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At present, applications have been received from 30 countries: Russia, Italy, China, Poland, Finland, South Korea, the USA, Taiwan, Germany, Georgia, Switzerland, Japan, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Belarus, the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Turkey, France, Colombia, Spain, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Austria, Norway, Bulgaria, Australia, Latvia, Canada and Hungary. Of course, the XV International Tchaikovsky Competition welcomes musicians from any country in the world. The contestants in the piano, violin, and cello competitions must be between 16 to 32 years old as of the opening of the Competition (15 June 2015). The solo voice contestants must be between 19 to 32 years old. The maximum number of contestants is limited to 30 pianists, 25 violinists, 25 cellists, and 40 vocalists (20 men and 20 women). Prior to the preliminary auditions, for which a schedule will be announced separately, the judges will arrive at a shortlist of applicants based on the video recordings submitted. The gala opening concert of the Competition will take place on June 15th at 7 p. m. in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. The competing performances on piano will be held in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory; on violin, in the Small Hall of the Moscow Conservatory (for Round I and Round II) and in the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall (for Round III); on cello, in the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Small Hall (Rounds I and II) and in the Philharmonic Grand Hall (Round III). Vocalists will perform in competition in the Mariinsky Theatre Concert Hall and Mariinsky II. The award ceremonies will be conducted on July 1st at 3 p. m. in the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall. The gala concerts by the award winners take place in Moscow on July 2nd at 7 p. m. in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory and in Saint Petersburg on July 3rd at 7 p. m. in Mariinsky II. All the events that are part of the XV International Tchaikovsky Competition will be broadcast on the official Competition website. The highlight events of the Competition will also be broadcast on TV by Russia-Kultura and on radio by Orpheus. The judges' panel for piano will include: Dmitri Bashkirov, Michel Béroff, Boris Berezovsky, Sergei Dorensky, Peter Donohoe, Barry Douglas, Denis Matsuev, Vladimir Ovchinnikov, Klaus Hellwig, Martin Engström, Alexander Toradze, and Vladimir Feltsman. On the panel for violin will be: Salvatore Accardo, Yuri Bashmet, Maxim Vengerov, Liana Isakadze, Leonidas Kavakos, Ilya Kaler, Boris Kuschnir, Mihaela Martin, Vadim Repin, Viktor Tretiakov, Maxim Fedotov, Vera Tsu Wei Ling, James Ehnes, Michael Haefliger, and Nikolaj Znaider. Roman Simovic will join the panel for the qualifying round. Judges on the cello panel will be: Wolfgang Boettcher, Mario Brunello, Jian Wang, David Geringas, Clive Gillinson, Alexander Kniazev, Mischa Maisky, Ivan Monighetti, Sergei Roldugin, Martti Rousi, Lynn Harrell, Jan Vogler, and Myung-wha Chung. For voice the judges will be: Sarah Billinghurst, Olga Borodina, Eva Wagner-Pasquier, Larisa Gergieva, Mikhail Kazakov, Thomas Quasthoff, Cristina Muti, Dennis O'Neill, Tobias Richter, John Fisher, Mikhail Petrenko and Chen-Ye Yuan. The XV International Tchaikovsky Competition will award 6 prizes for pianists, 6 for violinists, 6 for cellists, 4 for male singers and 4 for female singers. From among all the first prize winners one will be singled out to receive the Grand Prix, a prize of 100,000 USD in addition to the winner's first prize. The XV International Tchaikovsky Competition will offer the following prizes in each category: First Prize of 30,000 USD and a Gold Medal Second Prize of 20,000 USD and a Silver Medal Third Prize of 10,000 USD and a Bronze Medal Fourth Prize of 5,000 USD and a Diploma Fifth Prize of 3,000 USD and a Diploma Sixth Prize of 2,000 USD and a Diploma There will be additional prizes of 2,000 USD and a Diploma for the best concerto performance with a chamber orchestra in Round II-one prize each for a pianist, a violinist and a cellist. The two best musicians in each category from Round II that are eliminated from Round III will receive a Diploma and a runner-up prize of 1,000 USD. Depending on the outcomes of the Competition and within the limits on the number of prizes, the judges may choose not to award all prizes or to divide them among the contestants (except for the Grand Prix). In addition, the jury may award Diplomas and a prize of 1,000 USD to the best accompanists in the Competition (no more than two awards in each category).