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.

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.

As an artist, what is your dream?

Do you wish to perform on the world's most prestigious stage — Carnegie Hall?

Do you hope to receive personal mentorship from international masters and national treasures of the music world?

Do you want to share your passion with fellow global musicians and shine among the world's finest talents?

Do you dream of gaining media exposure and public recognition for your artistry?

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

Festival performance Masterclass session Carnegie Hall stage Musicians gathering
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International Masterclasses

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

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Global Performance Opportunities

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

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Network Expansion

Connect with like-minded musicians and build global relationships.

Repertoire Requirements

Learn about competition categories and repertoire requirements

Category Requirements
Chamber Music Ensemble One freely chosen piece; up to 6 performers per ensemble.
Instrumental Solo / Vocal Opera 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.

Award Categories

Generous awards and benefits to advance your music career

First Prize

Score range 93.50–100, top-scoring participant (1 winner)

  • Official First Prize Certificate
  • Carnegie Hall Performance Invitation
  • Artist Interview
  • Artist Feature on Official Media Platform
  • Official Recommendation Letter

Second Prize

Following First Prize, 2 winners

  • Official Second Prize Certificate
  • Artist Feature on Media Platform
  • Official Recommendation Letter

Third Prize

Following Second Prize, 3 winners

  • Official Third Prize Certificate
  • Artist Feature on Media Platform
  • Official Recommendation Letter

Jury's Special Award

Selected by the Artistic Director and Jury Committee for participants with exceptional artistry and potential, number of recipients not limited. Recipients who do not win First Prize may still receive this award, which may be combined with Second, Third, Contemporary, or Merit Awards. Based on individual performance and faculty recommendations, One or more of the following will be awarded (dual selections allowed)

  • Carnegie Hall Performance Invitation (valid for three years from award year)
  • Artist/Chamber Ensemble Interview
  • Official NYICMF Recommendation Letter (for academic or professional applications)

Merit Award

Score 85.00 and above (no limit on number of recipients)

  • Official Excellence Award Certificate
  • Special Achievement Feature on NYICMF Media Platform (unlimited visibility, valid for 3 years)

Contemporary Music Award

For works composed after 1945, score 93.50 and above; may be received in addition to other awards

  • Official Contemporary Music Award Certificate
  • Feature in Contemporary Music Category on NYICMF Media Platform (unlimited visibility, valid for 15 years)

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

Pre-screening Video Evaluation

$100 / person

Solo Category

Chamber Ensemble: $50/person

Networking Dinner

$90 / person

NYICMF Jury & Artist Networking Dinner

Location: Manhattan, New York

Apply Now

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

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Email

artisticdirector@nyicmf.org

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WhatsApp

artisticdirector@nyicmf.org

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WeChat

NYICMF-CHN

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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.