria, Great Britain and Japan, and by lending instruments to young talents and professional musicians.

Students, professors and orchestra members from the surrounding music colleges and orchestras are specially invited to the instrument and bow exhibition.

RULES

Violin and bow makers who are professionally involved in the manufacture of string instruments and bows can take part in the competition without age or residence restrictions.

• The year of manufacture of the instruments (violin, viola, cello and their bows) must not be earlier than 2015.
• The instrument size of all instruments and bows must be 4/4.
• Own models, copies and replicas of the old masters in classic, usual instrument sizes and varnish colors are allowed to take part in the competition.
• The length of the viola body must be between 39 and 44 cm.
• Each participant may not register more than three instruments per category.

The following instruments are excluded from the competition:

• machine-made or partially machine-made instruments;
• instruments painted by spraying;
• instruments with unusual shape, decoration, color, or wood;
• instruments with unusual dimensions (viola body length between 39-44 cm permitted).

PROCESS

After registering online, violin and bow makers will be informed within 5 days about the instruments and bows that are eligible for the competition.

During the competition period, participants will appear in person with their instruments/bows at the qualifying rounds in Berlin. Each participant insures their own instruments.

Approved instruments will appear in the competition brochure with a photo of the instrument and the participant.

During the competition period, the instruments and bows will be publicly exhibited in suitable furniture and under supervision in the St.-Michaels-Heim and will be available for testing by competitors, jury members, and the public.

The competition consists of two rounds:

First round:

In the first round, participants and jury members meet for one-on-one discussions to examine each instrument. Musician jury members try out the instruments repeatedly over two days, compare them with their own (Stradivari, Guadagnini, Tourte, Peccatte, etc.) and, if requested, adjust the sound settings together with the participants. At the end of the third day of the first round, the results will be announced and up to 15 selected instruments/bows from each category will be admitted to the final round.

Second round (final):

In the second round (final), several instrumentalists will blindly play scales and the same parts of the music pieces on instruments and bows (solo & with piano) and the results will be judged solely on sound quality. The instruments for bow test auditions and the bows for the instrument test auditions will be selected individually and together with participants.

APPLICATION

Each participant may not register more than three instruments/bows per category. A registration fee will be charged for each instrument/bow registered.

The competition and accommodation venue is Schloss St.-Michaels-Heim, Bismarckallee 23, 14193 Berlin, Germany

Accommodation and Meals

The competition office offers accommodation in a hotel and in upscale student accommodation with full board directly at the competition venue - in the St. Michaels-Heim Castle, with practice opportunities directly in the room between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. and rehearsal opportunities in the castle's practice rooms. Those who do not live in the castle unfortunately cannot practice and eat there. Only audition rehearsals in the hall and rehearsals with the pianist are available.

• Accommodation options in the hotel:
• Single, double, and four-bed rooms are available.
• Accommodation options in upscale student accommodation:
• Single, double, triple, and multiple-bed rooms are available.
• Accommodation in both the hotel and student accommodation is available only with full board and for the entire competition period.

Accommodation periods

• December 2nd to 8th, 2024 – for violists & double bassists and their accompaniment
• December 8th to 15th, 2024 – for violinists and their accompaniment
• December 15th to 22nd, 2024 – for cellists and their accompaniment

Costs for accommodation in a 3-star hotel, including full board

• December 2nd to 8th, 2024:
• €749 per person in a family / four-bed room - for 6 nights, including full board
• €783 per person in a double room - for 6 nights, including full board
• €873 per person in a single room - for 6 nights, including full board
• December 8th to 15th, 2024 and December 15th to 22nd, 2024:
• €873 per person in a family/quadruple room - for 7 nights, including full board
• €914 per person in a double room - for 7 nights, including full board
• €999 per person in a single room - for 7 nights, including full board

Costs for accommodation in upscale student accommodation, including full board

• December 2nd to 8th, 2024:
• €660 per person for 6 nights in a triple/quadruple room, including full board
• €660 per person for 6 nights in a double room, including full board
• €720 per person for 6 nights in a single room, including full board
• December 8th to 15th, 2024 and December 15th to 22nd, 2024:
• €770 per person for 7 nights in a triple/quadruple room, including full board
• €770 per person for 7 nights in a double room, including full board
• €840 per person for 7 nights in a single room, including full board

The accompanying persons who are accommodated in the castle receive free entry to all competition activities.

Arrival days

• December 2nd, 2024
• December 8th, 2024
• December 15th, 2024

Departure days

• December 8th, 2024
• December 15th, 2024
• December 22nd, 2024

Cancellation of the room booking is not possible. To do this, please take out appropriate travel insurance or book with a credit card that includes cancellation insurance.

Registration process

After registering online, you will receive an email with a link to pay for your accommodation and meals - if these have been booked.

The decision on admission to the competition will be communicated by email within 5 days of receipt of the registration. No explanations will be given. The registration fee for ineligible participants will be refunded together with the notification of non-admission. There will be no refund of the registration fee for admitted participants, even if they do not show up for the competition for any reason or are absent during the competition.

Required documents

The instruments and bows are registered using an online form, in which a freely accessible link from Google Drive, WeTransfer, Dropbox or similar must be added with the following documents:

• Violin / viola / cello - high-resolution photos of:
• Top
• Back
• Body from both sides
• Scroll from both sides
• Note / branding stamp inside / outside
• List with dimensions and information on building materials
• Violin / viola / cello bows - high-resolution photos:
• Tip from both sides
• Frog from both sides
• Branding stamp inside / outside
• List with dimensions and information on building materials
• Passport or ID copy of the participant
• C.V. of the participant
• Artist photo
• Payment of the registration fee

The registration will only be accepted and considered together with payment of the registration fee.

A selection committee decides on admission to the competition. A maximum of 30 participants per section are admitted in the order in which applications are received. The admission committee can request additional documents from the applicant in individual cases.

Early registration deadlines due to the maximum number of participants being reached will be announced on the website and in digital media, such as newsletters or social networks.

Prizes