February 5th, 2024 – Registration Deadline

• Registrations for the Concours pour le Grand Prix must be completed by this date.

February 12th-15th – Grand Prix Live Monitored Recording

• For contestants who signed up for the Live Monitored Recording format.

February 17th – Grand Prix Live In-Person

• The Live In-Person Grand Prix is an all-day event which will be held at Azusa Pacific University located in Azusa, California.

February 18th – Grand Prix Winner’s Concert

• Winner’s Concerts will take place at 5:00pm and 7:00pm. These will be held in the Munson Recital Hall at Azusa Pacific University.

Differences between Live In-Person and Live Monitored Recording

• For contestants who are unable to compete in person, we offer the Live Monitored Recording. This is a hybrid format in which you will record your performance in the comfort of your home (or other suitable location) while one of our judges supervises the recording session via a Zoom session.
• Live Monitored Recording combines the high-quality video and audio of a camera recording with the authenticity of a live Zoom session.
• You will need two devices to participate in the competition using the Live Monitored Recording format; one to record your performance, and another to provide the Zoom session.
• Once the recording is complete and the Zoom session has ended, contestants will need to immediately send us their video. Since high quality video recording tend to be rather large, we highly recommend uploading them via our WeTransfer account at https://iapmt.wetransfer.com/.
• In order to authenticate your video recording, the judge will compare it with their Zoom recording to make sure that the two recordings are a perfect match.

• The Concours pour le Grand Prix is open to participants of all nationalities, ages, and skill levels.
• There are 2 levels of difficulty: Grand Prix and Junior Grand Prix.
• The Grand Prix is competitive and for Expert and Virtuoso performers only.
• The Junior Grand Prix is for performers at the Standard level only.
• Instrument choices are comprehensive and include Piano, Strings, Wind & Brass, Voice, and Guitar.
• You may choose from 2 different formats: Live In-Person, and Live Monitored Recording.
• The Grand Concours Live competition consists of 1 round and will be a mixed format event. Registration for this live event is due by February 5th, 2024.
• The decision of the judges is final and irrevocable. Judging is based on performance standards.

Divisions

For the Grand Prix, there are a total of 5 Divisions, which are based upon the contestant’s birth year:

Composition

• All pieces must be played by memory.
• Contestants may perform one or two pieces of their choice.
• Only solo pieces are allowed.

Categories

• Free Choice

Time Limits and Fees

You are allowed to perform pieces that are longer than the specified time limit. However, it’s important to know that the judges will stop your performance once the time limit is reached. Rest assured, this will not have any impact on how your performance is evaluated or the final results.

Divisions

For the Junior Grand Prix, there are a total of 4 Divisions, which are based upon the contestant’s birth year:

Composition

• All pieces must be played by memory.
• Contestants may perform one or two pieces of their choice.

Categories

• Free Choice

Time Limits and Fees per Person

Grand Prix Special Awards

• All winners will receive medals and certificates.
• First Prize winners from each division will receive a Kawai CA-49 or CN301 Digital Piano ($3000) Sponsored by Kim’s Piano and Kawai America Corporation
• All winners will be invited to perform at Soka Performing Arts Center, Europe Concert Tour, and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie. The specific locations and programs will be determined based on the judges’ recommendations
• 2nd Prize winners will receive a cash award of $300.
• 3rd Prize winners will receive a cash award of $150.
• 4th and 5th Prize winners will receive a medal.

Grand Prix Scholarship Awards

The following winners will receive a scholarship to attend Montecito International Music Festival in Summer 2024 in California, United States:

• The Grand Prize winner will receive a $1000 scholarship.
• The Division 1 winner will receive a $300 scholarship.
• The Division 2 winner will receive a $300 scholarship.
• The Division 3 and Division 4 winner will receive a $300 scholarship.
• The Division 5 winner will receive a $750 scholarship.

Junior Grand Prix Special Awards

• All 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Prize winners will receive medals and certificates
• First Prize winners from each division will receive a cash award of $200
• Grand prize winner will receive the $300 “Frances June Harding Scholarship” from the Musical Arts Club of Long Beach and Invited to perform at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall Season 2024-2025. (recital fee is complimentary)
• All winners will be invited to perform at Soka Performing Arts Center, Europe Concert Tour, and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie.

Junior Grand Prix Scholarship Awards

The following winners will receive a scholarship to attend Montecito International Music Festival in Summer 2024 in California, United States:

• The Grand Prize winner will receive a $500 scholarship.
• The Division 3 and Division 4 winner will receive a $250 scholarship.