Rules & Regulations
The goal of the US-Canadian International Music Competition (Online) is to challenge musicians, music students and music professionals of all ages and levels to perform in a formal, competitive yet supportive environment. We welcome participants from all over the world to participate in our competition. There is no age limit for applicants.
Competition categories - solo, duo, trio, quartet, quintet, ensembles, and concerto competition, choir, orchestral categories for all instruments including but not limited to piano, strings (violin, cello, guitar), wind, brass instruments, percussion, harp, voice, guitar, ukulele, accordion, harp, harpsichord, accordion, and all traditional and ethnic instruments. Composition, music arrangement, music cover, music production, musical theatre are also welcome.
If your instrument is not listed here, simply send us an email to inquire.
Genres accepted include:
Classical, jazz, contemporary, pop and traditional music, ethnic and folk music and Chinese traditional music (including Chinese Opera).
Instruments accepted:
Piano, Strings (Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass), Woodwind (Recorder, Piccolo, Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon), Brass (Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, French Horn, Tuba, Saxophone), Harp, Harpsichord, Organ, Accordion, Guitar, Ukulele, Mandolin, Banjo, Bagpipe, Percussion (Example: Drums, Timpani, Xylophone, Glockenspiel), Harmonica, Melodica, Traditional Instruments (E.g. Bouzouki, Khim, Pipa, Erhu, Guzheng, Guqin, Suona and others), Voice (Solo, ensemble, choir), Musical Theatre, Composition, Music Cover, Music Arrangement, and Conducting.
Applicants of each category will be placed in the appropriate age group(s) based on experience. There is no age limit imposed for this competition.
Ensemble size: There is no limit to the number of participants in the ensembles. Small, medium, large ensembles as well as choirs and orchestras are welcome to participate.
This competition consists of two rounds — the Preliminary (First Round) and the Final (Second Round). Successful completion of both rounds is necessary to be eligible for any prizes, awards, or certificates.
IMPORTANT DATES
FIRST ROUND (PRELIMINARY ROUND)
Commencement of Application: 3 November 2025
Deadline for First Round: 17 February 2026
Application forms, application payment, and videos must all be submitted by 17 February 2026.
Adjudication Period (First Round): 18 February to 20 February 2026
Announcement of Results for First Round: 21st February 2026
Applicants who successfully passed the first round will be notified by email.
SECOND ROUND (FINAL ROUND)
Only successful applicants passing the first round are eligible to apply for the second round.
Application period: 21st February 2026 to 28th February 2026
Deadline for Final Round: 28 February 2026
Application forms, application payment, and videos must all be submitted by 24 February 2026.
Adjudication Period: 1st March to 10th March 2026
Announcement of Results for Second Round: 16 March 2026
MARKING SYSTEM (for Final Round)
Absolute Platinum Award: 98–100%
Platinum Award: 95–97%
Gold Award: 90–94%
Silver Award: 85–89%
Bronze Award: 80–84%
Honorable Mention: 76–79% and above
Certificate of Participation
PRIZES AND AWARDS (For Final Round only)
SPECIAL UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES
AVAILABLE ONLY AT US-CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION
Top Winners’ Laureate Circle
Top prize winners (including Gold, Platinum & Absolute Platinum laureates) will automatically be admitted into the US-Canadian Artist International Music Competition Laureate Circle. Online concert performance opportunities will be available to facilitate the performance experience and career development of young musicians.
Letter of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation for winners of five consecutive years will be provided upon request, which are useful for scholarship applications as well as college and university applications. A special prize and certificate will be awarded to winners of five consecutive years in the US-Canadian International Music Competition.
Teachers’ Certificates
Teachers of winners may receive certificates of recognition upon request.
Top Teacher Awards
Special awards will be presented to the teachers of students with the highest scores (above 98%).
Special interviews will be offered to top prize-winning teachers and will be published in major international news networks.
Special invitation for teachers who have very outstanding student participants to join the jury panel for 2026 US-Canadian International Music Competition.
RULES & REGULATIONS
Categories: All Instruments including all classical musical instruments (e.g., Piano, Strings, Wind, Brass, Percussion, Harp, Accordion, and any orchestral instrument) & Voice, Musical Theatre, Traditional and Ethnic instruments, Chinese Opera, Music Composition.
Participants can submit a link of a video recording of their performance. One piece of music per application.
For music composition category, a recorded performance (either a recorded live performance, or a performance presented via MIDI uploaded on YouTube) will be accepted.
Incomplete applications or failure to submit all the required documents will not be considered.
If a member of the jury has taught a competitor within the last five years, he/she will abstain from assessing that competitor.
Candidates cannot claim legal rights to recordings, photos or broadcasts that may be made in connection with the competition. All legal rights are reserved by the US-Canadian International Music Competition and no fee or royalty will be payable to any competitor for performances, photos, recordings, social media, music or television broadcasts.
VIDEO REQUIREMENTS
For music performance – an unedited video of the performance forwarded to us as a YouTube link. Edited videos will not be accepted.
For music composition, music cover, and music production – videos are allowed to be edited.
Duration of a piece: There is no limitation to the duration of the piece. However, it must be either one piece of music (complete in one movement) or one movement of a larger-scale work (such as a sonata or concerto).
Make sure that the video is set to either PUBLIC or UNLISTED on YouTube. Private links on YouTube are not openable and hence will not be accepted. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the video link is openable.
Should an applicant wish to submit more than one piece of music, he/she is required to submit the second piece as a separate entry.
We do not accept any videos in form of a downloadable link. Videos must be submitted as a YouTube link (set to public or unlisted). Failure to provide an openable link may lead to disqualification.
The video must clearly show the face and hands of the performer.
Professional quality recording is not mandatory. However, the sound must be clearly audible.
For music composition category, a recorded performance (either a recorded live performance, or a performance presented via MIDI uploaded on YouTube) will be accepted. Note that we do not accept any files that require download. Only YouTube links will be accepted.
Applicants have the option to choose to use either the same video or different videos for preliminary and final rounds.
On the video, please clearly indicate whether the video is for the Preliminary or Final Round of US-Canadian International Music Competition. Also include the name of the applicant, and the title of the repertoire.
Please DO NOT introduce yourself in the video.
Please note that we do not accept video files that require download. Do not submit any video files through a link to Google Drive.
Applicants who are admitted into the final round may choose to use the same piece of music or a different piece of music. However, the instrument must be the same as the one which the applicant passed performing in the first round.
All videos submitted must be recorded after 1st February 2025.
Category Divisions (for both Performance and Composition)
Pre-Junior – Ages 6 and under
Junior – Ages 7 to 11
Youth – Ages 12 to 16
Collegiate – Ages 17 to 20 (Music Majors, Conservatory Students)
Professional Musician – Ages 21 and above (Performers with professional degrees or comparable performance standards; career musicians)
Open Category (for Music Enthusiasts & Non-Music Professionals) – Ages 21 and above (Professionals in other disciplines other than music but pursue music seriously outside of one’s career)
Adult Amateur – Ages 21 and above (non-music majors who play music for enjoyment).
Repertoire Requirement
Free repertoire choice. One piece of music per application. One piece of music (free choice) that is reflective of the applicant’s current level of performance. One piece of music refers to a piece that contains only one movement, or one movement taken from a larger-scale work such as a sonata or concerto.
Applicants may choose to submit either the same piece or a different piece of music for the preliminary and final rounds. However, for the final round, applicants are required to submit videos of the same instrument as they passed in the first round, although the genre of music may differ.
Examples:
Acceptable: Preliminary (Piano solo / Classical) → Final (Piano solo / Any genre)
Acceptable: Preliminary (Violin duo / Classical) → Final (Violin duo / Any genre)
Not Acceptable: Preliminary (Piano solo / Classical) → Final (Trumpet solo / Any genre)
Not Acceptable: Preliminary (Violin duo) → Final (Composition for Violin)
If applicants have any queries, please email [email protected] to clarify.
Multiple submissions: If applicants wish to submit different instruments or genres, they may make multiple submissions (for both preliminary and final rounds).
Music Scores
Participants are required to submit electronic copies of their scores within three days of their application.
Latest date for score submission for the First Round: 17th February 2026
Latest date for score submission for the Final Round: 29th February 2026
Failure to submit the scores in time may lead to disqualification.
Please do not mail any physical scores. Only electronic scores sent to [email protected] will be accepted.
Memorization is not mandatory, but extra bonus marks will be awarded to performances delivered by memory.
One application per piece of music. Candidates wishing to play more than one piece (same instrument) or compete in another instrument, genre or category must make separate applications.
Candidates who fail to submit their videos by the deadline will be disqualified.
All application fees submitted are non-refundable.
APPLICATION FEES
Preliminary Round:
$145 per application (per solo instrument / per individual participant for ensemble)
For details of application fees for different ensemble sizes, choirs and orchestras, please visit the payment page.
Final Round:
$175 per application (per solo instrument / per individual participant for ensemble)
For details of ensemble fees, please visit the payment page.
Full payment must be made upon registration.
Only applicants who have successfully passed the first round are eligible to apply for the second round.
Late Fee: $25 will be charged for all late applications.
JUDGING
The decision of the jury is final and cannot be appealed.
Multiple awards may be given in each age category.
Any candidate who does not comply with the competition’s regulations or provides false information will be disqualified.
Comment sheets will not be provided.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Competition categories - solo, duo, trio, quartet, quintet, ensembles, and concerto competition, choir, orchestral categories for all instruments including but not limited to piano, strings (violin, cello, guitar), wind, brass instruments, percussion, harp, voice, guitar, ukulele, accordion, harp, harpsichord, accordion, and all traditional and ethnic instruments. Composition, music arrangement, music cover, music production, musical theatre are also welcome.
If your instrument is not listed here, simply send us an email to inquire.
Genres accepted include:
Classical, jazz, contemporary, pop and traditional music, ethnic and folk music and Chinese traditional music (including Chinese Opera).
Instruments accepted:
Piano, Strings (Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass), Woodwind (Recorder, Piccolo, Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon), Brass (Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, French Horn, Tuba, Saxophone), Harp, Harpsichord, Organ, Accordion, Guitar, Ukulele, Mandolin, Banjo, Bagpipe, Percussion (Example: Drums, Timpani, Xylophone, Glockenspiel), Harmonica, Melodica, Traditional Instruments (E.g. Bouzouki, Khim, Pipa, Erhu, Guzheng, Guqin, Suona and others), Voice (Solo, ensemble, choir), Musical Theatre, Composition, Music Cover, Music Arrangement, and Conducting.
Applicants of each category will be placed in the appropriate age group(s) based on experience. There is no age limit imposed for this competition.
Ensemble size: There is no limit to the number of participants in the ensembles. Small, medium, large ensembles as well as choirs and orchestras are welcome to participate.
This competition consists of two rounds — the Preliminary (First Round) and the Final (Second Round). Successful completion of both rounds is necessary to be eligible for any prizes, awards, or certificates.
IMPORTANT DATES
FIRST ROUND (PRELIMINARY ROUND)
Commencement of Application: 3 November 2025
Deadline for First Round: 17 February 2026
Application forms, application payment, and videos must all be submitted by 17 February 2026.
Adjudication Period (First Round): 18 February to 20 February 2026
Announcement of Results for First Round: 21st February 2026
Applicants who successfully passed the first round will be notified by email.
SECOND ROUND (FINAL ROUND)
Only successful applicants passing the first round are eligible to apply for the second round.
Application period: 21st February 2026 to 28th February 2026
Deadline for Final Round: 28 February 2026
Application forms, application payment, and videos must all be submitted by 24 February 2026.
Adjudication Period: 1st March to 10th March 2026
Announcement of Results for Second Round: 16 March 2026
MARKING SYSTEM (for Final Round)
Absolute Platinum Award: 98–100%
Platinum Award: 95–97%
Gold Award: 90–94%
Silver Award: 85–89%
Bronze Award: 80–84%
Honorable Mention: 76–79% and above
Certificate of Participation
PRIZES AND AWARDS (For Final Round only)
- Prizes, certificates and medals are awarded to Final Round winners only.
The results of the first round only indicate whether a participant is accepted into the Final Round.
SPECIAL UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES
AVAILABLE ONLY AT US-CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION
- Top winners will be featured in an online video interview.
- Top winners will be featured in major news networks worldwide such as CBS, NBC, FOX and more.
- Performances of top winners will be made available on YouTube Music, Spotify, SoundCloud and other music platforms.
- Special Masterclass opportunity in Europe in 2026 (LIVE) as recommended by the grand jury for outstanding young musicians.
- Winners will receive awards, medals, trophies and certificates.
- Top Winner – Opportunity to perform LIVE at New York Carnegie Hall at the end of 2026.
- Top Prize winners will be featured on our competition website and social media sites with a concert portrait, biography, and their prize-winning video. Special poster featuring top prize winners.
- Unique online performance opportunities for top prize winners.
- Grand Prizes and Scholarships
- Letters of recommendation for students who wish to strengthen their curriculum vitae, increasing the possibility for acceptance in musical institutions, colleges and universities, as well as scholarship and grant applications.
- Cash prizes will be awarded at the discretion of the jury. The jury reserves the right not to award any of the prizes; or to offer an ex aequo, splitting a prize between several contestants. Decisions of the adjudicators are FINAL.
Top Winners’ Laureate Circle
Top prize winners (including Gold, Platinum & Absolute Platinum laureates) will automatically be admitted into the US-Canadian Artist International Music Competition Laureate Circle. Online concert performance opportunities will be available to facilitate the performance experience and career development of young musicians.
Letter of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation for winners of five consecutive years will be provided upon request, which are useful for scholarship applications as well as college and university applications. A special prize and certificate will be awarded to winners of five consecutive years in the US-Canadian International Music Competition.
Teachers’ Certificates
Teachers of winners may receive certificates of recognition upon request.
Top Teacher Awards
Special awards will be presented to the teachers of students with the highest scores (above 98%).
Special interviews will be offered to top prize-winning teachers and will be published in major international news networks.
Special invitation for teachers who have very outstanding student participants to join the jury panel for 2026 US-Canadian International Music Competition.
RULES & REGULATIONS
Categories: All Instruments including all classical musical instruments (e.g., Piano, Strings, Wind, Brass, Percussion, Harp, Accordion, and any orchestral instrument) & Voice, Musical Theatre, Traditional and Ethnic instruments, Chinese Opera, Music Composition.
Participants can submit a link of a video recording of their performance. One piece of music per application.
For music composition category, a recorded performance (either a recorded live performance, or a performance presented via MIDI uploaded on YouTube) will be accepted.
Incomplete applications or failure to submit all the required documents will not be considered.
If a member of the jury has taught a competitor within the last five years, he/she will abstain from assessing that competitor.
Candidates cannot claim legal rights to recordings, photos or broadcasts that may be made in connection with the competition. All legal rights are reserved by the US-Canadian International Music Competition and no fee or royalty will be payable to any competitor for performances, photos, recordings, social media, music or television broadcasts.
VIDEO REQUIREMENTS
For music performance – an unedited video of the performance forwarded to us as a YouTube link. Edited videos will not be accepted.
For music composition, music cover, and music production – videos are allowed to be edited.
Duration of a piece: There is no limitation to the duration of the piece. However, it must be either one piece of music (complete in one movement) or one movement of a larger-scale work (such as a sonata or concerto).
Make sure that the video is set to either PUBLIC or UNLISTED on YouTube. Private links on YouTube are not openable and hence will not be accepted. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the video link is openable.
Should an applicant wish to submit more than one piece of music, he/she is required to submit the second piece as a separate entry.
We do not accept any videos in form of a downloadable link. Videos must be submitted as a YouTube link (set to public or unlisted). Failure to provide an openable link may lead to disqualification.
The video must clearly show the face and hands of the performer.
Professional quality recording is not mandatory. However, the sound must be clearly audible.
For music composition category, a recorded performance (either a recorded live performance, or a performance presented via MIDI uploaded on YouTube) will be accepted. Note that we do not accept any files that require download. Only YouTube links will be accepted.
Applicants have the option to choose to use either the same video or different videos for preliminary and final rounds.
On the video, please clearly indicate whether the video is for the Preliminary or Final Round of US-Canadian International Music Competition. Also include the name of the applicant, and the title of the repertoire.
Please DO NOT introduce yourself in the video.
Please note that we do not accept video files that require download. Do not submit any video files through a link to Google Drive.
Applicants who are admitted into the final round may choose to use the same piece of music or a different piece of music. However, the instrument must be the same as the one which the applicant passed performing in the first round.
All videos submitted must be recorded after 1st February 2025.
Category Divisions (for both Performance and Composition)
Pre-Junior – Ages 6 and under
Junior – Ages 7 to 11
Youth – Ages 12 to 16
Collegiate – Ages 17 to 20 (Music Majors, Conservatory Students)
Professional Musician – Ages 21 and above (Performers with professional degrees or comparable performance standards; career musicians)
Open Category (for Music Enthusiasts & Non-Music Professionals) – Ages 21 and above (Professionals in other disciplines other than music but pursue music seriously outside of one’s career)
Adult Amateur – Ages 21 and above (non-music majors who play music for enjoyment).
Repertoire Requirement
Free repertoire choice. One piece of music per application. One piece of music (free choice) that is reflective of the applicant’s current level of performance. One piece of music refers to a piece that contains only one movement, or one movement taken from a larger-scale work such as a sonata or concerto.
Applicants may choose to submit either the same piece or a different piece of music for the preliminary and final rounds. However, for the final round, applicants are required to submit videos of the same instrument as they passed in the first round, although the genre of music may differ.
Examples:
Acceptable: Preliminary (Piano solo / Classical) → Final (Piano solo / Any genre)
Acceptable: Preliminary (Violin duo / Classical) → Final (Violin duo / Any genre)
Not Acceptable: Preliminary (Piano solo / Classical) → Final (Trumpet solo / Any genre)
Not Acceptable: Preliminary (Violin duo) → Final (Composition for Violin)
If applicants have any queries, please email [email protected] to clarify.
Multiple submissions: If applicants wish to submit different instruments or genres, they may make multiple submissions (for both preliminary and final rounds).
Music Scores
Participants are required to submit electronic copies of their scores within three days of their application.
Latest date for score submission for the First Round: 17th February 2026
Latest date for score submission for the Final Round: 29th February 2026
Failure to submit the scores in time may lead to disqualification.
Please do not mail any physical scores. Only electronic scores sent to [email protected] will be accepted.
Memorization is not mandatory, but extra bonus marks will be awarded to performances delivered by memory.
One application per piece of music. Candidates wishing to play more than one piece (same instrument) or compete in another instrument, genre or category must make separate applications.
Candidates who fail to submit their videos by the deadline will be disqualified.
All application fees submitted are non-refundable.
APPLICATION FEES
Preliminary Round:
$145 per application (per solo instrument / per individual participant for ensemble)
For details of application fees for different ensemble sizes, choirs and orchestras, please visit the payment page.
Final Round:
$175 per application (per solo instrument / per individual participant for ensemble)
For details of ensemble fees, please visit the payment page.
Full payment must be made upon registration.
Only applicants who have successfully passed the first round are eligible to apply for the second round.
Late Fee: $25 will be charged for all late applications.
JUDGING
The decision of the jury is final and cannot be appealed.
Multiple awards may be given in each age category.
Any candidate who does not comply with the competition’s regulations or provides false information will be disqualified.
Comment sheets will not be provided.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
- All application fees are non-refundable.
- Judges who have previously taught or coached applicants (including in masterclasses) are not allowed to judge their performances.
- The decision of the jury is final with no appeal.
- US-Canadian International Music Competition will not respond to questions about other applicants or their submissions.
- All deadlines must be respected; failure to do so will lead to disqualification.
- All information provided will be safeguarded by privacy regulations.
- Attempts to contact jury members privately are strictly prohibited and will lead to disqualification.
- The US-Canadian International Music Competition reserves the right to amend its rules and regulations.
- The award of prizes, trophies, and cash awards is at the discretion of the jury.
- All application information must be truthful; false information results in disqualification.
- Applicants are responsible for providing correct contact and mailing addresses.
- Any attempt to sabotage or damage the competition’s reputation will lead to disqualification and possible legal action.
- By submitting an application, the competitor agrees to fully abide by all competition rules.
- Shipping of prizes and medals: No additional medals are issued for commemorative purposes. Combined shipping is available for teachers submitting multiple entries or individuals with multiple awards to reduce costs. No refunds for shipping fees.
© 2023-2025 by US-CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION
One World Trade Center, 85th Floor, Lower Manhattan , New York 10007, USA
One World Trade Center, 85th Floor, Lower Manhattan , New York 10007, USA