RULES

American International Music Competition 2024

Online Edition

Dates & Deadlines

Categories

Instrumental / Vocal Categories:

• Keyboards: Piano, Accordion, Pipe Organ
• Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Guitar, Harp
• Woodwinds: Flute (including Piccolo), Oboe (including English Horn), Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone, Chromatic Harmonica
• Brass: Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba
• Percussions: Marimba, Xylophone, Timpani, Snare Drum, Setup, Drum Set, Hands-percussion
• Piano Four Hands
• Classical Voice: Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass
• Chamber Music (including instrument ensemble and singing groups): Duo, Trio, Quartet, Quintet, String ensemble, Wind ensemble, Brass ensemble, Chamber Choir Group

Age Groups & Program Duration:

• Group A. Born in 2017 or later: up to 5 min
• Group B. Born in 2015 or 2016: up to 5 min
• Group C. Born in 2013 or 2014: up to 7 min
• Group D. Born in 2011 or 2012: up to 7 min
• Group E. Born in 2009 or 2010: up to 10 min
• Group F. Born in 2007 or 2008: up to 10 min
• Group G. Born in 2005 or 2006: up to 15 min
• Group H. Born in 2003 or 2004: up to 15 min
• Group I. Born in 2001 or 2002: up to 20 min
• Group J. Born in 1999 or 2000: up to 20 min
• Group K. Born in 1997 or 1998: up to 20 min
• Group L. Born in 1996 or before: up to 20 min

*For Chamber Music, the age category is determined by the average age of the members of the group.

Repertoire

Submit ONLY ONE VIDEO in total for your entry.  The entry video can be from any of the following periods below:

• Early Music
• Baroque
• Classical
• Romantic
• Modern Classical or Contemporary Music

Video Submission

The video recording must be created and uploaded within 12 months prior to the participant’s application date.

The recorded video must be made by the applicant. The performer’s face and the body parts used to play the instrument must be clearly visible on the video. *Audio-only links are not accepted in this contest.

Videos of different pieces of music can be joined into one video link. Sound effects cannot be added.

This competition accepts links to the main global video websites: YouTube, Vimeo, BiliBili or Youku.

*For entries that exceed the maximum time limit, adjudicators will only listen to the portions of the submitted repertoire that do not exceed the time limit.

COMPETITION FORMAT

The competition is divided into a Preliminary Round and a Final Round. Both rounds are online.

(The same entry video is used for the Final Round).

Preliminary Round (FREE ENTRY)

Participants are required to fill in the Preliminary Round application form on the “Free Entry” page, submitting a video recording link of their music performance.

Please be sure to fully comply with the Video Requirements for Preliminary Round. If there is a situation that does not comply with the following rules, participants will automatically lose their qualifications for the Final Round.

Contestants approved to advance to the Final Round will participate in the competition with the same piece submitted for the initial screening.

Only those who are selected in the Preliminary Round (initial screening) are entitled to advance to the Final Round (the same entry video is used for both rounds).

Final Round (INVITATION & APPLICATION)

If you are approved by the judges to pass the Preliminary Round, you will receive an email invitation with instructions on how to apply to the Final Round. Email invitations will be sent on the Finalist Announcement Date of the Competition Schedule section.

Participants who are allowed to advance will use the same work submitted during the preliminary round as the content for the final round.

Finals applicants are required to use the link in the email to complete the final round application before the deadline.

Once the application is completed and the “Submit” button is pressed, applicants will be redirected to the security payment link through the official website of the competition.

Please confirm correct name and spelling for the certificate and winners posted on our website and social media in English characters.

Final Round application fee details:

1.Soloist finals application fee: USD $85/person
2.Chamber Group finals application fee (2-4 persons): USD $55/person X the number of persons
3.Chamber Group finals application fee (over 5-person ensemble): USD $250/group

*The final application fee is a non-refundable one-off voluntary payment.

*Minors’ guardians need to sign a separate notice of “Allowing the Competition Organizer to Use Minors’ Names on Websites and Social Media” to allow the CIMC to publish awards and personal images, video materials, and biography on major social media platforms around the world.

Judgement

To ensure fairer competition, the identity of the judges will be concealed for privacy and impartiality reasons.

Each jury score will be evaluated through the video materials presented by each participant. The final selections of winners will be based solely on the video recordings submitted. Judges will be independent. The judges’ votes remain strictly confidential and will not be shared or published. All judges’ decisions will be final and irrevocable.

Each judge gives points (0-50) evaluating the performances according to the following criteria: intonation (0-10), articulation/diction (0-10), rhythmical precision (0-10), interpretation and musicality (0-10), the level of program (0-10). The final score will be the average of the scores given by the individual judges.

The prizes are given according to the following table:

Grand Prize: 50 points
1st Prize: 47-48 points
2nd Prize: 43-46 points
3rd Prize: 39-42 points
4th Prize: 36-38 points
Special Mention: 33-35 points
Honorable Mention: 30-32 points