BIMC Rules and Policies

Boston Int'l Music Competition

Categories: 1-Voice (V), 2-Piano (P), 3-Strings (S), 4-Other Instruments (O)

Age Codes: Contestant age should be from 5 to 30

      A - Elementary (Age 5-10)

      B - Junior (Age 11-14)

      C - Senior (Age 15-18)

      D1 - Young Artist (Age 19-30): Non-Music Major

      D2 - Young Artist (Age 19-30): Music Major

So, there are a total of 20 groups among the 4 categories. Group Codes are like VA, VB, VC, VD1, VD2, PA, PB, PC, PD1, PD2, SA, SB, SC, SD1, SD2, OA, OB, OC, OD1, OD2

Eligibility: 

• BIMC welcomes talent teenagers and musicians of all nationalities from the age of 5 up to 30 as of the date of March 16th, 2025
• Please select the correct group in your application and pay the appropriate fee based on the number of the team members
• One team can choose up to 4 categories for different instruments, in which case submitting multiple applications for the chosen categories are needed
• Each application must submit just ONE video for the competition
• The same video cannot be submitted more than once (i.e. submitting the same video in multiple applications)
• Any participant who is enrolled currently in or graduated from a music college level school must choose the category D2 -Young Artist with Music Major

BIMC Competition Schedule: Competition results for all rounds will be available timely in the "Competitions" channel on this website.

• 3/16/2025 Sunday, Online - Round 1 Preliminary Application Deadline (Application Fee applies) .
• 4/7/2025 Monday, Online - Round 1 Competition Announcement: Video evaluations yield Semi-Finalists.
• 4/27/2025 Sunday, Online - Round 2 Repertoire Video Submission Deadline. Only Semi-Finalists are eligible to Round 2 Competition (Evaluation Fee applies).
• 5/19/2025 Monday, Online - Round 2 Competition Announcement: Video evaluation yields Finalists, and the Finalists in every age group for all categories are invited to the final round on-site competition in Boston MA, USA.
• 7/19/2025 Saturday 12-4 PM EST, Cary Hall, Lexington MA - Final Round On-Site Competitions for all categories will proceed simultaneously from 12 - 4 PM EST. Any finalist who could not come on site will need to submit a required video BEFORE July 1st, 2025. The Gold First, Silver Second and Bronze Third Position Winners will be announced on the BIMC Awards Ceremony. Dress Code: Stage Performance
• 7/20/2025 Sunday 2:00-5 PM EST, Cary Hall, Lexington MA - BIMC Winners' Concert & Awards Ceremony. Open to Public. The Gold First Position Winners for all groups will perform on the concert, but the Silver Second Position Winners may perform if the Gold First Position Winners are not present, and so on, RULES APPLY. 
• 7/20/2025 Sunday 7:00-9 PM EST, Boston MA - BIMC Reception Dinner.  All Judges and Finalists are invited to the BIMC Reception Dinner in the evening at a reserved beautiful restaurant. Location will be noticed to the finalists.
• 7/21/2025 Monday 1-5 PM EST, Boston MA - Masterclasses for Voice, Piano, String, Woodwind, Brass and Percussion. Open to Masterclass Registered Contestants. Masterclasses will be run simultaneously in different class rooms, 30 mins per session for every registered contestant.
• 7/22/2025 Tuesday noon-6 PM EST, Boston MA - Music College Exploration Tour. Open to Masterclass Registered Contestants. Comprehensive tours to Berklee College of Music/Boston Conservatory at Berklee, New England Conservatory of Music and downtown of Boston.
• 7/23/2025 Wednesday noon-6 PM EST, Boston MA - Ivy League University Exploration Tour. Open to Masterclass Registered Contestants. Comprehensive tours to Harvard University, MIT and Boston College. Seminar for Music College and Ivy League University Application. 

Rules for the Performance of the Winners' Concert:

• BIMC2025 has a total of 20 competition groups for categories and ages. In principle, the Gold Medalist of each competition group will perform on stage. If the Gold Medalist of the competition group is vacant, the Silver Medalist will perform on stage; if the Silver Medalist is vacant, the Bronze Medalist will perform on stage. The BIMC committee will also invite famous musicians to perform on the same stage from time to time.
• If the Gold Medalist of the competition group fails to participate in the on-site final competition or performance, the Silver Medalist of the same competition group will perform on stage; if the Silver Medalist cannot attend the performance, the Bronze Medalist will perform on stage; if the Bronze Medalist cannot attend the performance, the winner with the highest score in the Outstanding Achievement Award of the same competition group will perform on stage. In case of the same score, the contestant who came from afar will be given priority to perform on stage.
• For the outstanding Gold Medalists (final score above 95) who could not participate in the on-site finals, if the quality of their entry video is excellent, it can be considered to play the video of the Gold Medalist at the concert to encourage them.

Repertoire and Video Requirements:

• Every contestant can choose the music piece to compete, no matter classical or contemporary music. Only one piece of music is needed in every round of the competition.
• Every piece of music should be no more than 8 minutes. For Music Major (D2) participants, music should be no more than 12 mins.
• Videos should be in MP4 format and no more than 800MB each
• Videos must be in original recording from ONE camera angle with good lighting and may not be edited or modified in any way
• Videos must show at least the performer's upper half body and hands. Other instrument performers must show the whole or major portion of the instrument
• Vocalists may wear headphones while recording but need to show at least the top half of their body and any microphones
• If you have accompanists, the pianist or the principal accompanist must be shown in the video
• Videos for a band or an orchestra need to show all group members
• Any video applications that are suspected of foul play will be asked to re-take and resubmit their applications, including repaying included fees
• Videos must be recorded after October 1, 2024
• Video submission should be a web link of Youtube, Youku or Bilibili. Video files/titles must be named in a format as "Your Full Name_Category_Age Code_Music Title". Example:  John Smith_Piano_Age Code B_Chopin Ballade No 1 in G minor Op 23
• Dress Code: formal

Application and Fees: 

To avoid over payment for some of the contestants who might not proceed to the next round, we choose a fee strategy of splitting the competition fees to each round rather than a flat fee to everyone for the entire competition. It may seem tedious, but we believe it is more fair to the contestants in every round of the competition.

When you make the payments, please make sure to choose the right Team Size and input the exact number of your team members in the "Quantity" box to ensure the correct amount in the application fee. Please click here for the payment and application.  

• Round 1 Preliminary Application Fee

1. Solo (1 person): US$128 /person
2. Team (2-5 members): US$120 /person
3. Team (6-12 members): US$110 /person
4. Team (13 - 20 members): US$100 /person
5. Team (21 members or more): US$98 /person

• Round 2 Semi-final Repertoire Video Evaluation Fee

1. Solo (1 person): US$118 /person
2. Team (2-5 members): US$110 /person
3. Team (6-12 members): US$100 /person
4. Team (13 - 20 members): US$90 /person
5. Team (21 members or more): US$88 /person

• 7/19/2025 Final Round Competition: No cost to finalists.
• 7/20/2025 BIMC Winners' Concert & Awards Ceremony: No cost to BIMC contestants to attend the concert and ceremony. Other audiences need tickets for entrance.
• 7/20/2025 BIMC Reception Dinner: This event is limited to BIMC contestants and family members for an entrance ticket of $60 /person. Please click for tickets.
• 7/21 - 7/23/2025 Masterclasses + Music College + Ivy League University Exploration Tour:  Package Price US$380 /student to cover professor and staff cost, tour transportation, tour guide and fees. Parents cost $180 /person. Click here to BOOK your space.

Contestant Award Certificates and Prizes:

• Gold First Place Winners in every age group of Non-Music Major (A, B, C, or D1) for all categories will receive Certificates, Gold Plaque and $300 prize awards
• Gold First Place Winners in the age groups of Young Artist Music Major (D2) for all categories will receive Certificates, Gold Plaque and $1000 prize awards
• Silver Second Place Winners in every age group for all categories will receive Certificates and Silver Plaque awards
• Bronze Third Place Winners in every age group for all categories will receive Certificates and Bronze Plaque awards
• Best Stage Performance Award Winners in every age group for all categories will receive Certificates only
• Outstanding Achievement Award (Finalists), Excellent Achievement Award (Semi-Finalists) and Honorable Award Winners in every age group for all categories will receive Certificates only

Other Award Certificates：

• The music teachers of the first three position winners and the Best Stage Performance Award winners will receive Certificates of Excellent Music Education
• The schools or studios of the first three position winners and the Best Stage Performance Award winners will receive Certificates of Excellent Music Organization
• Outstanding Contribution Awards will be honored to our key team members and volunteers.