Classicalia is truly one of the best competitions I have ever participated in. There are many things that this competition excels at, but there is one aspect that really moves me. This competition is so supportive of young musicians. They offer many promoting and performing opportunities. I got chances to receive interviews and recording experiences which is really interesting. In these difficult times, what Classicalia has done really makes me emotional.

As a parent, I was very excited when I found out about the Classicalia competition. I have two children who are both aspiring musicians. Salma is 11 and Karim is 16; they play the violin and the flute respectively. Both of them have had a very good experience participating in the competition, its most remarkable feature being a high level of competitors from all around the world. The 3 rounds leading up to the finals are well spaced throughout the year and provide the participants with much-needed incentive to explore, learn and perfect new repertoire. Since the first 3 rounds are recorded rather than in person, we were spared all the stress and hustle of an in-person competition. Nevertheless, the competition's organizers ensured that you can still listen to the other participants' submissions. This is a very important aspect of participating in a competition which I'm glad Classicalia handled well. Speaking of stress and hustle, the registration process is very friendly and flexible, and I could easily contact a member of the team anytime I had a question or needed help.

Karim and Salma both reached the semi-final round. Unfortunately, they didn't get to go to Vienna for the finals, but they still found the competition worthwhile. Apart from the competition itself, the team made a great effort to integrate everyone and create a community, with activities such as one-on-one interviews with the participants, in which both my children participated. I would recommend Classicalia to anyone looking for a fun, engaging music competition because even if you don't win the first prize, you still walk away with a great experience.

Nathalie Tsoy
B.Mus, M.Mus
ORMTA
Kids Conservatory

The Classicalia competition was an incredible experience for me as a young and upcoming musician to partake in. It was very fun to be able to visit Vienna and to be part of this series for PBS. The recording team and the producers where very nice and really professional, and they made everyone feel at home and welcome in the environment. It’s was great to be able to play and record my pieces in such a beautiful hall and piano, and the feedback from the jury was really appreciated. I recommend any young musician to apply for Classicalia next year, as it is not only an incredible competition, but also an environment to meet and connect with other extremely talented and like-minded young musicians from around the world.

I didn't have any hesitation applying because I knew that Classicalia is a great and famous competition that is worth trying. I think that Classicalia is more interesting and more fun than other competitions, with more professional steps and things to do. It is a very good opportunity and chance to be able to participate because the results we get are really wonderful and the experience we collect is great!