Recording guide
Your video is the jury’s first impression of you. What the regulations require, and what works well.
What the regulations require
Opera Competition
- two arias from your list, each complete
- about 10 to 20 minutes in total
- the recording is no more than six months old
- a link via YouTube, Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive, stating who filmed it
Young Musicians
- unedited, in a single take
- the performer and instrument are fully visible throughout
- maximum length depends on the category, see age categories
- the link is open: no password, no permission request
- the link must still work after the deadline
What works well
- Landscape, camera fixed on a tripod or a pile of books, at eye level.
- Distance: far enough back that you are fully in frame: hands and face for piano, the whole body for singers.
- Light from the front or front side, never a window behind you.
- Sound matters more than picture: a quiet room with little echo; don’t cover the phone’s microphone, and switch off automatic noise suppression if you can.
- Test with a 30-second recording before you record everything.
- Title the video with your name, the work, the composer and the recording date.
- Check the link in a private browser window where you are not signed in.
Questions
How old can my video recording be?
For the opera competition, no more than six months; older recordings are not accepted. For young musicians: one unedited take with the performer and instrument visible throughout. See the recording guide for tips.