The Queen Elisabeth Competition

May 6th to June 1st 2013

This annual music competition, held in the Brussels Center for Fine Arts and Flagey, is open to musicians who are launching their international careers in the disciplines of piano, voice, violin and composition. The competition for composers takes place before each instrumental session. The 2012 competition will focus on the piano.

This competition is unique in the world, not only because of its importance, its influence, but also because of the difficulty of the tests, the prestigious jury, the strict rules (a rigid points system excluding any favoritism) and especially its originality.In Brussels, the "Queen Elisabeth competition" is the major cultural event of the year, with its excitement, showmanship and surprises.

The Queen Elisabeth Competition was established in 1937. At the time it was known as the Eugène Ysaÿe Competition, after the much celebrated Belgian violinist and composer. H.M. Queen Elisabeth and Ysaÿe joined forces to launch this magnificent initiative. The first edition took place with the financial support offof the de  Launoit family and a number of personalities from the Belgian artistic and economic worlds. It was not until after the war, in 1951, that the Queen Elisabeth Competition really came into its modern form.

From May 6 until June 1 they will perform at Flagey and the Brussels Centre for Fine Arts.

For more information: http://www.cmireb.be/en/

Press Contact:

Francoise Haffreingue

212.758.8130 x14

francoise@visitbelgium.com