International Showcase
Music Competition

Rules & Regulations

Solo participants may choose either one movement of a standard concerto, sonata or a concert piece with an accompaniment (Baroque to contemporary periods).
Ensembles may select a single movement work from the chamber music repertoire (Baroque to contemporary periods).

Solo: $150
Ensemble: $80 per member
Fees are non-refundable under any circumstances.
If it’s difficult to pay the application fee using credit card or if you prefer an alternative payment method, please contact us via email [email protected].

Grand Prize, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place will be awarded for each age group of each instrument category.
Prizes include e-certificates, cash awards, performance opportunities, or other recognition determined by the competition organizer.
Grand Prize winners will receive a cash award of $300 and will have the opportunity to perform at the winners’ concert, which will be held at Laeiszhalle in Hamburg, Germany.
The Grand Prize will be awarded at the winners’ concert, including the certificate and prize money.

Participants must register online via the competition website before the deadline of September 30, 2024.
Participants are required to submit a high-quality YouTube video recording of their performance.
Videos submitted for judging must feature the original, unaltered version of the piece. Arranged versions or shortened edits of the original composition are not permitted
It is strongly recommended that all memorized performances be presented in the video recording, with the exception of solo sonatas and ensemble pieces.
Videos must clearly show the performer’s face throughout. Piano performances, in particular, should be filmed to ensure both the performer’s face and hands/pedals are clearly visible.

YouTube audition video duration: max 15 minutes
Video for audition must be produced within six months before September 30, 2024.
All YouTube video titles must adhere to the following format: “Instrument – Age Group – Applicant Name – Composer and Repertoire Full Name. For instance, an example title would be “Violin – Group C – David Jones – Paganini Violin Concerto No 1 in D major, 1st mov”
Please set the visibility of the YouTube video to either ‘unlisted’ or ‘public’.

The competition will be judged by a panel of world-renowned players and professors.
The judging process will be fair and transparent.
Judges’ decisions are final and can not be disputed.
Winners will be notified individually via email, and the results will be posted on the competition website on October 17, 2024.

Date: January 3, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Venue: ‘Laeiszhalle’ Recital Hall in Hamburg, Germany
Performance duration for the winners should not exceed 10 minutes as a general guideline.
Participants of the winners’ concert are solely responsible for their own expenses, including but not limited to travel and accommodation.
The competition do not provide accompanists for the winners’ concert. However, upon request, a list of available accompanists can be provided.
Detailed guidelines of the winners’ concert will be provided by the organizer after the results are announced.

Participants grant the competition organizers the right to use their recordings and performance excerpts for promotional purposes.
The competition organizers reserve the right to make changes to the rules and regulations if necessary. Any changes will be communicated to the participants in a timely manner.
All schedules(including the winners’ concert) can be subject to change depending on the organizer’s circumstances.

Participants may be disqualified if they fail to comply with the rules and regulations or engage in any form of misconduct that compromises the integrity of the competition.
Our competition values the stage experience and requires all grand prize winners to participate in the winner’s concert in Hamburg. The Grand Prize winners unable to participate due to valid personal reasons (we respect their decision) will receive an e-certificate but forfeit the monetary prize of $300. In such cases, the organizer will select a replacement performer based on the jury’s decision.

Application Deadline
October 2, 2024