The purpose of the preselection round is to decide the number of candidates taking part in the public rounds of the Competition. Candidates applying for this year’s competition submitted a DVD with their applications, including the first two movements of a sonata for solo violin by Bach, a Caprice by Paganini, the first movement of a sonata by Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert, and a piece of the candidate’s choosing. These DVDs were viewed, behind closed doors, by the preselection jury. No limit was imposed on the number of violonists to be admitted to the public rounds at Flagey; of the 162 candidates whose DVDs were viewed, 88 were admitted to the first round.