On the day of the competition the audience—classmates, present and former pupils and professional musicians—gather to listen to the sessions. All the candidates play the first piece and then afterwards the commission.
One or more first and second prizes are awarded. The jury, which usually consists of one administrator, one composer and five instrumentalists of whom at least two have no connection with the Conservatoire, first decide whether or not to award each prize. The jury chairman announces the result of this deliberation. Prizes are then awarded by majority vote using voting slips on which each jury member writes one name.¹
The first prize winner leaves the Conservatoire ready to start on a professional career and leaves one place in the class vacant (there are only twelve students in the class). This vacancy will be filled by an entrance competition for which there will be a considerable number of applicants.
All in all, a long tradition and a good opportunity for meeting people. As for the usefulness of such a competition in training a musician who is probably going to join an orchestra—that is another matter, and one which should be considered.
¹ The words in italics are taken from C. Pierre, Le Conservatoire National de Musique et de Déclamation. Documents historiques et administratifs, Imprimerie Nationale, Paris, 1900.