Music International Grand Prix
REGISTRATION DEADLINES:
Opens August 1, 2024
Final Deadline: January 1, 2025
ENTRANCE FEES: (All Fees are non-refundable)
Registration Fee: $75 for Individuals, $150 for Ensembles
Semifinal Fee: $150 (If you are invited to the Semifinals)
Finals: No Fees
Winners Concert: No Fees
To register the same person in multiple categories, pay all registration fees up front, then we will deduct $50 per extra registration out of your Semifinal Fees if accepted to the Semifinal.
COMPETITION DATES:
Semifinals: February - March, 2025
Finals: Friday April 25, 2025, 10 am - 3 pm, Piano Piano Studios, NYC
Winners Concert: Saturday April 26, 2025, 12:00 pm, Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center, NYC
AGE CATEGORIES:
Enter in the category for your age as of January 1, 2025.
Youth: 6-12
Teen: 13-19
Adult: 20 +
INSTRUMENT CATEGORIES:
Classical Voice
(Opera, Art Song, Oratorio)
Popular Voice
(Musical Theatre, Pop, Rock, Jazz, etc.)
Piano
Strings
(violin, viola, cello, bass, guitar, harp, other)
Winds & Brass
(any orchestral woodwind and brass instruments)
Ensembles
(small ensembles, bands, choirs)
Composition
(new, original composition, any style)
NEW! World Music
Music from non-Western countries, including quasi-traditional, intercultural, and traditional music.
AWARDS:
CASH PRIZE: Grand Prix Award: $5000
PERFORMANCE AWARDS: Perform in a World Music Concert through the Chinese Musicians Association of North America; Perform with the Orquesta Filarmónica Municipal de Guayaquil
SCHOLARSHIPS:
REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS:
Classical Voice:
A classical art song, opera aria, concert aria, or oratorio aria. Not allowed in this category are classical style musical theater songs.
Popular Voice:
Musical Theatre, Pop, Rock, Country, Jazz, etc., or an Original Song in non-Classical style (no profanity in lyrics allowed).
Piano, Strings, Woodwinds & Brass:
Any selection of repertoire (classical, contemporary, or original repertoire) showing your highest level of technique and artistry.
World Music:
Music from non-Western countries, including quasi-traditional, intercultural, and traditional music.
Ensembles:
Any selection of repertoire (classical, contemporary, or original repertoire.)
Composition:
Composers must submit original work that they composed themselves. Please submit a PDF of your score, and either a video or an audio file of the music.
QUARTERFINAL VIDEO SUBMISSIONS:
• Please submit ONLY ONE video with ONE selection up to 10 minutes. This selection will also be used for your live Semifinal audition repertoire, no exceptions.
• Videos must be current. Do not submit a video that is more than one year old.
• Please title your video with your name, instrument, and the repertoire you are performing. If the video is titled, announcing the slate is not necessary.
• Videos should provide a clear view of the applicant(s) playing their instrument(s) or singing.
• Please submit a Youtube or VIMEO URL to see your video which is not password protected.
• If you are entering in two separate categories, please submit two separate videos with separate URLS.
SEMIFINAL AUDITIONS:
ACCOMPANIMENT:
• Performing without an accompanist is allowed.
• Performing to a recorded track is allowed.
• Recorded tracks for Popular Singers may be used at the Finals but you must play from your phone or ipad.
• You may bring your own accompanist, or reserve a staff accompanist for a fee. Remember that staff accompanists are simply that, and only have a few minutes to rehearse with you beforehand. If you want to perform with a pianist who knows you well, then it's preferable to bring your own accompanist.
FINAL AUDITIONS:
WINNERS CONCERT:
1st place winners who are selected to perform at the Winners Concert must perform the same repertoire they performed at the Finals. All Finalists and 1st Place Winners must perform in-person in NYC. There is no Zooming or sending videos for the Finals or the Winners Concert.
JUDGING PROCESS:
• Submit a video to determine if you can advance to the Semifinal auditions.
• After the Semifinals are complete, top scoring Semifinalists will be invited to the Finals. (Usually a score of 95 or above out of 100.)
• Judges will be judging on both technique and artistry.
• The Finalists will compete at Piano Piano Studios on West 65th street near Lincoln Center in NYC on Friday, April 25, 2025.
• The Winners Concert and presentation of awards is at Merkin Hall in NYC on Saturday, April 26, 2025. The 1st place winners from each category will perform at the concert to compete for the Grand Prix Award.
• Judges decisions’ are final and may not be disputed.
OTHER POLICIES:
• Certificates will be awarded for the highest level that a contestant reaches in the competition. If you do not pass to the Finals, you will receive a Semifinal Certificate. If you are a Finalist but not a winner, you will receive a Finalist Certificate. If you are a winner, you will receive a Winners Certificate.
• Feedback and scores will be provided at the Semifinal level. At the Finals, judges will simply be choosing the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.
• Details about the Winners Concert will be provided to all participating Finalists after notification of acceptance to the Finals.
• All Finalists will have their names printed in the Merkin Concert Hall Program.
• 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place winners receive medals.
• Contestants must be present at the Winners Concert to collect medals.
• The Judges reserve the right not to award a prize in any particular category.
• All contestants are responsible for their own travel and hotel expenses.
Opens August 1, 2024
Final Deadline: January 1, 2025
ENTRANCE FEES: (All Fees are non-refundable)
Registration Fee: $75 for Individuals, $150 for Ensembles
Semifinal Fee: $150 (If you are invited to the Semifinals)
Finals: No Fees
Winners Concert: No Fees
To register the same person in multiple categories, pay all registration fees up front, then we will deduct $50 per extra registration out of your Semifinal Fees if accepted to the Semifinal.
COMPETITION DATES:
Semifinals: February - March, 2025
Finals: Friday April 25, 2025, 10 am - 3 pm, Piano Piano Studios, NYC
Winners Concert: Saturday April 26, 2025, 12:00 pm, Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center, NYC
AGE CATEGORIES:
Enter in the category for your age as of January 1, 2025.
Youth: 6-12
Teen: 13-19
Adult: 20 +
INSTRUMENT CATEGORIES:
Classical Voice
(Opera, Art Song, Oratorio)
Popular Voice
(Musical Theatre, Pop, Rock, Jazz, etc.)
Piano
Strings
(violin, viola, cello, bass, guitar, harp, other)
Winds & Brass
(any orchestral woodwind and brass instruments)
Ensembles
(small ensembles, bands, choirs)
Composition
(new, original composition, any style)
NEW! World Music
Music from non-Western countries, including quasi-traditional, intercultural, and traditional music.
AWARDS:
CASH PRIZE: Grand Prix Award: $5000
PERFORMANCE AWARDS: Perform in a World Music Concert through the Chinese Musicians Association of North America; Perform with the Orquesta Filarmónica Municipal de Guayaquil
SCHOLARSHIPS:
- Interlochen Arts Academy: Partial Scholarships to all 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Prize winners in the Youth and Teen Categories to an online or Summer Program in 2025 or 2026.
- AIMS Graz (American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria, for Singers) A partial scholarship to the 2025 Summer Program.
- Berlin Opera Academy (in Berlin, Germany, for Classical Singers) A partial scholarship to the 2025 Summer Program.
REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS:
Classical Voice:
A classical art song, opera aria, concert aria, or oratorio aria. Not allowed in this category are classical style musical theater songs.
Popular Voice:
Musical Theatre, Pop, Rock, Country, Jazz, etc., or an Original Song in non-Classical style (no profanity in lyrics allowed).
Piano, Strings, Woodwinds & Brass:
Any selection of repertoire (classical, contemporary, or original repertoire) showing your highest level of technique and artistry.
World Music:
Music from non-Western countries, including quasi-traditional, intercultural, and traditional music.
Ensembles:
Any selection of repertoire (classical, contemporary, or original repertoire.)
Composition:
Composers must submit original work that they composed themselves. Please submit a PDF of your score, and either a video or an audio file of the music.
QUARTERFINAL VIDEO SUBMISSIONS:
• Please submit ONLY ONE video with ONE selection up to 10 minutes. This selection will also be used for your live Semifinal audition repertoire, no exceptions.
• Videos must be current. Do not submit a video that is more than one year old.
• Please title your video with your name, instrument, and the repertoire you are performing. If the video is titled, announcing the slate is not necessary.
• Videos should provide a clear view of the applicant(s) playing their instrument(s) or singing.
• Please submit a Youtube or VIMEO URL to see your video which is not password protected.
• If you are entering in two separate categories, please submit two separate videos with separate URLS.
SEMIFINAL AUDITIONS:
- Those who are selected as Semifinalists will perform live in front of a panel of judges on Zoom. All Semifinals will be on Zoom in 2025.
- Semifinal auditions are usually limited to 10 minute time slots for instrumentalists and 5 minute time slots for singers.
- You must perform the same piece in the Semifinal as your original video submission.
- All participating Semifinalists will receive scores and judges’ comments.
ACCOMPANIMENT:
• Performing without an accompanist is allowed.
• Performing to a recorded track is allowed.
• Recorded tracks for Popular Singers may be used at the Finals but you must play from your phone or ipad.
• You may bring your own accompanist, or reserve a staff accompanist for a fee. Remember that staff accompanists are simply that, and only have a few minutes to rehearse with you beforehand. If you want to perform with a pianist who knows you well, then it's preferable to bring your own accompanist.
FINAL AUDITIONS:
- Contestants who advance to the Finals must perform a different selection than their Quarterfinal/Semifinal selections. The Finals are held in New York City live in front of judges.
- 1st place winners will be announced at the completion of the Finals, and they will perform the next day at the Winners Concert to compete for the Grand Prix.
- Finalists will attend the Winners Concert where 2nd and 3rd place winners will be announced, as well as the scholarships and performance prizes, and medals will be awarded.
- There will be no judges’ comments at the Final round, they will simply be choosing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.
WINNERS CONCERT:
1st place winners who are selected to perform at the Winners Concert must perform the same repertoire they performed at the Finals. All Finalists and 1st Place Winners must perform in-person in NYC. There is no Zooming or sending videos for the Finals or the Winners Concert.
JUDGING PROCESS:
• Submit a video to determine if you can advance to the Semifinal auditions.
• After the Semifinals are complete, top scoring Semifinalists will be invited to the Finals. (Usually a score of 95 or above out of 100.)
• Judges will be judging on both technique and artistry.
• The Finalists will compete at Piano Piano Studios on West 65th street near Lincoln Center in NYC on Friday, April 25, 2025.
• The Winners Concert and presentation of awards is at Merkin Hall in NYC on Saturday, April 26, 2025. The 1st place winners from each category will perform at the concert to compete for the Grand Prix Award.
• Judges decisions’ are final and may not be disputed.
OTHER POLICIES:
• Certificates will be awarded for the highest level that a contestant reaches in the competition. If you do not pass to the Finals, you will receive a Semifinal Certificate. If you are a Finalist but not a winner, you will receive a Finalist Certificate. If you are a winner, you will receive a Winners Certificate.
• Feedback and scores will be provided at the Semifinal level. At the Finals, judges will simply be choosing the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.
• Details about the Winners Concert will be provided to all participating Finalists after notification of acceptance to the Finals.
• All Finalists will have their names printed in the Merkin Concert Hall Program.
• 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place winners receive medals.
• Contestants must be present at the Winners Concert to collect medals.
• The Judges reserve the right not to award a prize in any particular category.
• All contestants are responsible for their own travel and hotel expenses.