Eurovision is pleased to announce a series of format improvements for the 17th Eurovision Young Musicians competition, which will take place at the Roncalliplatz in Cologne, on 31 May.

For the first time:

1. All the contestants will appear in the Final following a preliminary round during the week. Previously, a number of contestants were eliminated after their mid-week performance while a jury picked a shortlist of Finalists.
2. In the Final, the 14 musicians will each perform pieces limited to five minutes long accompanied by a full orchestra
3. Prizes will be awarded to first, second and third places, and the winner will have a chance to appear with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (VPO) in 2015. Clemens Hellsberg, Director of the VPO, will lead the five-strong jury of professional musicians who will decide the outcome. 
4. There will be a group performance to a piece of music written especially for all the instruments being played in the competition.

Eurovision Young Musicians' Executive Supervisor Vladislav Yakovlev said: “Eurovision is always looking for ways to create programming that brings new audiences to EBU Members’ channels. These changes will create a fairer competition for the talented youngsters taking part and a more engaging programme for millions of viewers around Europe.”

This year’s event, a co-production between the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR), will see 14 contestants aged between 10 and 19 perform live before an audience of thousands in front of the iconic Cologne Cathedral .

The young virtuosos come from Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia and Sweden.

The violoncello, recorder and guitar are among the diverse range of instruments being played by the 14 participants in this year's Eurovision Young Musicians competition. And German dance troupe The Flying Steps will provide entertainment while the jury deliberates.