第8回仙台国際音楽コンクール｜The 8th Sendai International Music Competition

Guideline

About The 8th Competition

Ⅰ Application

01. Eligibility

The Competition is open to candidates of all nationalities born on or after January 1, 1992.

02. Start of Application Acceptance

Thursday, June 10, 2021

03. Application Deadline

The deadline for application is onWednesday, November 10, 2021, 12 o’clock midnight (Japan time).In the case of submitting application materials by post, the application package must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, November 10, 2021.

04. Application Method

The Applicant must submit the items listed in (i) – (v) below to the Secretariat by the application deadline. The Applicant must also pay the entry fee in (vi) by the application deadline.
(i) Application Click below to apply online. *Application period: June 10, 2021 through November 10, 2021
Violin Section
Piano Section
(ii) Photograph, or high quality image data, of the Applicant, taken within six months of the date of application Upload high quality image data at the time of application online, or send by post to the address below . In the case of sending by post, send two printed photographs (approx. 7 x 10 cm) with the Applicant’s full name written on the back in block letters, or high quality image data on CD-R, DVD-R, or the like.
  • *Photograph must be taken from the front, from the chest up.
  • *Photograph data must be high quality, of 700 x 1,000 pixels or higher.
  • *Photographs must be free of copyright.
  • *Photographs will be used in official programs, on the Competition’s official website, and for other public relations purposes.
(iii) One photocopy of an official document proving the Applicant’s age, such as a passport Upload the image data online at the time of application, or send the image data to the address below .
(iv) Uploading of video data containing the Applicant’s performance of the repertoire pieces for the Pre-Selection, or sending of DVD If the Applicant chooses to upload video data containing his/her performance of the repertoire pieces, the procedure below must be followed.
  • 1. By Wednesday, November 10, 2021, 12 o’clock midnight (Japan time), online application must be fully completed.
  • 2. Within 3 days after the completion of online application (or within 24 hours for applications received on or after November 8, 2021), the SIMC Secretariat will send a message to the Applicant’s E-mail address given by the Applicant at the time of his/her online application. This message from the Secretariat will provide the Applicant with an individual link for uploading his/her Video Data.
  • 3. To the link provided individually as above, the Applicant must upload his/her Video Data no later than Friday, November 12, 2021, 12 o’clock midnight (Japan time).
*Acceptable file formats are, MP4, AVI, MOV only. If the Applicant chooses to send a DVD containing his/her performance of the repertoire pieces, it must be sent by post to the address below. An identification number will be provided at the time of the online application, and this number must be shown on the label side of the DVD. The DVD must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, November 10, 2021.

*For details regarding uploading of the Video Data and submission of the DVD, please refer to “01. Pre-Selection” in the “The Repertoire” section. (>Violin Section >Piano Section )
(v) Photocopies of school certificate(s)/diploma(s) or competition award(s)/prize(s) Fill in “Musical Background” (music education, any awards/prizes won in other competitions) at the time of the online application. Please upload photocopies of the school certificate(s)/diploma(s) or competition award(s)/prize(s) listed there, or send the photocopies by post to the address below. The information the Applicant provides will be used for official programs, on the Competition’s official website, and for other public relations purposes. The information will have no impact on the screening process.
(vi) Entry Fee The entry fee of JPY 10,000 must be paid by credit card at the time of online application, or it must be paid into the following bank account by bank transfer by Wednesday, November 10, 2021.In the case of bank transfer, please send the entry fee to the following:
  • Bank: The 77 Bank, Ltd., Sendai Shiyakusho Branch
  • Bank Address: 3-7-1, Kokubun-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Pref., 980-8671, Japan
  • Swift Code: BOSSJPJT
  • Account No.: 5090814
  • Account Name: Zai. Sendaishi Shiminbunkajigyodan
  • *If the entry fee is not paid by the date specified above, the application may not be accepted.
  • *All bank charges shall be borne by the Applicant. (The charges for international bank transfer will be high.)
  • *The entry fee is not refundable for any reason.

Address for sending application materials

Secretariat of Sendai International Music Competition 3-27-5, Asahigaoka, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Pref., 981-0904, Japan Phone: +81-22-727-1872

Note

  • ・In the case of submitting application materials by post, they must be sent by a method that includes proof of delivery, such as registered mail, courier service, etc.
  • ・The application may not be processed if any part of the Submitted Materials is incomplete.
  • ・The Secretariat shall not be held responsible for any loss of application materials in the mail.
  • ・The Submitted Materials will not be returned.

05. Pre-Selection

A Pre-Selection shall be held to decide which Applicants qualify for the Competition. The Pre-Selection shall be done by evaluating the Video Data (including the DVD) as well as the Application Documents. (For the details of the Repertoire, >Violin Section >Piano Section.) Notification of the results of the Pre-Selection shall be made to the Applicants by Tuesday, February 15, 2022. Applicants who pass the Pre-Selection shall be informed of the details of the Competition.

Ⅱ Participation in the Competition

01. Registration

Contestants who pass the Pre-Selection must register in person at the place in Sendai City appointed by the Secretariat on the date listed below. If a Contestant fails to register for the Competition on the specified date, he/she shall be disqualified from the Competition.
Violin Section: Thursday, May 19, 2022
Piano Section: Thursday, June 9, 2022

02. Travel Expense Grants for Contestants

The Secretariat shall provide the grants specified below to Contestants who live outside of Japan to help them pay for round trip transportation to Sendai. The grants will be provided in JPY at the time of registration. The amounts vary by country/region as listed below. The Contestant shall bear the balance of the travel expenses.
Country / Region Amount of grant (tax included)
Asia JPY 50,000
Other JPY 100,000

・The travel expense grants shall be given after any necessary taxes are deducted. (The applicable tax rate is, in principle, 20.42%.)

03. Accommodation for Contestants

If the Contestant uses the accommodation of the Secretariat’s choice from the day of registration until the day specified below, the organizers shall pay the accommodation expenses (one single room basic room charge and breakfast) for the Contestant for the duration of his/her stay. All other expenses shall be borne by the Contestant.
Preliminary Round Contestants Two mornings after completion of Preliminary Round
Semifinalists Two mornings after completion of Semifinal Round
Finalists Two mornings after completion of Final Round

04. Practice

The following practice opportunities shall be provided free of charge during the Competition.
  • 1) For the Piano Section: A room equipped with a piano for the hours below, starting from the day after the Registration date.
    Preliminary Round Contestants 4 hours a day
    Semifinalists 8 hours a day
    Finalists 12 hours a day
  • 2) For the Violin Section: One rehearsal with the orchestra prior to the Preliminary Round. Rehearsal time will be limited to 40 minutes.
  • 3) For both Sections: One rehearsal with an orchestra in the Semifinal and Final Rounds. Rehearsal time (including the briefing with the conductor) will be limited as below:
    For Semifinalists of both sections 1 hour
    For Finalists of both sections 80 minutes
    Rehearsal time does not change according to the duration of the chosen pieces.

05. Order of Performances

The order of performances in the Preliminary Round and Semifinal Round of the Competition shall be decided based on a drawing at the time of registration. The order of performances in the Final Round shall be decided based on a drawing after the completion of the Semifinal Round.

06. Competition Performances

The Competition is open to the public. All performances from the Preliminary Round to the Prizewinners’ Gala Concert may be broadcast live on TV and/or radio and/or the Internet. Video and audio recordings of the performances may also be broadcast on TV and/or radio and/or the Internet.

07. Judgment

A Judging Committee consisting of 11 jury members shall judge the performances according to the Judgment Code (separately provided). The evaluation of each Contestant shall be made public. The jury members shall not judge the performances of any Contestants they have taught in the past two years. The jury members and Contestants are not permitted to be in contact during the Competition. Once a Contestant fails to pass a round, these rules will no longer apply to him/her from the next Round of the Competition and on. No objection or complaint shall be allowed concerning the decision made by the Judging Committee.

08. Prizes

    • 1) Prize Money
      First prize Cash prize of JPY 3,000,000, Diploma, Gold Medal
      Second prize Cash prize of JPY 2,000,000, Diploma, Silver Medal
      Third prize Cash prize of JPY 1,000,000, Diploma, Bronze Medal
      Fourth prize Cash prize of JPY 800,000, Diploma
      Fifth prize Cash prize of JPY 700,000, Diploma
      Sixth prize Cash prize of JPY 600,000, Diploma
      • ・The Judging Committee may decide not to award a place or may award the same ranking for several prizewinners. If several prizewinners are awarded the same rank, the total amount of the cash prizes for that ranking and the following ranking(s) shall be divided equally.
    • 2) Engagements for the Highest Ranked Prizewinner of Each Section
      • ① A minimum of three concert appearances (including Prizewinners’ Gala Concert) with the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra and other major Japanese orchestras in Japan by the end of December 2025.
      • ② Recitals in Sendai and other cities by the end of December 2025.
      • ③ The production of a CD.
      • ・The highest ranked prizewinner of each section will receive JPY 100,000 plus an amount equivalent to the consumption tax in Japan for each of the abovementioned performances. The travel and accommodation expenses for such concerts shall be borne by the organizers, as well as the performance fee and the travel and accommodation expenses for the piano accompanist in the violin recitals.
      • ・The highest ranked prizewinner of each section shall notify the Secretariat if he/she intends to perform in concerts in Japan earlier than the abovementioned performance opportunities.
    • 3) Among the Contestants who participate in the Semifinal Round but fail to qualify for the Final Round, one Contestant for each Section may be awarded prize money of JPY 500,000 as a Jury Encouragement Prize, if he/she demonstrates notable talent.
    • 4) Other awards, such as Audience Prize, may be presented.
    • 5) Supplementary prizes provided by organizations and individuals that support the aims of the Competition may be awarded to the prizewinner(s) of each section.

・The prize money and/or performance fee shall be paid after any necessary taxes are deducted. (The applicable tax rate is, in principle, 20.42%.)

09. Prizewinners’ Gala Concert

The organizers shall hold Prizewinners’ Gala Concerts in Sendai for both the Violin Section and the Piano Section on the day after the Final Round of each respective section. Up to three of the highest ranked prizewinners of each section must agree to perform at the Prizewinners’ Gala Concert. In the Prizewinners’ Gala Concert, the winners will perform pieces that they performed in the Final Round or the Semifinal Round. The pieces to be performed will be specified by the Chairperson of the Managing Committee. The part(s) to be performed may also be specified.
  • ・Each of the winners performing at the Prizewinners’ Gala Concert shall receive a performance fee of JPY 100,000 plus the amount equivalent to the consumption tax in Japan and it shall be borne by the organizers.
  • ・The performance fee shall be paid after any necessary taxes are deducted. (The applicable tax rate is, in principle, 20.42%.)

Ⅲ Other

01. Visa Acquisition

The Contestants themselves are responsible for obtaining the appropriate visas to enter Japan to participate in the Competition. If an invitation letter or any other document is required for the visa application, the Contestant must request it from the Secretariat.

02. Insurance

Whether or not insurance is purchased on the occasion of participating in the Competition is entirely the responsibility of the Contestants. This applies to health and injury insurance, as well as loss or damage to the instrument or to luggage, in the case of accident, fire, or theft during travel.

03. Copyright and related rights

With regard to the music performers’ rights protected under the Copyright Act of Japan, in connection with their performances during the Competition and any related concert held after the completion of the Competition including audio or visual recordings of a performer made by an organizer, Contestants assign all their rights gratuitously to Sendai Cultural Foundation, which is one (1) of the organizers. Contestants also assign gratuitously to Sendai Cultural Foundation their right of portrait in connection with the official recordings made during the Competition and any related concert held after the completion of the Competition.

04. Privacy Policy

Personal information provided at the time of application will be managed by the Secretariat based on the laws of Japan, and will be used only for the purpose of operation of the Competition.

05. Governing Law

These Guidelines have been prepared based on the Sendai International Music Competition Code. Any problem arising from or related to the Code shall be settled in accordance with the Japanese version of the Code and the laws of Japan.

06. Restrictions

The Contestants shall not give any public performance during the period of the Competition other than those required for the Competition. However, once a Contestant fails to pass a round, this condition will no longer apply.

Download “Guidelines”(PDF)