ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL KYOTO · 202708–10 AUGUST 2027 · ROHM THEATRE KYOTO
KYOTO 2027 · INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION
国際音楽コンクール
International Music Competition
An international music competition in Japan,
held live in Kyoto as part of KYOTO 2027.
Eligibility, performance regulations, adjudication and application documents.
Guidelines and entry forms can be downloaded below.
壹
01 / COMPETITION OVERVIEW
Competition Overview
The Sōkyō Arts Music Festival in Kyoto invites solo performers, chamber ensembles and ensembles of all kinds to take part on a professional stage. The competition includes professional adjudication and feedback for participants.
01
Live Performance
Compete through live performance or singing.
Check in and perform according to the official schedule.
02
International Professional Jury
Overall scoring across five criteria.
Jury members will be as announced on the official website.
03
A Competition Within a Festival
Masterclasses, concerts and exchange events
are confirmed separately according to your chosen participation plan.
Competitive Participation
Perform in your category and receive scores, award results and professional feedback.
Non-Competitive Performance
Those interested in concerts or exchange performances may enquire separately about performance plans; these are not included in the competition assessment.
- Festival Dates
- 8–10 August 2027Festival dates are not the same as each category's competition dates.
- Category Schedule / Check-in
- To be announcedPlease refer to the official notice received by each individual or group.
- Entry Deadline / Fees
- To be announcedPlease first confirm the items you need and the applicable participation plan.
貳
02 / CATEGORIES & ELIGIBILITY
Categories & Eligibility
First choose a category by performance format, then confirm your age group and performance time. There are seven categories: Solo & Vocal, Chamber Music, Ensemble, Orchestra, Wind Band, Folk Instruments and Choir.
ソロ・声楽
IInstrumental and vocal solo
Divided by instrument or voice type; for individual instrumentalists and solo singers.
室内楽
IIChamber music and small ensembles
Recommended 2–9 performers, including duos, trios, quartets and small chamber groups. Please provide the full instrumentation and member details.
Count only the performers who actually compete; a soloist's piano accompanist does not make an entry chamber music.
アンサンブル
IIIEnsembles and mixed instrumentation
Recommended 10 or more performers, covering string orchestras, cello ensembles, wind ensembles and mixed groups. Please note part allocation and whether a conductor is needed.
For special instrumentation or mixed-age teams, please ask which category applies. Large wind groups belong to Wind Band; traditional Chinese instrument orchestras belong to Chinese Orchestra.
オーケストラ
IVOrchestras
Chamber orchestras, symphony orchestras and youth orchestras. Stage layout and equipment needs are confirmed after review.
吹奏楽
VWind bands and concert bands
Wind bands, concert bands, symphonic bands and large wind ensembles. Known as 吹奏楽部 in Japan; Concert Band, Wind Band or Symphonic Band elsewhere — all belong to this track.
民族楽器
VIChinese orchestra
Orchestras of traditional Chinese instruments, comprising wind, bowed-string, plucked-string and percussion sections. Known as Guoyue (Taiwan), Zhongyue (Hong Kong), Huayue (Singapore and Malaysia) and Minzu Yuetuan (mainland China) — all belong to this track.
合唱
VIIChoirs
Children's, youth, mixed, equal-voice and chamber choirs. Sub-division and size rules to be announced.
Age Groups & Performance Times
Age in full years as of August 8, 2027 is used: individuals are grouped by their own age, and groups by the age of their oldest competing member. Conductors and accompanists who only accompany are not counted in a group's age. The age ranges are arranged into non-overlapping bands.
| Division | Age range | Time limit |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 5 and under | 2 min |
| Intermediate | 6–7 | 2 min |
| Children | 8–10 | 3 min |
| Junior | 11–13 | 4 min |
| Youth | 14–15 | 5 min |
| Advanced | 16–18 | 6 min |
| Adult | 19–25 | 6 min |
| Open | 26 and over | 6 min |
Group categories begin at the Intermediate level; the Intermediate group is for ages 7 and under. Mixed-age groups are placed by the age of their oldest member; special formats are confirmed by the organizer.
參
03 / REPERTOIRE & REGULATIONS
Performance Regulations
The following are the 2027 rules; once the official guidelines are announced, the guidelines prevail. Please confirm the repertoire, timing, accompaniment and stage requirements for your entry type.
01Repertoire Selection & Scores
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Solo: one work or one complete movement of your choice; performing from memory is recommended. Chamber music and ensembles: one or more works of your choice, with a total duration within the time limit for your group.
Contrasting styles are recommended, and works by composers from your own country may be included. Please declare the title, composer, arranger, movement(s) and duration; excerpts must be clearly marked in the jury copy of the score. Set pieces and the number of score copies will be confirmed in the official guidelines.
02Time Limits & Start of Timing
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The performance is timed from the first note to the last note of the programmed repertoire. Pauses between pieces count towards the total; tuning and walking on and off stage, when approved by stage staff, are handled separately.
When the time limit is reached, please stop playing as signalled on site; any overtime will not be assessed. How performances are stopped and whether points are deducted will be stated in the official guidelines. There is no minimum time, so that repertoire can suit each performer's level.
The timing rules distinguish tuning from the performance itself. Please measure your repertoire's duration in actual rehearsal and leave room for a natural ending.
03Piano Accompaniment & Instrument Rental
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If you require piano accompaniment, please first indicate whether you will arrange your own or wish to request an official accompanist; the availability, rehearsals and fees of official services are subject to confirmation by the organizer.
Please specify any requirements for cello, double bass, large percussion or other instruments, including model, quantity, dates of use and accessories. Do not assume that rental is included in the entry fee.
View instrument rental information ↗04Check-in, Waiting Area & Stage Setup
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Please confirm your check-in time, identity verification, waiting area and performance order as notified by the organizer. Groups should submit their member list, part layout, and requirements for chairs, music stands and large equipment in advance.
Procedures for late arrival, whether walking on and off stage is timed, on-site audio and video recording, venue rehearsals and the scope of stage crew support will be confirmed in the official notice.
05Changes, Withdrawal & Use of Images
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Changes to category, member list or repertoire must be requested by the original contact person and confirmed by the organizer. Repertoire and instrumentation are finalized 30 days before the competition; any necessary changes will be handled individually by the organizer.
Clear terms for withdrawal, refunds, postponement or event cancellation will be provided before any fees are collected. The participation of minors must be confirmed by a parent or guardian; the use of images and the handling of personal data will be communicated separately, with any necessary consent obtained.
肆
04 / ASSESSMENT & AWARDS
Scoring & Awards
Five Assessment Criteria
ScoringTechnique Technique
Control, accuracy and fundamental technique.
Musicality Musicality
Phrasing, expression, breathing and musical communication.
Interpretation Interpretation
Stylistic understanding, content of the work and artistic choices.
Tone / Ensemble Tone & Ensemble
Tone colour, balance and ensemble quality.
Stage Presentation Stage Presence
Stage presence and artistic communication.
Judging Procedures & Feedback
- Jurors declare any teacher–student, family or other conflicts of interest in advance, and the organizer arranges recusal.
- Valid jury scores are averaged arithmetically and rounded to two decimal places.
- An overall result and general comments will be provided; the extent to which rankings and individual jurors' scores are made public will be explained separately in the guidelines.
- Administrative or scoring queries should be raised within 48 hours of the results announcement; they are received and reviewed by the organizer.
Awards & Honours
Silver Award
84 points or above, below 88Bronze Award
80 points or above, below 84Awards are score-based, so multiple individuals / groups may receive the same award level; participants scoring below 80 receive a certificate of participation. Trophies, certificates and tie arrangements will be confirmed by the organizer.
Outstanding Performance Award
Concert Performance
Outstanding performers are planned to be selected by the jury panel to perform in a concert. The number of places, applicable group sizes and performance arrangements are to be announced; receiving an award or applying does not automatically secure a concert performance slot.
Jury & Artists ↗伍
05 / APPLICATION & PREPARATION
Application Steps
Submit your application first; after review and confirmation by the organizer, provide the complete competition and administrative information as notified.
- 01
Read the Guidelines · Prepare Materials
Confirm your category and prepare your individual or group profile, instrumentation, number of performers and proposed repertoire, using the entry forms below.
- 02
Submit Online · Await Review
Submit your application via "Apply & Register" on the official website. The forms are for preparing your information; downloading them does not in itself constitute registration.
- 03
Approval · Complete Your Information
As notified, submit your member list, repertoire and requirements for instrument rental, masterclasses, accommodation and transport, and confirm the applicable plan and payment instructions.
- 04
Confirm Schedule · Check In
Check your category, performance order, check-in and waiting times, and perform according to the official schedule. Results and award information will be as announced by the organizer.
Before submitting your application, please prepare
- Name in Chinese / English, or the group's official name
- Category, instrument / instrumentation and actual number of performers
- Contact person, Email and other contact details
- Date of birth or members' age information
- Proposed repertoire, composer, movement(s) and duration
- Intended requests for accompaniment, rental and other services
Personal documents such as copies of identification should be provided through the designated channel as notified by the organizer.
Entry Fees & Optional Services
Fees, refund conditions and payment deadlines are to be announced. For masterclasses, official accompaniment, instrument rental, travel and accommodation, please check against your confirmed plan whether they are included and how they are priced.
06 / DOCUMENTS & ENTRY FORMS
Guidelines & Entry Forms
Download the competition guidelines and application forms to review with your teacher and team.
要項
KYOTO 2027
国際音楽
コンクール
Competition Guidelines
COMPETITION GUIDELINES2027 · V1Competition structure, age and time-limit tables, adjudication system, performance regulations and application process.
Download GuidelinesKYOTO 2027
ソロ・声楽
Solo Entry Form
SOLO ENTRY FORM2027 · V1Personal details, instrument / vocal category, repertoire, and accompaniment and service requests.
Download Solo Entry FormKYOTO 2027
室内楽・合奏
Group Entry Form
GROUP ENTRY FORM2027 · V1Group and contact person details, repertoire, stage requirements, and a member list that can be photocopied to add more members.
Download Group Entry FormThe above is not the official application guidelines. Once the official announcement is made, please use the latest official version; downloading or completing forms does not confer eligibility to compete.
BEFORE YOU APPLY
Frequently asked questions
Does downloading the entry form complete my registration?
Not yet. The forms are for organizing your information. Please submit your official application through the website and await the review result, then complete your information and fee confirmation as notified by the organizer.
Which category should a mixed-age group, or a group of exactly 10, enter?
Chamber music is for 2–9 performers and ensemble for 10 or more; groups are placed by the age in full years of their oldest competing member. Orchestra, choir and special formats will be confirmed by the organizer based on actual circumstances.
Does entering the competition always include masterclasses and concerts?
Please check what is included in your confirmed participation plan. Masterclasses, official concert performances, rehearsals, instrument rental, travel and accommodation each require separate confirmation of eligibility, places and fees.
Can I plan my repertoire and travel based on this version now?
You may begin preparing your intention to participate and candidate repertoire. Please finalize your arrangements only after eligibility, time limits, check-in dates and service arrangements have been confirmed in the guidelines and individual notices.
参加申込
Go to Official Application Page