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