Competition Date: November16th, 2025

Application Deadline: October 27^th, 2025

*The deadline dates above are Pacific Standard Time (PST). All applications are due before 11:59PM on the listed due dates.

 

Location: Irvine Conservatory of Music (4840 Irvine Blvd, Irvine, CA 92620)

• Selected winners will perform a concerto movement with the Greater San Diego Music Coterie, the designated competition orchestra, in Spring 2026.
• All winners will receive trophies and certificates
• All contestants will receive written feedback from the competition jury.

 

Eligibility:

Pianists and string players in grades K-12

 

Instruments:

Piano and Strings

 

Application Fee:

$150/person 

*All application fee are not refundable.

 

Prizes & Recognition:

• Up to 10 winners (including pianists and string players) will be selected by the judges to perform with the Orchestra – Greater San Diego Music Coteriein Spring 2026.
  • *If any of the winners are not able to perform in the concert, the alternate winners with the highest score(s) will be nominated to perform.
• The selected winners need to submit a concert contribution fee $500/winner, which includes one joint rehearsal and the concert performance with the orchestra.
• All prize winners will receive competition trophies and certificates.
• The jury’s decisions are final and not subject to appeal.
• The Irvine International Music Competition Committee reserves all rights related to the competition.

 

Repertoire Requirement:

• Contestant’s choice of a single concerto movement (for all age categories) before the 20^th We only accept solo performer, not a group of performers (duo, trio, quartet, …etc., are not eligible).
• Teachers must ensure the chosen piece has an orchestral accompaniment that the orchestra can reasonably obtain.
• Each contestant is allotted a maximum of 7 minutes. If the time limit is exceeded, the judges reserve the right to stop the performance at the 7-minute mark. Judges may also request the contestant to perform specific sections.Collaborative pianists are welcome to reduce or cut the orchestral part as needed to meet the time limit.
• Each contestant must bring their own collaborative pianistfor the competition.
• Contestants must provide original sheet music(no photocopies allowed) for the competition jury.
• The selected winners must perform the same concerto movement with our competition orchestra at the concert.

 

Categories:

Category A – Grades 1-5

Category B – Grades 6-8

Category C – Grades 9-12

*Contestants will perform according to their category and assigned order; however, winners will be selected from all categories combined, with up to 10 winners chosen in total.

 

Judging Criteria:

0-10 Technique (accuracy, clarity, tone quality, articulation, intonation)

0-10 Interpretation (musicality, style, balance, tempo, rhythm, pedaling, imagination, collaboration) 

0-10 Musical achievement (level of repertoire, stage presence, memorization, artistry)

Total: 30 points