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Ascend. CYMC Competition Rules

Registration:

•          Timeframe: May 20 – June 28, 2025

•          Online: Via website and WeChat official account

•          Offline: Submit form, ID copy, 2 photos, and repertoire list

Eligibility:

•         Age divided per group.

•          Open to the public.

•          Piano, Violin, Viola, and Cello only.

Competition Stages:

•         Preliminary: Judged via submitted video/audio or live performance

•         Semifinal: 8-minute live performance, average score after removing top & bottom

•          Final: Full piece with audience voting (20% of total score)

 

Repertoire Rules:

•          Fixed after registration; changes require 5 days prior notice and approval

•          Late >15 min = disqualification

Awards:

•          Adult Group:

•          1st Prize: Top 3%, $840 Cash + Study Abroad Schorlaship ($11,200), Trophy & Certificate

•          2nd Prize: Top 10%, $420 Cash + Study Abroad Schorlaship ($4,200)

•          3rd Prize: Top 20%, $140 Cash + Study Abroad Schorlaship ($4,200)

•          Teen Group (13–17):

•          1st: $700 + Study Abroad Schorlaship ($7,000)

•          2nd: $420 + Study Abroad Schorlaship ($4,000)

•          3rd: $140 + Study Abroad Schorlaship ($4,200)

•          Children Group (8–12):

•          1st: $280

•          2nd: $140

•          3rd: $70

•          Special Awards: Best Performance, Most Promising, etc.

Repertoire Guidelines

 

Children Group (8–12):

•         5–7 min piece of choice demonstrating best skill

 

Teen–University Level:

 

Violin:

1.        Solo Bach (any unaccompanied movement)

2.        Concerto (one movement)

3.        One virtuoso work

 

Viola:

1.         First movement of major concerto (e.g., Bartók, Hindemith, Walton)

2.        Sonata movement with piano or similar work (e.g., Bruch’s Romance)

3.        Solo Bach

 

Cello:

1.         One movement from major concerto:

•          Barber, Dvořák (Op.104), Haydn (D Major), Prokofiev (Op.125), Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations (complete)

2.        One virtuoso piece of choice

 

Piano:

1.        One Prelude & Fugue by Bach

2.        One classical sonata movement (Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart, Schubert)

3.        One Romantic/20th–21st-century work

4.        One virtuoso étude (Chopin, Liszt, Debussy, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Stravinsky)

Registration Fees, Payment Standards, and Application Details

Online Music Competition : $140/person

Judging and Appeals:

•         Professional jury; scoring must be impartial

•         Appeals accepted within X business days with supporting evidence

•         Arbitration by official committee


 

5. Evaluation Criteria

 

Scored out of 100, with 2 decimal places. Final score = average of jury scores. Criteria:

1.         Pitch & Rhythm

2.        Technical Proficiency

3.         Musical Expression

4.        Stage Presence & Artistic Impression

5.         Overall Presentation

 

Written feedback provided.

Supporting Services

 

- Consultation:

•         Hotline and email support during business hours for registration, repertoire, etc.

-

Post-Event Services:

•         Online results lookup; e-certificates within 3 days, hard copies in 10 days

•         Highlight video published; selected performances showcased online

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©2025 California Youth Music Competition 

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