General rules and requirements

1. The Melbourne Star International Music Competition (hereafter referred as the MSIMC) is open to all entrants.

2. Each section has specific requirements. Failure to comply with these may lead to disqualification and the withdrawal of prizes and awards.

3. If disputes occur, our adjudication panel’s decision is final. We do not allow any variation to the rules to ensure a fair competition.

4. For all aged sections, an entrant’s age is determined as at the final day of the MSIMC, which is August 18th, 2024.

5. Section winners may be required to provide birth certificates.

6. Registration is now open online. The closing date is midnight on Sunday June 7th, 2024.

   Categories and competition rounds

7. The MSIMC will feature contestants competing across three categories:

   1. Piano Performance

   2. Accordion Performance

   3. Composition

      * All entries must be original compositions; arrangements of existing works will not be accepted. Composition entries may include works for all instruments and/or ensembles.

8. Each category will have one preliminary round and one final round. Both rounds are limited to one piece. However, in any category, the final repertoire can be same as the repertoire played in the preliminary round.

9. Contestants in each category are required to follow the rules as below:

   1. Piano Performance and Accordion Performance

      Contestants must compete in person in both rounds. In the preliminary round of Piano Performance and Accordion Performance, contestants who apply via the Australian website will compete in Melbourne, Australia. However, contestants who apply in China will compete in Tianjin, China.

   2. Composition

      In the preliminary round of Composition, contestants are required to submit a PDF file of music scores and a MP3 file via email at melbournestarimc@outlook.com.

      The full name of the contestant must be included in the subject of the email, as well as the name of the two submitted files (e.g. Your Full Name.pdf, Your Full Name.mp3)

   3. The final round of all three categories will take place in Melbourne. Finalists who are selected from the preliminary round in Melbourne must compete in person in Melbourne. However, finalists who are selected from the preliminary round in Tianjin will have options to compete in person or submit a video recording that is to be played live in the final round.

10. Entrants can apply for multiple sections. Each section will require an individual application fee.

    Application fee

    AU$ 85.00

    Agenda and online application

11. Preliminary round:

    1. Piano Performance (minor & junior): July 21st, 2024

    2. Piano Performance (senior & open age): July 28th, 2024

    3. Accordion Performance: July 28th, 2024

    4. Composition*: Online submission due Midnight on Sunday June 2nd, 2024

12. Final round:

    1. Piano performance: August 11th, 2024

    2. Accordion performance: August 18th, 2024

    3. Composition: August 18th, 2024

13. Late application will be considered if a written request is made via email. Entry fees are non-refundable, except when the MSIMC is cancelled. Entrants wishing to withdraw their application are required to notify via email at melbournestarimc@outlook.com prior to the date of their section.

14. Sections are scheduled according to adjudicator availability and may fall on any advertised date of the competition. J&S International Education Group reserves the right to amend, cancel, or combine any section.

15. Contestants will be notified in advance via email of their appearance time.

    Divisions and time limit

16. Age is determined as of August 18th, 2024, the final date of the MSIMC.

17. The Division titled as ‘Open’ can be entered by persons of any age.

18. Selections of performance should be chosen to finish within the time limit prescribed. In the case of a performer exceeding the time limit the performance will be adjudicated up to the point of the time limit being reached.

    Piano Performance / Accordion performance
    Division	Age	Time limit (Preliminary Round)	Time limit (Final Round)
    Minor I	5-7	4 minutes	4 minutes
    Minor II	8-10	4 minutes	4 minutes
    Junior I	11-13	5 minutes	5 minutes
    Junior II	14-16	5 minutes	5 minutes
    Senior	17-18	8 minutes	8 minutes
    Open	No limit	10 minutes	10 minutes

    Composition
    Division	Age	Time limit (Preliminary Round)	Time limit (Final Round)
    Minor	10 and under	No limit	5 minutes*
    Junior	16 and under
    Senior	Above 16

    * Selections should be chosen to finish within the time limit prescribed.

    Awards

19. Cash prizes, along with a certificate and/or trophy, will be awarded to the 1st prize winner in all categories.

20. A certificate and/or trophy will be awarded to the 2nd, 3rd, and honourable mention winners.

21. Any contestants who have received a mark of 80 (out of 100) and above will receive a certificate of excellence.

    Session registration

22. Entrants must allow adequate time to register for their session before their competition section starts. Failure to register may result in being disqualified for an award.

23. Entrants are required to bring the original music score and submit, as appropriate, a clean photocopy of their music for use by the adjudicator at registration. All photocopies will be destroyed after the event.

24. No warm-up time is provided at the venue. Contestants are recommended to have a warm-up time prior to attending their competition section.

    Audience

25. Free entry for all audience members during the final round.

26. No entry for audience during the preliminary round.

    Consent for use of images / videos

27. All entrants (and their guardians if under 18) in the MSIMC give permission for their photographs or videos taken by J&S International Education Group to be used now or in the future for the purpose of external communications, including advertising and marketing as well as posted on their website and social media account (s) including Facebook, Instagram, etc.

28. These photos and recordings are solely for archival or marketing purposes of J&S International Education Group. No such recording or image may be on-sold for profit. If a participant does not wish to be filmed or photographed by J&S International Education Group, they can notify via email at melbournestarimc@outlook.com upon the time of registration.

    Recording, photography, and filming

29. Photography and recording will not be permitted by the audience during performances.

30. Public audio or video recording will not be permitted, including on smartphones or similar devices. J&S International Education Group is not held responsible for any breach of the copyright from the public member(s).

    Privacy

31. By participating in the MSIMC, the entrant consents to any personal information collected being used by J&S International Education Group for the purposes, or directly related purposes, of conducting the MSIMC.

32. J&S International Education Group will not sell, rent, trade, or otherwise supply to third parties any personal information obtained from participants unless he/she consents.