Music Competition Guidelines

2026 American Virtuoso
International Music Competition

If you have any questions about the AVIMC music competition, please email contact@avimc.org

Dates & Deadlines

April 5, 2026

Early Bird Application Deadline

May 31, 2026

Application Deadline
&
Preliminary Round Video Submission Deadline

June 25, 2026

Finalist Announcement

July 19, 2026

Onsite Final Round

August 31, 2026

Winners Announcement

General Guidelines

The 2026 AVIMC Music Competition is open to singers and instrumentalists of any nationality, including piano, strings, guitar, woodwinds, brass, voice, and chamber music.
Contestants will compete in the instrumental categories and age groups listed below.
Contestants will compete in 2 rounds. The preliminary round will be virtual by submitting unlisted YouTube links of video performances. The final round is scheduled to take place onsite in the Washington D.C. area. However, in case any of the contestants are unable to be present in person, they may submit their performance through online videos, which will be accepted.
Contestants are encouraged to participate in the final round onsite. However, if contestants attending in person is not feasible, the jury will equally evaluate the competition through both on-site and video.
Application Fees (non-refundable) For Soloists – Early Bird: $140 (by April 5, 2026); Standard: $170 (April 6 – May 31, 2026); For chamber ensemble – Early Bird: $180 (by April 5, 2026); Standard: $225 (April 6 – May 31, 2026); The application fee is for two rounds. If you are selected to advance to the final round, no additional fee is required.
Contestants may submit their applications with their preliminary round video links together via the application form or email separately to apply@avimc.org by May 31, 2026. No late applications or video submissions will be allowed.
All related video link submissions must follow the video guidelines described below. Audio or video file email attachments will NOT be accepted.
Contestants will receive comments on performances from the jury.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
The Jury Masterclass will be held at the competition venue immediately following the onsite final round.

Age Groups

Professional Artist Group (College Students and Professional Musicians), two rounds – preliminary round and final round
Amateur Artist Group (19 and up), two rounds – preliminary round and final round
Young Artist Group, two rounds – preliminary round and final round
A. age 15 – 18
B. age 11 – 14
C. age 10 and younger

* The age group in the Chamber Music category is defined by the average age of all ensemble members

* The group placement is determined based on the applicant’s age as of the application deadline

Repertoire

The 2026 AVIMC music competition comprises a Preliminary round and a Final round. Contestants are allowed to perform the same pieces in both rounds, but the jury requests them to demonstrate the variations between the two performances.

Be aware that we DO NOT accept popular music repertoire, such as jazz, pop, or electric pieces.

If your repertoire requires a piano accompanist, you must perform with a pianist. The jury will expect to see the piece presented in its complete form.

For Solo Music –

Professional Artist Group –

For all Instrumental categories:

Preliminary Round: one work that represents the highest level of the contestant. Maximum Judging Time: 10 Minutes
Final Round: two works from contrasting periods. Maximum Judging Time: 15 Minutes

For voice category:

Preliminary Round: one work based on the repertoire requirements below. Maximum Judging Time: 10 Minutes
Final Round: two works based on the repertoire requirements below. Maximum Judging Time: 15 Minutes
Repertoire requirements:
a. Choose art songs or arias at a level appropriate to the contestant’s vocal development.
b. Repertoires can be in any language.

*Contrasting Periods include: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, 20th/21st Century

Amateur Artist Group & Young Artist Groups –

For all Instrumental and voice categories:

Preliminary Round: one work chosen by the contestant. Maximum Judging Time: 10 minutes
Final Round: two works chosen by the contestant. Maximum Judging Time: 15 Minutes

*The Time limit for each level will be strictly adhered to. The entries that exceed the maximum time limit are allowed, but judges will only listen to portions of all repertoire submitted, not to exceed the maximum limit.

For Chamber Music-

The performance includes but is not limited to the following forms:

Piano four-hands
String/winds duo, trio, quartet, quintet, etc.
Repertoires for piano and orchestra instruments
Vocal repertoires or choruses with two or more singers

The following performances DO NOT belong to the category of chamber music:

Any vocal piano-accompanied solo belongs to the scope of voice category, not the chamber music category
Any concerto does not belong to the chamber music category

Professional Artist Group –

Preliminary Round: One standard or rearranged chamber music repertoire. You may choose one movement if the time of multiple movements of the repertoire beyond the maximum judging time. Maximum Judging Time: 10 minutes
Final Round: One standard or rearranged chamber music repertoire. You may choose one movement from the repertoire if the total time of movements is beyond the maximum judging time. Maximum Judging Time: 15 Minutes

Amateur Artist Group & Young Artist Group –

Preliminary Round: One chamber music repertoire of your choice. Maximum Judging Time: 10 minutes
Final Round: One chamber music repertoire of your choice. Maximum Judging Time: 15 Minutes

Video Submission

Video Submission Instructions for AVIMC Music Competition:

All videos must be submitted to the UNLISTED YouTube Links, and each piece should be recorded as a separate video.

The title of each YouTube video should be: category name – age group name – contestant name – composer and repertoire full name, for example, Piano – Young Artist Group A – Harry Porter – Schubert Piano Sonata No.13 in A Major, D.664

Click Here to view the Video Submission Instructions

Contestants may submit application forms at any time before the video submission deadline. （You may submit your unlisted YouTube links later to the email apply@avimc.org after you apply)

The video must be recorded within six months prior to the application deadline

The preliminary Video Submission Deadline is May 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT (GMT-5)

Prizes & Awards

1. The 2026 AVIMC music competition offers winners’ recital in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in NYC, and all prize winners, including Honorable Mention, will be invited.
2. The jury reserves the right to withhold any prize if no candidate meets the required standard. While a first-place tie is not permitted, joint awards may be granted for second or third place. Honorable Mentions are awarded at the judges’ discretion, and all jury decisions are final and binding.
3. Certificate of recognition of teachers.
4. All contestants will have the opportunity to attend complimentary masterclasses with the adjudicators on the same day as the onsite final round in Washington, D.C.
5. Finalists have chances to perform in masterclasses with jury members.
7. Multiple awards will be given in each Instrumental category and Age category.
8. Selected winners will be promoted to music program and concert opportunities in the US and Europe.

Judgement

The Jury members are internationally acclaimed musicians. Click here to check
The Jury’s decision is final. The comments from the jury will be provided.

Terms & Disclaimer

1. The final round and winners recitals participants are responsible for their own expenses (travel, housing, accommodation, etc.).
2. Parents or legal guardians will be responsible for children under 18 years old, and they must be supervised at all tje time by their parents or legal guardians in the final round and winners concert. The competition is not responsible for any damage or theft during the final round and winners concert.
3. American Virtuoso International Music Competition reserves the right to make any changes in the rules, schedules, or other information related to the competition.
4. Contestant grants to American Virtuoso International Music Competition the right to use their name, images, and video recordings for publicity and promotional purposes relating to the competition, in any and all media now known or hereafter devised, without further compensation unless prohibited by law. By participating in the competition, contestants automatically waive all rights for any material (financial) remuneration regarding eventual publication and distribution of music video recordings on media publications and the Internet.
5. The American Virtuoso International Music Competition reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any applicant found to be:
(a) violating the American Virtuoso International Music Competition Policy and Competition Rules;
(b) tampering or attempting to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the Competition;
(c) violating the terms of the guidelines of American Virtuoso International Music Competition;
(d) acting in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person.