Do I have to play pieces in full or can I select movements or excerpts from them?
Yes, it is possible to play only selected plays or parts of pieces at any stage of the Competition. These must be correctly identified in the registration form, and in the case of excerpts, the participants will be totally responsible for their consistency.
How many minutes of playing should the pre-selection DVD contain? Should the format be video or audio only?
The DVD must contain 2 pieces of contrasting styles, without limit of duration, in video format.
Besides Eliminatory round, in what moments of the competition must the group be present?
The presence of the group in the Draw and in the Winners Concert and Awards Ceremony is mandatory. In the Draw, the group must be represented by at least one person, and may delegate their representation to others. Failure to comply with this rule implies automatic disqualification of the Competition. In the Winners Concert and Awards Ceremony, the presence of all the members of the group is mandatory and can not delegate to others their representation. Failure to comply with this rule implies the automatic loss of any prize awarded.
My group has percussion. Who is responsible for making the instruments available?
The Competition offers a group of large percussion instruments, such as two five-octave marimbas, a vibraphone, a symphonic bass drum, a set of timpani and a box. The group should consult the Competition, in advance time, in order to ascertain in a timely manner which instruments will be available during the Competition, and which will be the ones for which it will have to be responsible.
Can my group play an electronic part?
Yes, works that make use of electronics will be accepted in all phases of the Competition, being the groups responsible for the celerity in the implementation of the electronic element during the rounds.
My group has difficulty identifying works by Portuguese composers or rooted in Portugal. Does the Competition provide information that can help in identifying, choosing and acquiring this repertoire?
The competition may, at the request of the groups, identify publishers or collections that have, in their catalog, works by Portuguese composers or rooted in Portugal for their specific ensemble, but can not specifically indicate any work or composer. In case of difficulties, it is recommended that the group should contact the Competition.
Do you know what CIMCA is?
The International Chamber Music Competition “Cidade de Alcobaça” (CIMCA) is an organization of the Municipality of Alcobaça (CMA) and the Band of Alcobaça (BA), with production of the Alcobaça Music Academy (AMA), that has the chamber music promotion as its main goal, prizing the effort, talent and creativity of the participants. This is one of the most important artistic competitions that awards the merit of musicians and national groups as well foreigners who see our country as an opportunity to launch their career, celebrating on the other hand the talent creativity and ability of young musicians.
Where and when does CIMCA occur?
CIMCA always happens every two years, at Cine-Teatro de Alcobaça – João d’Oliva Monteiro, one of the cultural spaces of national reference, inaugurated in 1944 and remodeled in 2004, completely rehabilitated and adapted to the new necessities.
How everything started?
CIMCA had its first edition in 2009 in Alcobaça and started as an original idea of António Rosa, a local musician, who, besides fulfilling the functions of Artistic Director and President of the Jury of the competition, is a soloist of the National Orchestra of of Porto and professor of Clarinet in the Superior School of Music of Arts and Entertainment of Porto.
Who is CIMCA for?
CIMCA is intended for all interested parties, students and music professionals of any nationality, divided into two age categories: Junior – for groups whose average age does not exceed 20 years, and Senior – for groups whose average age do not exceed 30 years of age.
What are the advantages of participating?
In addition to the competition’s healthy spirit and the privileged contact with renowned national and international names that compose the competition’s Jury, along with the value and prestige of the awards, CIMCA is the ideal platform for launching the participants’ careers allowing the possibility to perform at some of the most important festivals in the country and in the world, such as Cistermúsica – Alcobaça Music Festival or Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival (South Africa), among others.
When will the next edition take place?
The next edition of CIMCA will take place from November 19th to 24th of this year and has its entries open until October 23.
