Rules & Regulations
The goal of the Trinity International Music Competition (Online) is to challenge music students 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 Trinity International Music Competition. There is no age limit for applicants.
Competition categories - solo, duo, trio, quartet, ensembles, and concerto competition, choir, orchestral categories for a variety of instruments including voice, piano, harpsichord, organ, all other keyboard instruments, all strings (violin, cello, guitar), woodwind, brass instruments, percussion, harp, guitar, mandolin, ukulele, accordion, harmonica, recorder, flute, pan flute, khim, theremin and any traditional and ethnic instruments (Gu Zheng, Yang Qin, Gu Qin, Pipa, San Yuan, Erhu, Suona, Khim, etc). Composition, conducting, 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 music and Chinese tradition music (including Erhu, San Yuan, Pipa, Guzheng, Suona, Chinese Opera and other instruments)
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 has 2 rounds - The Preliminary (First round) and the Final (Second Round)
IMPORTANT DATES:
FIRST ROUND (PRELIMINARY ROUND)
Deadline for First Round: 20 November 2024
Application forms and application payment and videos must all be submitted on latest by 20 November, 2024
Adjudication Period: 21-25 November 2024
Announcement of Results for First Round: 26th November 2024
* Applicants who successfully passed the first round will be notified by email.
SECOND ROUND (FINAL ROUND)
* Only successful applicants passing the first round is eligible to apply for second round
Application period: 27 November - 10 December 2024
Deadline for Second Round: 10 December 2024
Application forms and application payment and videos must all be submitted on latest by 10 December 2024
Adjudication Period: 12-19 December 2024
Announcement of Results for FINAL ROUND: 4th January 2025
Results of the Final Round will be posted on our website.
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 are awarded to Final Round winners only. The results of the first round only indicates whether a participant is accepted into the Final Round.
SPECIAL UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES
*AVAILABLE ONLY AT TRINITY INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION*
* Top winners will be featured in an online video interview.
* Top winners will be featured in major broadcast and news networks worldwide such CBS, NBC, FOX and more.
* Absolute Platinum Medalists (Absolute Platinum Medal winners) will be featured on streaming platforms such as Apple Music (iTunes, Spotify, Youtube Music, Deezer and other streaming platforms)
* A selected mature top prize winner in the Professional Category (with a score of 98% or above, and with the appropriate performance experience and credentials) shall be invited to join the jury panel for Trinity International Music Competition 2025, with adjudication mentorship and certificate of acknowledgment as an adjudicator.
* Special Masterclass awards as recommended by the grand jury for outstanding young musicians.
* Winners will receive medals, trophies and certificates.
* 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.
* 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 to not award any of the prizes; or to offer an ex aqueo, splitting a prize between several contestants. Decisions of the adjudicators are FINAL.
Top Winners' Laureate Circle
Top prize winners (including Gold, Platinum & Super Platinum laureates) will automatically be admitted into the Trinity International Music Competition laureate circle. Online concert performance opportunities will be available to facilitate the performance experience and career of developing musicians.
Letter of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation for winners of 5 consecutive years will be provided upon request which are useful for scholarship applications as well as college, university application.
A special prize and certificate will be awarded to winners of 5 consecutive years in the Trinity 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 interview will be offered to top prize winning teacher and will be published in major international news networks.
Special invitation to join the jury panel for 2025 Trinity International Music Competition.
RULES & REGULATIONS
Categories: All Instruments including all classical musical instruments (e.g. Piano, Strings, Wind, Brass, Percussion, Harp, Accordion, Percussion and any orchestral instrument) & Voice, Musical Theatre, Traditional and Ethnic instruments, Chinese Opera
Performance: Solo, Duo, Trio, Ensembles, Choir, Orchestra
Music Composition
Participants can submit a Youtube or Vimeo 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.
Please note that we do not accept files that require downloading from a server. We do not accept zip files, or files from Google drive.
Incomplete applications or failure to submit all the required documents will not be taken into consideration.
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 Trinity International Music Competition and no fee is payable to any competitor for performances, photos, recordings, social media or television broadcasts.
VIDEO REQUIREMENTS
For music performance - an unedited video of the performance forwarded to us as a Youtube or Vimeo link. Edited videos will not be accepted. Videos must show the full face and body of the applicant.
For music cover, composition 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 subject 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 Trinity 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 November 2023.
Categories: Participants will be judged based on the quality of performance based upon age and experience (duration of study of their instrument). Applicants will be automatically grouped by age and level.
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 - 20 (Music Majors, Conservatory students)
Professional Musician - Ages 21 and above (Performers with professional performance degrees or with comparable performance standards. career musicians)
Amateur Professional - Ages 21 and above (Professionals in other disciplines other than in music, but pursue music seriously outside of one's career. Music performance, teaching or composition is not a primary professional or financial pursuit. May hold a music degree.)
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 of music 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.
Here are some examples:
Acceptable: Preliminary round (Piano solo / Classical ) - Final round (Piano solo / Any genre)
Acceptable: Preliminary round (Violin duo / Classical) - Final round (Violin Duo / Any genre)
Not Acceptable: Preliminary round (Piano Solo / Classical) - Final round (Trumpet solo / Any genre)
Not Acceptable: Preliminary round (Violin duo) - Final round (Composition for Violin)
If applicants have any queries, please email [email protected] to clarify
* Multiple submissions: If applicants wish to submit different instruments and genres, they may make multiple submissions (for both the preliminary and final rounds).
Music Scores: Participants are required to submit electronic copies of their scores within 3 days of their application.
The latest date for score submission for the First Round is 20 November 2024.
The latest date for score submission for the Final Round is 10th December 2024.
Failure to submit the scores in time may lead to disqualification.
Please do not mail in any physical scores.
Only electronic scores sent to the address below will be accepted.
Scores are only to be emailed to this address: [email protected]
Memorization: Memorization is not mandatory. However, participants may choose to perform by memory. Extra bonus marks will be awarded to performances delivered by memory.
One application per piece of music. Candidates are required to make a second application should they wish to play more than one piece of music (same instrument) or to compete in another instrument, genre or category.
Candidates who fail to submit their videos by the video submission deadline will be disqualified.
All application fees submitted are non-refundable.
APPLICATION FEES: (PRELIMINARY ROUND):
$140 per application (per solo instrument / per individual participant for ensemble)
For details of application fees for different sizes of ensemble teams, choirs and orchestras, please visit payment page.
APPLICATION FEES: (FINAL ROUND)
$165 per application (per solo instrument / per individual participant for ensemble)
For details of application fees for different sizes of ensemble teams, choirs and orchestras, please visit 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.
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 providing false or incorrect information will be disqualified.
Comments sheets will not be provided.
Terms and conditions:
(1) All application fees are non-refundable.
(2) For absolute fairness, judges who have previously taught or coached applicants (including in masterclasses) are not allowed to judge their performances.
(3) The decision of the jury is final with no appeal.
(4) Trinity International Music Competition will not respond to questions about other applicants or regarding their submissions.
(5) All information provided to us will be safe-guarded by privacy regulations.
(6) Attempts to privately contact any of the jury members (for any form of consultation, notwithstanding lessons, masterclasses) is strictly prohibited and will lead to disqualification.
(7) Trinity International Music Competition reserves the right to make amendments to its rules and regulations.
(8) The award of prizes, trophies and cash awards are entirely subject to the discretion of the jury. Jury may withhold prizes if the performances are not up to standard.
(9) All the information provided to us in the application must be truthful. Provision of incorrect or inaccurate information will result in disqualification.
(10) Provision of correct contact information and mailing address is the sole responsibility of the applicant. Trinity International Music Competition will not be held responsible for any failure to communicate with an applicant or to unsuccessful delivery medals / trophies and prizes due to incorrect correspondence information provided by the applicant.
(11) Any attempts to sabotage the operation of our competition, or to damage the reputation of our competition will lead to immediate disqualification and risk legal action.
(12) By submitting an application to our competition, the competitor automatically agrees to fully abide to all rules and regulations stipulated by Trinity International Music Competition..