Updated 3 August 2026APPLICATION PROCEDURES
All Contestants must abide by the following Rules:
The JMI Festival and Competition for Young Pianists is open to participants of all nationalities from the age of 4 up to 35.
The Competition has 3 Main categories: Solo (Free programme), Solo (Examination Syllabus) and Piano Duos (Duets and 2 Pianos).
Participants may compete in different categories. For example, a 9-year old may compete in the Solo - Rising Star and in the Young Artist Category. However, all the pieces presented in the programmes MUST be different.
All categories consist of only ONE round. Contestants can choose to compete on Live or Online format.
Online competition: Contestants need to submit video links of 2 contrasting works from different periods of the Baroque, Classical, Romantic or Modern repertoire by the closing date. All works must be played from memory.
Live competition: Contestants need to submit an audition video link of 1 work only (to be played from memory). The live competition will be held during the week of 8 - 13 September 2025 in Singapore. The exact venue, dates and times will be published (to be confirmed at a later date). Contestants need to perform 2 contrasting works from 2 different periods of the Baroque, Classical, Romantic or Modern repertoire. All works must be played from memory.
The closing date for ALL applications is 30 August 2026, 11.59pm Singapore time. Payments not received by 31st Aug will be considered void. Please email us: info@joyeuxmusic.net if you do not receive payment advice within 2 days of submitting your entry form.
Applicants can take part in more than one category and must complete separate application forms and pay the required fees separately.
No changes to the programme are allowed once the application is received.
The decisions of the Jury are final and not subjected to review or appeal.
In the event of a tie in the top prizes, the monetary rewards will be shared equally between the prize winners.
The organizers have the rights to combine categories and re-allocate prizes if there are less than 10 participants in any category.
The judges and organisers have the rights to withdraw or not award prizes if standards are not met at an international competitive level.
Video Requirements for ONLINE competitors:
Videos must only be submitted as Youtube or Vimeo links. No other formats will be accepted. Video recordings of a high quality are recommended.
For SOLO categories - Free programme and Examination, all pieces must be performed from memory.
It is not compulsory for performers of Piano duet, duo and Chamber categories to play from memory.
All works must be performed without repeats within the time limits
The programme of pieces may be recorded separately or as a whole. But works of a continuous nature must be recorded at a single take e.g Prelude and Fugue
The camera shot must be stationary throughout the recording with the performer’s hands and face fully in view throughout. No editing is allowed.
The recordings submitted should be recent and not more than 6 months from the closing date.
Video Requirements for LIVE competitors:
Only ONE audition work is required (any duration), to be submitted as a Youtube or Vimeo link. No other formats will be accepted.
The submitted piece must be performed from memory as one of the pieces to be performed in the LIVE competition.
No audition video is required for the PIANO CHAMBER category only.
Categories and Repertoire Requirements
Free Programme Categories - SOLO:
Participants of this category must perform at least 2 free choice pieces, of any work by any composer chosen from the piano repertory of eras: Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Modern eras. A prelude and fugue is considered ONE piece. Any combination of movements of a continous work such as a sonata is considered ONE piece.
For Specialist Artist category, each contestant must perform a specialist programme consisting of at least 2 contrasting works from ONE composer only OR at least 2 works from different composers of the same musical period (composed within 30 years apart). The specialist component must not be less than 15 mins. The remaining time can be piece or pieces of any musical period.
Application Fees are in Singapore dollars:
Rising Star: $120, $130, $140; Young Artist: $160, $180, $200; Professional Artist: $250; Specialist Artist: $290
Examination Syllabus Categories - SOLO
Participants of these categories must perform any 2 different/contrasting works from a current British examination syllabi: ABRSM, Trinity, London College Music Syllabi of 2025 to 2027.
Different grades and syllabi within each category are allowed. For example: A participant of Solo Junior category can present a piece from Grade 2 ABRSM 2025 and a piece from Grade 3 Trinity 2026.
For examination pieces of up to Grade 5, the total time of the pieces do not need to meet the lower time limit, as these times serve as a guide. For example, for Grade 3, if both pieces add up to 2 minutes, it is perfectly acceptable.
Application Fees: Initial & Grade 1: $100; Grades 2 & 3 : $110; Grades 4 & 5: $130; Grades 6&7: $150 ; Grade 8: $200
Associate Diploma: $250; Licentiate Diploma: $280
*FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
For the online competition, will selected winners be invited to perform at the Gala concert?
Online competitors can still be selected. Due to possibility of repeated recordings and familiarity with instrument and venue, LIVE competitors who performed well in a more stressful competition situation, are in a better position to be selected for the Gala concert.
For the live competition, the online submission of one repertoire is for preliminary selection?
For ONLINE competition, the pieces submitted are intended for judging. There is no preliminary selection.
For LIVE competition, ONE piece is required for video submission. The submitted work is for qualifying into the LIVE competition. It has no impact on the marks awarded in the LIVE competition.
For clarification, ONLINE participants are usually international participants who do not reside in Singapore or participants who are not in Singapore during the competition period.
What does it mean by '2 contrasting pieces' from different periods and 'at least 2 contrasting pieces'?
Competitiors need to present 2 contrasting pieces from different periods. If the duration is not met, another piece(s) can be added to fill up the time.
What happens if the competitor cannot make it for the designated slot of the LIVE competition?
Once the schedule is posted on our website, competitors who have clashes of activities can contact the organisers to reschedule and be heard by the judges in a different session during the judging period.
PIANO DUOS (Four Hands OR Two-Pianos)
Participants of these categories must perform ONE or more free choice works or contrasting movements, of any composer from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic or Modern eras. Performing from memory is NOT compulsory.
CONCERTO movements are NOT allowed for the *Piano Duo – 2 Piano categories.
PIANO CHAMBER (Piano + One OR more instruments)
Participants of these categories must perform ONE or more free choice works or contrasting movements, of any composer from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic or Modern eras. The minimum number of instruments is 2 (including piano). The maximum allowed is 13 instruments including the piano. Performing from memory is NOT compulsory.
Application Fees: Junior Duet: $140; Senior Duet: $160; Artist Duo: $200; Professional Duo: $220; Piano Chamber: $250