1.The 2025 Chicago International Music Competition and Festival will be held in person at Chicago College of Perfoming Arts, Chicago in July 16-24.

2.The competition has two rounds: The preliminary round and the final round. The preliminary round will remain in an online format in which all applicants will be adjudicated by video submission. Selected finalists will be invited to Chicago for the final round.

3.The online preliminary round will be adjudicated May 10-May 24, 2025.

4.The competition application deadline is May 10, 2025.

5.Finalists will be announced on the CIMC website on May 25, 2025.

6.The 2025 Chicago International Music Competition and Festival is open to musicians of all nationalities, all ages, and all levels.

7.The Competition has two categories: Rising Star Category and Professional Category.

8.The Competition has two divisions: Solo Division and Ensemble Division. The Solo Division includes both Instrumental and Vocal Divisions.

9.If applying for more than one division, applicants must complete separate applications and pay the required fees for *each* individual division.

10.Contestants in all age groups/divisions may choose to participate in both solo and ensemble categories. For example, participants may choose to compete in the Rising Star or Professional solo category *and* the ensemble division at the same time.

11.Participants may choose to apply in both the Rising Star category and Professional Category.

12.Contestants may choose to participate in the competition, the festival, or both.

Categories

Rising Star Category

Professional Category

Divisions

Solo Division

Ensemble Division

Competition Rules

The First Grand Prize Winners of previous editions of CIMC are *not* eligible to apply.

Current students of the 2025 CIMC jury members are *not* eligible to apply.

All works must be performed by memory in the Solo Divisions.

Within reason, works should avoid repeats.

No changes to the competition program are permitted once the application form has been received.

The decisions of the Jury are final and not subject to review or appeal.

The Jury is permitted to award the same numerical ranking to several contestants. In the event of a tie, the Jury may divide the monetary prize equally between the prizewinners.

Rising Star Category--Participants must perform two self-chosen works: any work of any composer from the Baroque period, the Classical period, the Romantic period, and the Modern period.

Professional Category-- Participants must perform four self-chosen works: any work of any composer from the Baroque period, the Classical period, the Romantic period, and the Modern period.

Preliminary Round

·A preliminary video audition is required for all levels, divisions, and categories.

·Finalist selection results will be announced on the CIMC website on May 25, 2025.

·Video requirements

----Pieces may be recorded separately or in one take.

----The total duration should include the time between pieces.

----A high-quality video recording is highly recommended.

----The camera must be stationary for the video. The performers hands and face must be visible during the recording.

----There is no set time limit or minimum for the preliminary round.

----Upload videos to Google Drive, YouTube, or Youku.

Final Round

The final round will be held in-person at Chicago area.

All works must be performed by memory in Solo division.

The Jury retains the right to stop a performance if it exceeds the allotted time.

Finalists will be given time to rehearse in the venue before the finals begin.

The finals may be recorded by CIMC, and recordings may be used for CIMC publicity and/or publications.