Rules & Awards

Closing date and Registration Fee

* Early closing date : December 9th, 2024

* Registration fee : $160

* Late closing date :  December 23rd, 2024

* Registration fee(Late) : $180

Please be advised that all closing dates are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time. 

No late registrations will be accepted after the advertised late closing date above. 
The registration must be submitted by the Online Registration on our website. 

Online Registration

Age Categories

There will be a total of five age categories. 

* Ages 10 and below

* Ages 11 to 13

* Ages 14 to 16

* Ages 17 to 19

* Ages 20 to 30

To be eligible to apply,  your age must be 30 or below 30 as of December 24th, 2024. 

Providing false age information is prohibited. Please note that we may request you a document of proof of age if anything is suspicious and non-response to the request will result in the disqualification of your application.

Prize Level and Award Criteria

* Grand Prize

* Grand Prize Nominee

* 1st Prize of age & instrument category.

* 2nd Prize of age & instrument category.

* 3rd Prize of age & instrument category.

* Honorable Mention

The Grand prize of each age category will receive a $500 scholarship, a Certificate of Achievement, and an advertisement on our website. 

Please note that all past winners are eligible to reapply in the future competition except for one condition of the Grand prize winners. The past Grand Prize winners can only reapply in the future competition when their ages are in the higher age categories(the same age category is not allowed).

All other winners will receive a Certificate of Achievement award. The Grand Prize winners must reach a score of 96 or above. If there is no candidate getting a score of 96 or above in a specific age category, the Grand Prize winner in the age category may not be selected.

You can request for e-certificate as soon as the winners are announced. You will receive it within 24 hours.

The paper certificate will be mailed to your mailing address. Providing correct mailing information is your responsibility. We will charge you a penalty of $30 for resending you a new certificate caused by an incorrect mailing address provided by you. For non-US candidates, please provide your address in your local language. A penalty of $50 will be charged to non-US candidates.

Repertoire

 - For Instrumental: Any piece by your choice from the standard repertoire.

 - For percussionists: Any piece by your choice with 2 or 4 Marimba mallets.

 - For Voice: any one song from opera aria, classical repertoire, folk/traditional and musical, broadway.

 - One movement or multiple movements of a concerto, sonata, or any virtuoso piece is allowed.

 - There is no maximum and minimum duration.

 - Changes in the repertoire are NOT allowed after closing the online registration. Only before the registration is closed, send us an email for the request for repertoire change.

Recording Requirements

Please read the following recording requirements carefully before submitting your registration.

- High-quality audio is strongly suggested. Both Home and Studio recordings are acceptable if the video and audio recording is clear enough to evaluate your performance.

- Video recording should be made with one fixed camera angle. Mixing multiple cameras into one recording is not allowed.

- Video recording should be landscape.

- Memorization is not required but recommended. 

- Accompaniment is optional but recommended. We only accept piano accompaniment.

- Do not perform on electric instruments except for accompaniment.

- Pitch correction will disqualify your application.

- Make your Youtube video public or unlisted.

- Please include your full name, title, and composer of the piece on Youtube.

- Performance must be recorded within one year prior to the registration submission. 

- Face, instrument, hands, and pedals must be clearly filmed in the video. You will be requested to re-submit your video recording if your recording is not clearly filmed.

ADJUDICATORS

Our judges are all professional musicians from all over the world. A panel of judges evaluates and punctuates the video material submitted. A panel of expert Jurors will select the winners of the competition. Both the President of the judges and the panel members will not need to provide further explanations about the reasons for their judgment. Their decisions are final. 

The evaluation criteria will be based on:

Tone quality, accuracy of intonation and rhythms, pulse, phrase, vocal timbre, performing technique, breathing, pedaling, expression, musicality, interpretation, text, stage presence, level of piece, and perfection.