* Please read through the Rules & Regulations carefully before applying.
Rules & Regulations
We welcome participants from all over the world to participate in our 2024 (4th Edition) Global International Music Competition (Online Competition).
Format
The Global International Music Competition is in one round only.
Categories Accepted
Entry types: Solo, Duo, Concerto, Chamber ensemble, Choir, Orchestra
Genres: Performance - Classical, Jazz, Pop, Traditional Music
Composition - Must be presented in a performance video.
Instruments:
Piano, Strings (Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass), Guitar, Lute, Ukulele, Woodwind, Brass, Harp, Accordion, Harmonica, Voice,
Harpsichord, Organ, Electone, Percussion, Bagpipe, Traditional Musical Instruments, Composition, Music Arrangement, Music Cover and others. (When in doubt, please contact us to confirm).
We accept Chinese Traditional Musical Instruments including:
Guqin, Guzheng, Erhu, Pipa, Dizi, Xiao, Sheng, Suona, Yangqin, Ruan, Liuqin, Hulusi, Sanxian, Bianzhong, Paixiao, Qinqin, Muyu, Bangu, and more...
We accept Indian Traditional Musical Instruments including:
Sitar, Sarod, Veena, Santoor, Tanpura, Bansuri, Shehnai, Nadaswaram, Tabla, Mridangam, Dhol, Pakhawaj, Ghatam, Harmonium, Sarangi, Esraj, Kanjira, and more...
We accept all genres of music (from classical, jazz, contemporary and pop music). We accept solo, duo, trios, ensembles, choirs and orchestras.
Category Divisions (for both Concert Performance):
Pre-Junior - Ages 6 and under
Junior - Ages 7 to 11
Youth - Ages 12 to 16
Collegiate - Ages 17 and above (Music Majors, Conservatory students)
Professional - Ages 21 and above (Performers with professional performance degrees or with comparable performance standards)
Open Category - Ages 21 and above (non-music majors)
No age limit imposed.
Category Divisions (For Versatile Musician Division - including Composition, Music Production, Self-taught musical instrument performance, and Song Cover - Pop artist category)
Pre-Junior - Ages 6 and under
Junior - Ages 7 to 11
Intermediate - Ages 12 to 16
Youth - Ages 17-19
Open Category - Ages 21 and above
Applicants of each category will be placed in the appropriate age group(s) based on level and experience.
* Although each category may cover a relatively wide age span, the assessment of performances will be based on the quality of performance within the appropriate age range, level and experience. In other words, 7-year-olds will only be competing with 7-year olds, and not with 11 year-olds, even both age ranges fall within the same category.
Format
Global International Music Competition (Online) is an online competition. Applicants are required to submit a video recording to apply for this competition.
Summary of Important Dates & Deadlines
Application Period: 13 June to 24 July 2024
Application deadline: 24 July 2024
Announcement of Results: 5th August 2024
All Competition Results will be announced on our website on the 5th August 2024
* Top winners will be notified for concert portrait and biography submission to be posted on our website.
Requirements
(1) Participants are required to submit a public link of a YouTube or Vimeo video recording of their performance. Private links will be not accepted.
(2) One piece of music per application - this refers to one musical work, or one movement of a larger scale work (e.g. a Sonata, concerto, etc). There are no time limits for the musical piece.
(3) Applicants are required to submit a separate application should they wish to submit more than one piece of music, or enter more than one category / instrument / genre.
(4) Full payment of application fees must be made before application form will be processed. All application fees are non-refundable.
(5) Incomplete applications or those not including the required documents will not be processed.
(6) If a member of the jury has taught a competitor within the last five years, he/she will abstain from assessing that competitor.
(7) Application deadline will not be extended.
(8) Candidates cannot claim legal rights to recordings and photos submitted or broadcasts that may be made in connection with the competition. All legal rights are reserved by the Global International Music Competition and no fee is payable to any competitor for performances, photos, recordings or television broadcasts them.
Video Requirements
(1) It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the video link is openable. Failure to provide a working link could lead to disqualification. We do not accept files that require to be downloaded (e.g. mp3, mp4 files will not be accepted).
(2) Concert Performance Division: An unedited video of the performance forwarded to Global International Music Competition (Online) as a Youtube or Vimeo PUBLIC LINK. Videos edited in any way to alter the performance will not be accepted. The video must clearly show the face and hands of the performer and the complete instrument. The video has to be in one take. Maintain a stable camera angle and do not move the camera (do not pan, tilt, zoom).
Versatile Musician Division: (including Song Cover and Music Production) audio-video editing and multiple camera angles are allowed (with the exception of the self-taught category). Video provided as either a Youtube or Vimeo PUBLIC LINK.
Versatile Musician Division - Self-taught category: An unedited video of the performance forwarded to Global International Music Competition (Online) as a Youtube or Vimeo PUBLIC LINK. Videos edited in any way to alter the performance will not be accepted. The video must clearly show the face and hands of the performer and the complete instrument. The video has to be in one take. Maintain a stable camera angle and do not move the camera (do not pan, tilt, zoom).
(3) Videos submitted must be made after 30 May 2023. Videos made before this date will not be accepted.
(4) Due to the pandemic, for the safety of the musicians, we accept videos with participants wearing face masks in their performances. However, it is not obligatory to wear face masks after 1st January 2023.
(5) Please clearly indicate the name of the participant, and name of piece on the Title of the Video
The following format should be used:
On Youtube:
Title (Required): Name of applicant / name of piece
Description: Application for Global International Music Competition 2024
(6) Do not introduce yourself or announce the name of the piece at the beginning of the video.
(7) Make sure that the video is set to PUBLIC mode on Youtube or Video. Private links on Youtube are not openable and hence will not be accepted. Unlisted links are acceptable as well. Submission of non-openable links will be disqualified.
(8) Professional quality recording is not mandatory, however the sound must be clearly audible. Providing a high quality audio and video recording indeed offers a better opportunity for the jury to assess your performance, which may result in a better mark.
Adjudication Criteria & Expectation for various Divisions & Categories:
Note that all divisions will be judged independently
(1) Musical Composition: Only the quality of composition will be judged. The performance of the composition can be presented as a live performance by the composer himself/herself, or played by another musician, ensemble, or presented in a digital midi format.
The quality of the performance will not be judged. However, an outstanding performance can highlight the quality of the composition. For composition, the performers are not required to memorize the score for performance.
For songs / compositions with lyrics, it is a requirement that the content adheres to age appropriateness and maintains a standard of clean language, devoid of explicit or offensive material. Any violation of these guidelines will result in immediate disqualification in accordance with the competition's regulations
(2) Performance: Participants will be judged based on age and experience (duration of study of their instrument).
Performance Repertoire requirement: One piece of music that is reflective of the applicant's current level of performance.
(3) Music Production: Works submitted be judged based on musicianship, originality and creativity, quality of production and artistic concept.
(4) Song Cover: Participants will be judged based on the quality of performance and musicianship.
It is a requirement that the content of lyrics of songs must adhere to age appropriateness and maintains a standard of clean language, devoid of explicit or offensive material. Any violation of these guidelines will result in immediate disqualification in accordance with the competition's regulations.
(5) Self-taught Musician: Participants will be judged based on quality of performance and musicianship (with respect to age and duration of playing an instrument without formal instruction.
Memorization:
Concert Performance Division: Memorization is mandatory (except in the case when one is performing a highly obscure contemporary piece of music - where you can contact us by email to apply for a grant of exemption from memorization)
Versatile Musician Division: Memorization is not compulsory.
Group ensembles, choirs and orchestras: Memorization is not compulsory.
Music Scores: Participants are required to submit electronic copies of their scores within 3 days of their application. It is the responsibility for the applicant to submit their scores on time. Global International Music Competition will not remind applicants about the submission of their scores.
Failure to submit scores on time will lead to disqualification.
Please do not mail in any physical scores. Scores should only be submitted in pdf format.
All music scores are to be submitted by email to this email address: [email protected]
In the email, please indicate the name of the applicant, Order Number, name of the repertoire and attach the electronic score document (in pdf format).
One application per instrument.
Candidates are required to make a second application (with payment for each application) should they wish to play more than one piece of music (same instrument) or to compete in another instrument or genre category.
Candidates who fail to submit their videos before the video submission deadline will be disqualified.
All application fees submitted are non-refundable.
Repertoire:
(1) Free choice of repertoire. A piece of music that is reflective of the current level of the applicant.
(2) One piece of music per application. One piece of music refers to a piece of music in one movement, or one movement of a larger scale work (such as a sonata or concerto).
(3) Duration: No maximum duration limit
(4) Performance by memory is mandatory.
(5) Electronic music scores in pdf format is required to be submitted to us via email at [email protected]
Marking System
Achievement scores:
Platinum Award (Absolute) = 98% or above
Platinum Award = 95 and above
Gold Award = 90 - 94%
Silver Award = 85 - 89%
Bronze Award = 80% - 84%
Honorary Mention Recognition = 76% - 79%
Multiple Submissions
Applicants are welcome to submit their applications for different divisions (Concert Artist & Versatile Musician), different genres of music, instruments, or submit different pieces. Our competition encourages creativity, diversity and artistic excellence. Each entry will require an independent submission, with the inclusive of the application fees and completion of a separate application form.
Prizes & Awards
(1) Special monetary prizes, trophies and certificates for top winners.
(2) Medals and certificates for First Prize, Second Prize and Third Prize winners.
(3) Certificate of participation for honorary mention participants
(4) Certificate of recognition of music teachers of winners upon request**
(5) Top Prize winners will be featured on our competition website and social media sites with a concert portrait, biography, and their prize winning video.
(6) Outstanding top prize winners will be invited to join our Global International Music Competition Laureate's Circle. We will continue to promote projects, recordings and news of our laureates. Our goal is to offer sustained support to our prize winners to help them promote their musical careers.
Judging
(1) The decision of the adjudication panel is final and is not subject to any appeal.
(2) Global International Music Competition reserves the right to make any changes in the rules, schedule or other information related to the competition.
(3) Cash prizes will be awarded at the discretion of the jury. The jury reserves the right to not award any of the prizes; to offer a shared prize (ex aqueo) splitting an award or prize between several deserving contestants.
Decisions of the jury are FINAL and are not subject to review. The jury reserves the right of not awarding any prizes if the applicants are not up to standard.
Outstanding Professorial Awards
Outstanding professorial awards will be selected based on the performance quality of their students in the Global International Competition (final round) including jury panel’s review of students' performance in the second round. Selection will be based on reviews on students' performances in each competition every year.
Letter of Recommendation & Transcripts
Participants who have participated in Global International Music Competition for four (4) years may quality for a Letter of Recommendation or transcript for College / University application. Letters of recommendation from Global International Music Competition are accepted at major colleges and universities across US, and Canada for admission application. Please send us your request for the letter and photos of your Global International Music Competition winners' certificates when it is time for you to apply.
Terms and conditions:
(1) All application fees are non-refundable.
(2) For absolute fairness, judges who have previously taught or coached applicants (including in masterclasses) are not allowed to judge their performances.
(3) The decision of the jury is final with no appeal.
(4) Global International Music Competition will not respond to questions about other applicants or regarding their submissions.
(5) All information provided to us will be safe-guarded by privacy regulations.
(6) Attempts to privately contact any of the jury members (for any form of consultation, notwithstanding lessons, masterclasses) is strictly prohibited and will lead to disqualification.
(7) Global International Music Competition reserves the right to make amendments to its rules and regulations.
(8) The award of prizes, trophies are entirely subject to the discretion of the jury. Jury may withhold prizes if the performances are not up to standard.
(9) All the information provided to us in the application must be truthful. Provision of incorrect or inaccurate information will result in disqualification.