Application
Application submissions are accepted from 26 March to 30 October 2024. Applicants are evaluated on their proposed Competition programming, experience relative to age, and confidential reference letters.
Quarterfinals
Each Quarterfinalist performs a 40-minute solo recital and 10-minute interview in either New York or Berlin.
Semifinals
Each Semifinalist performs in two separate rounds.
Semifinals I
A 60-minute solo recital which must include at least one work from an under-represented composer.*
Semifinals II
A 65-minute solo / collaborative recital which must include an eight-minute newly commissioned work by Iman Habibi, two works for cello and piano (from a prescribed list), and solo repertoire to round out the program.
Cello Sonatas
Beethoven: Cello Sonata No. 3 in A Major Op. 69
Chopin: Sonata in G minor for cello and piano Op. 65
Mendelssohn: Sonata in D Major Op. 58
Prokofiev: Cello Sonata in C Major Op. 119
Rachmaninov: Sonata for piano and cello in G minor Op. 19
Cello Encores
Bloch: Prayer from Jewish Life
Fauré: Après un reve from Trois melodies Op. 7
Kriesler: Schön Rosmarin from Alt-Wiener Tanzweisen
Ravel: Pièce en forme de Habanera
Finals
Each Finalist performs in two separate rounds and undertakes a 30-minute interview.
Finals I
A piano quintet (from a prescribed list) with a string quartet, and an encore announced from the stage.
Piano Quintets
Brahms: Piano Quintet in F minor Op. 34
Dvořák: Piano Quintet in A Major Op. 81
Franck: Piano Quintet in F minor
Schumann: Piano Quintet in E-flat Major Op. 44
Finals II
Any concerto composed after 1791 with full orchestra.
*Honens does not have a specified definition for under-represented composer. Instead, each applicant must provide their own explanation and rationale for their choice.