December 15th-22nd, 2025
The Israel Conservatory of Music, Tel Aviv, and the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance are pleased to announce the 7th International recorder & Early Music competition which will be held as part of the 7th Tel Aviv Recorder Festival (TARF) in December 2025.
The competition is open to these Early Music instruments: Harpsichord, lute, baroque violin, baroque viola, baroque cello, violone, viola da gamba, baroque oboe, traverso, early winds, recorder.
For categories open to recorder please click here
Categories open to other EM instruments:
Solo:
Category 10: Early instruments soloists (Harpsichord, lute, baroque strings, baroque winds) – up to age 18
Category 11: Early instruments soloists (Harpsichord, lute, baroque strings, baroque winds) – no age limit
Ensemble:
Category 6: Ensembles – all combinations, but must include at least 1 recorder, which all members are no older than 18.
Category 7: Ensembles – all combinations, but must include at least 1 recorder, with no age limit.
Category 10: Early instruments soloists (Harpsichord, lute, baroque strings, baroque winds) – up to age 18
Category 11: Early instruments soloists (Harpsichord, lute, baroque strings, baroque winds) – no age limit
Special categories: Open to all ages, and both to soloists and ensembles. It is possible to register for the complete competition (categories 1-7, 10, 11) and compete also in these categories or register only to those:
Category 8: Music composed by women composers of all eras.
Category 9: Music composed by Soren Sieg that includes at least one recorder.
General directions:
Stage 1 – Pre-Selection:
Candidates should send a link to video recordings* of 2 pieces of their own choice. The recordings do not have to be professional, yet they must show the player(s) performing. The recordings should not be older than 1 year. Recordings should be uploaded to YouTube and saved as unregistered (meaning that only people who receive the link can watch them). Please name each video as follows: competitor's name, age, name of the composer, and name of the piece.
Candidates who have participated in TARF 5-6 and have won places 1-3 at their categories are automatically accepted to the semi-final upon completion of the registration form by Sep. 20th, 2025.
Stage 2 – Semi-Final – Please see each category for details.
Stage 3 – Final (all categories):
Category 6, 7, 8, 9 – please see details below.
Categories 10, 11: Soloists will perform the concerto (partial or complete) with a professional baroque ensemble (string quartet and continuo). The timing of the piece should be up to a total of 15 min. If the concerto is longer, the participants should specify in the registration form which movement they will play. The candidates of categories 10, 11 will have 1 rehearsal of 30 minutes with the ensemble on the day of the final.
Repertoire by categories:
Category 6 – Ensembles – all combinations, but must include at least 1 recorder, which all members are no older than 18
Pre-selection: Free choice of 2 pieces from different eras. It is not necessary to play all movements of the pieces.
Semi Final: Free program up to 12 min. Program has to include an Israeli piece.
Final: A single piece selected from the repertoire of the semi final by the jury.
Category 7 – Ensembles – all combinations, but must include at least 1 recorder, with no age limit
Pre-selection: Free choice of 2 pieces from different eras. It is not necessary to play all movements of the pieces.
Semi Final: Free program up to 12 min. Program has to include an Israeli piece.
Final: A single piece selected from the repertoire of the semi final by the jury.
Category 10 – Early instruments soloists (Harpsichord, lute, baroque strings, baroque winds) – up to age 18
Pre-selection: Free choice of 2 pieces from different eras. It is not necessary to play all movements of the pieces.
Semi Final: Free program up to 12 min.
Final: A full Baroque concerto, performed with a professional Baroque ensemble.
Category 11 – Early instruments soloists (Harpsichord, lute, baroque strings, baroque winds) – no age limit
Pre-selection: Free choice of 2 pieces from different eras. It is not necessary to play all movements of the pieces.
Semi Final: Free program up to 12 min. Program has to include an Israeli piece.
Final: A full Baroque concerto, performed with a professional Baroque ensemble.
Special categories: These categories are open to all ages, and both to soloists and ensembles. It is possible to register for the complete competition (categories 1-7, 10, 11) and compete also in these categories, or register only to those:
Category 8 – Music composed by women composers of all eras.
Pre-selection: If you are registering to another category – then the same preselection links are enough, if not – Free choice of 2 pieces from different eras. It is not necessary to play all movements of the pieces.
Semi Final: 2 pieces from different eras up to a total of 10 minutes.
Final: A single piece selected from the repertoire of the semi final by the jury.
Category 9 – Music composed by Soren Sieg that includes at least one recorder.
Pre-selection: If you are registering to another category – then the same preselection links are enough, if not – Free choice of 2 pieces from different eras. It is not necessary to play all movements of the pieces.
This competition will have only one stage: each participant should play 1 piece by Soren Sieg up to 8 minutes.
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For a list of recommended Israeli Pieces and where to obtain them Click Here
Judgement process
Videos sent to the competition will be judged by an international panel of judges who will grade them. The semi-final stage will take place in Israel, in a live concert. The panel of jury of each category will select up to 6 candidates to play in the finals of categories 1-11 and up to 2 finalists to compete in the Israeli music special final. All final stages will be live concerts and will be recorded professionally.
Announcement of the winners
The prize ceremony will take place on Sunday, December 21st.
Gala concert
This special concert will take place on Monday, December 22nd. Participants will be selected to participate in it by the competition judges & festival management.
Prizes
Prizes include money prizes, professional studio recordings, instruments & music accessories. Paid recitals at various events in Israel and Europe including a paid recital in a future Tel Aviv recorder festival.
The judges have the right not to award all the prizes if they do not find a worthy winner.
Please take notice
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- By filling out the registration form, the participant declares to agree with The regulations of this competition.
- The Tel Aviv Recorder Festival has all rights to all recordings and photos or videos of the competition and the festival and can use them for promotional purposes without asking for further authorization from the candidates.
- The jury and the administration of the competition can advise candidates about the best category for them.
- The performers are asked to bring 3 printed copies of the sheet music performed (for the jury).
- In case the soloists move on to the final, they have to supply the score and parts to the accompanying ensemble, ready for performance.
- The jury will stop the players after the allotted time.
- Some participants will be selected by the management of the competition to perform concerts in different venues around Israel during the festival.
- In any situation that is not covered by these regulations, the administration of the competition decides.
- All decisions of the jury and the administration are final and cannot be disputed.
- No changes in the repertoire are allowed after deadlines. Sending all the music and scores on time is part of the participation conditions.
Want to compete in TARF 2025? go on to the registration page.
For General Festival Information Click Here
