Frequently Asked Questions

Contestant Age is limited to 5 to 25, as of May 1st, 2023.

• The application and video submission deadline for Round 1 competition is April 30th, 2023,
• The Announcement for Semi-Finalists is May 15th, 2023,
• The video submission deadline for Semi-Final competition is June 4th,
• The Announcement for Finalists is June 19th,
• The Final competition is on July 15th, 2023 on-site in Boston.

1. Voice (classical, contemporary, opera, solo, duet, chorus)
2. Piano (classical, modern)
3. Other Instruments:

• Keyboard (electric piano, accordion)
• Strings (violin, viola, cello, guitar, bass, harp, mandolin)
• Woodwind (flute, clarinet, oboe, saxophone, bamboo flute)
• Brass (trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba)
• Percussion (drum set, jazz drum, djembe, marimba, xylophone)
• Different folk instruments (erhu, guzheng, jinghu, yangqin, pipa, bamboo flute, suona, hulusi, etc.)

A - Elementary (Age 5-11) 

B - Junior (Age 11-14) 

C - Senior (Age 14-19) 

D1 - Young Artist (Age 19-25): Non-Music Major

D2 - Young Artist (Age 19-25): Music Major

There are a total of 15 groups among the 3 categories.

Group Codes: VA, VB, VC, VD1, VD2, PA, PB, PC, PD1, PD2, OA, OB, OC, OD1, OD2

    A. Application Fee for Round 1 Preliminary Competition

• Solo (1 person): US$98 /person
• Team (2-5 members): US$90 /person
• Team (6-12 members): US$85 /person
• Team (13 - 20 members): US$80 /person
• Team (21 members or more): US$78 /person

    B. Video Evaluation Fee for Round 2 Semi-final competition

• Solo (1 person): US$78 /person
• Team (2-5 members): US$70 /person
• Team (6-12 members): US$65 /person
• Team (13 - 20 members): US$60 /person
• Team (21 members or more): US$58 /person

    C. Final Round Competition: No Fees

• Repertoire for Round 1 preliminary competition: Contestants decide your own music for video submission. We only require the music is less than 8 mins, and one video for one piece of music. Please refer to the Video Recording Requirements,
• Repertoire for Round 2 Semi-final competition: Contestants decide your own music for video submission. It could be a different from or the same as Round 1 repertoire,
• Repertoire for Final competition:  Contestants decide your own music for final competition It could be a different from or the same as Round 1 or Round 2 repertoire, Finalists who could not come to Boston for the final live competition must submit a video.

Submit a video link of Youtube, Bilibili or Youku when you fill up the application form. Please do not email the video.

• First Place Winner for Non-Music Major (A, B, C, or D1) in every category will receive a Certificate and a $300 prize award,
• First Place Winner for Young Artist with Music Major (D2) in every category will receive a Certificate and a $1000 prize award,
• Second Place Winner for Non-Music Major (A, B, C, or D1) in every category will receive a Certificate and a $200 prize award,
• Second Place Winner for Young Artist with Music Major (D2) in every category will receive a Certificate and a $500 prize award,
• Third Place Winner for every age in every category will receive a Certificate and a $100 prize award,
• Best Audience Favorite Award Winner for every age in every category will receive a Certificate only,
• Best Stage Performance Award Winner for every age in every category will receive a Certificate only,
• Excellence Award and Honorable Award Winners for every age in every category will receive a Certificate only.

• The music teachers of the First three position and Best award winners will receive Certificates of Excellent Music Education,
• The schools or studios that First three position and Best award winners are from will receive Certificates of Excellent Music Organization.

The Final competition will be in the afternoon of July 15th, 2023 in Boston, followed by in the evening a grand competition award ceremony and a winners' concert at a Boston reputable concert hall. Dress Code: Formal.

The Boston International Music Competition is attractive to young musicians for several reasons: 

1. Prestigious and International Recognition: The Boston International Music Competition is a high-profile international music event, attracting young musicians from all over the world. Winners can not only show their talents in front of the public, but also get the attention of authoritative people and media in the music industry,
2. Scholarships and Performance Opportunities: The competition offers scholarships and the opportunity to perform in leading music venues, which can be a significant career-making opportunity for young artists,
3. Professional Evaluation: The judges of the Boston International Music Competition are all renowned musicians from US and China. They have rich music experience and professional knowledge. The high and strict evaluation standards make the event authoritative and professional,
4. Professional Development: The competition provides valuable feedback and guidance from top-notch judges in the music industry. This experience helps young musicians to develop their skills, technique, artistic talent and career,
5. Excellent Organization and Arrangement: The Boston International Music Competition is well organized and the events are arranged reasonably. Also consultation and support services are provided for the contestants, so that the contestants can show their talents in a pleasant and comfortable environment,
6. Global Recruitment: The Boston International Music Competition attracts outstanding young musicians from all over the world to participate. Contestants can accumulate valuable experience and resources for their own music career,
7. Networking Opportunities: Participation in the competition creates opportunities for young musicians to meet other like-minded peers, music industry professionals, and music enthusiasts. This network can open new doors and create valuable connections that may help them in their future music careers.

R2 Requirements:

1. Each semi-finalist team can ONLY submit ONE music performance video
2. Video should be no more than 8 mins long
3. Recommend a new and better video if you can prepare, as the Semi-final is even more competitive in general
4. If you do not have a new video, the video submitted for preliminary R1 is acceptable
5. No matter which video you choose for Semi-final, the R2 application form and video link MUST be submitted before June 4th, 2023 at the BIMC website Application URL:  https://bimc.us/r2-application
6. Application and Video Assessment Fee MUST be paid before your submission of the application form and video that need to input the Payment Order #. Payment can be paid at BIMC website Payment URL: https://bimc.us/r2-payment
7. Finalist Announcement will be on June 19th, 2023

1. For Final on-site competition, the time limit is up to 15 mins per finalist
2. For the performance on the Winners' concert, the time limit is normally up to 6 min, but max 10 mins per person and subject to the approval from the concert Director
3. There are no fees to finalists for final on-site competition, nor for the Winners' Concert
4. All BIMC contestants are invited to the Winners's Concert on July 15th, 2023 in Boston. Venue will be announced in June. So concert participants who need travel to Boston should get prepared with flight and visa
5. Any contestants who need Invitation Letters for assisting US visa should contact us as early as possible
6. BIMC Final Competition will be on-site in Boston, in the afternoon of July 15th, 2023
7. BIMC Winners' Concert will be in the evening of July 15th, 2023
8. Tickets for BIMC Winners' Concert could be purchased at BIMC Award Ceremony and Concert website