1.The festival application deadline is June 15, 2024.

2.Each festival participant will receive four private lessons, seminars, discussions, with our faculty, and perform in festival concerts.

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

4.Participant who is under the age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

5.Selected finalists can play the same repertoire from the preliminary round for the final round or they can choose new pieces.

6.Finalists must make sure they are fully available for the dates of both the dress rehearsal and competition. We cannot accept requests for specific dates and times.

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 2024 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, 2024.

·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.