New York International Classical Music Festival

2026 Inaugural Global Festival & Competition Now Open for Registration!

Let the world hear your music. Let your talent shine on the world's greatest stage.

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About the Festival

Join NYICMF – New York International Classical Music Festival, where your music can truly be heard by the world

The New York International Classical Music Festival (NYICMF) convenes quarterly in major cities worldwide, offering distinguished masterclasses, lectures, colloquies, seminars, and charity concerts. Each year, the festival culminates in the prestigious ICMF International Music Competition, celebrating outstanding achievements in classical music on a global stage.

International Masterclasses

Learn directly from world-class artists and receive valuable guidance.

Global Performance Opportunities

Step onto the world stage with your music at venues like Carnegie Hall.

Network Expansion

Connect with like-minded musicians and build global relationships.

Repertoire Requirements

Learn about competition categories and repertoire requirements

Category Requirements
Chamber Music One freely chosen piece; up to 6 performers per ensemble.
Instrumental Solo / Vocal Solo Adult Division (Age 18 and above): One to two freely chosen works
Youth Division (Ages 13–17): One to two freely chosen works
Junior Division (Ages 12 and under): One to two freely chosen works

Note: Pre-screening videos may be identical to the repertoire chosen for the Grand Final. All pre-screening videos must be uploaded to publicly accessible platforms (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo, Bilibili, Youku, iQIYI, Google Drive, Rednote, etc.) for jury review and discussion. Except for contemporary works, all repertoire must be performed from memory. If accompaniment is required, participants must arrange their own collaborative pianists.

Awards & Distinctions

New York International Classical Music Festival (NYICMF)

NYICMF recognizes artistic excellence through a structured system of prizes and distinctions. Awards reflect both technical achievement and musical artistry, and provide selected performers with professional recognition and international presentation opportunities.

First Prize

Awarded to the highest-scoring performer (93.50–100.00).

  • Official First Prize Certificate
  • Performance invitation opportunities at leading international venues, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Musikverein Golden Hall
  • Artist feature and media presentation
  • Official recommendation letter for academic and professional purposes

Second Prize

Awarded to performers scoring 90.50 and above.

  • Official Certificate
  • Media presentation
  • Recommendation letter

Third Prize

Awarded to performers scoring 88.50 and above.

  • Official Certificate
  • Recommendation letter

Contemporary Music Award

For distinguished performances of works composed after 1945.

  • Official Certificate
  • Contemporary music feature
  • Recommendation letter

Merit Award

For performers scoring 83.50 and above.

  • Official Certificate
  • Recommendation letter

Jury’s Special Award

Selected by the Artistic Director and Jury for exceptional artistry and artistic promise, independent of ranking.

  • Performance invitations
  • Festival concert appearances
  • Masterclasses
  • Media features
  • Recommendation letters

NYICMF is committed to presenting distinguished musicians and supporting their continued artistic development on the international stage.

Evaluation System

Fair, transparent, and professional judging process

• Each participant's final score is the average of all jury members' scores.

• The jury will consider the participant's age, technical difficulty of repertoire, musical and vocal/instrumental technique, artistic expression, and stage presence.

• Chamber music performances will be judged as a unified ensemble, with emphasis on collaboration and interpretation; all members receive the same award level.

• The jury reserves the right to request specific sections of repertoire or to stop performances at any time.

• The jury's decision is final and not subject to appeal.

• Each judge must record both strengths and areas for improvement to ensure objective, constructive evaluation.

Judging Process

Fee Details

Transparent and reasonable fee structure

Semi-final (Preliminary Video Evaluation):

Instrumental Solo / Vocal -- $100/person

Chamber Music -- $50/person

Grand Final (New York & Online):

Instrumental Solo / Vocal -- $300/person

Chamber Music -- $150/person

Networking Dinner:

$100/person

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Application Form

🎼 Global Music Festival Application Form

Instructions: Please fill out all required fields. Maximum 200 words for Personal Statement.

Personal Information

Education & Training

Competition Details

Additional Information

Maximum 200 words

Contact

Contact Us

Get in touch with us for any questions

Official Contact Channels

✉️

Email

artisticdirector@nyicmf.org

💬

WhatsApp

artisticdirector@nyicmf.org

📱

WeChat

NYICMF-CHN

🌐

Official Social Media

Rednote: NYICMF

Important Notice

The 2026 NYICMF Festival does not authorize any regional preliminary rounds.

Any event claiming to represent a "local round" of NYICMF is fraudulent.

We wish every participant fruitful achievements and joyful experiences with the generous rewards designed exclusively for artists.

Our team of world-class experts and staff look forward to celebrating your music.