6th Annual AM CANADA International Music Competition & Festival (Korea Finals)

Final Round in Lycée International Xavier School in Seoul, Korea - August

Participation & Evaluation

  • Preliminary Round: Video submission screening

  • Final Round: In-person or online judging

Korean Participants can refer to our page at https://ambrosematilda.com/music-competition-2026-kr

Fairness Policy

  • All finalists are encouraged to perform live in Vancouver whenever possible.

  • Participants from outside Vancouver or overseas may be evaluated via online submissions due to distance, travel cost, etc.

  • The judging process has been carefully structured to ensure fairness and balanced opportunities for both live and recorded performances.

01. Eligibility

Educational Enrolment Requirements

  • General schools (elementary, middle, high school, university, graduate school)

  • Art institutions, international schools, specialized high schools

  • Homeschooling students

  • Special schools (students with disability ID cards)

Age Categories

  • Elementary School A: Grades 1-3

  • Elementary School B: Grades 4-6

  • Middle School

  • High School

  • University & General division (up to 32 years of age)

Repertoire:

  • Elementary School: Different pieces for preliminary and final round, each in duration of 3-10 minutes.

  • Middle School & Above: Any work not exceeding 15 minutes for both the preliminary and final round.

    ***Note: In the case of sonatas, a performer must play the 1st movement or both the 1st and 2nd movements without repetition from memory.

Instruments:

  • Piano (Solo & Duo)

  • Vocal (Solo & Duet & Choir)

  • Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Harp, Ensemble/Chamber

  • Winds/Brass: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Ensemble/Chamber

02. Fees & Payment

Application Fee (non-refundable):

  • Solo: $150 CAD

  • Duo/Ensemble: $80 CAD per person

    • Groups of 5 or more: $280 CAD

  • Special education students: $80 CAD

  • Participants outside Korea and Canada: CAD $170 (details via email)

Payment Methods

  • E-transfer: ammusicconnection@gmail.com

  • Overseas: Contact by email for payment instructions

  • Korean Residents: KB Kookmin Bank 752601-04-340190 (AMMC Korea)

  • Payer’s name must match participant’s name (or specify instrument if not possible)

03. Awards

Note: Since the results will be based on absolute evaluation, there may be cases where there is no winner or more than 1 winner. There may be changes in the competition dates and/or location due to unforeseeable events.

Total Scholarship Amount: CAD $5,500)

Grand Prix

  • 1 overall winner

  • Scholarship: CAD $2,000

Category Awards

(By grade category regardless of instrument)

  • 1st Prize: CAD $300

  • 2nd Prize: CAD $200

  • 3rd Prize: Honourable Mention

Additional Awards

  • Ensemble/Chamber Special Scholarship:

    • CAD $1,000

    • Awarded at judges’ discretion

Additional honours may include:

  • Mayor of Burnaby Award

  • Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Vancouver Award

  • Canadian Senator Yonah Martin Award

  • Bulgarian Honorary Consul to Canada Award

  • Chopin Society – President Patrick May Award

  • Outstanding Teacher Award:

    • Recognition for excellent teachers

    • Invitation to judging and mentoring opportunities

Awards and recipients may change depending on circumstances.

Special Benefits

  • All winners may receive invitations to perform in Korea and Canada.

  • Round-trip airfare and accommodation may be arranged for invited performances.

Gala Concert

  • Planned for October 9, 2026

  • Venue: Lycée International Xavier School, Jongno-gu, Seoul

  • Additional performances are currently under discussion and will be announced later.

04. Registration

Guideline for preliminary round video submissions.

Participants may register for the first round by submitting an application along with the application fee through e-transfer.

Your video recording must be a YouTube link that is public or unlisted.

  • Video recordings must clearly show the participant’s face and the entire body must be visible.

  • Video recordings that are accompanied by a pianist must include and show your pianist as well.

  • Orchestral accompanied recordings are acceptable.

  • An unedited video of the performance as a YouTube PUBLIC link. Please ensure that the link is openable, as failure to do so may lead to disqualification. Videos edited in any way will not be accepted.

  • Recordings with build-in mics on smartphones is acceptable, as long as it is clearly audible. You are more than welcome to use additional equipment as well. The use of audio edits or sound effects is prohibited.

  • Recordings with phones or iPads is allowed, as well as recording in practice rooms or lesson rooms.

  • If you are submitting an old recording, it MUST be no more than six months old.

For final round submissions:

Video submissions must follow all above rules with the addition of:

  • Brief self-introduction (name, instrument, piece) at the beginning of the video

05. Jury

  • Jury: Professors and professional musicians from Canada and abroad

  • Preliminary results announced before finals

  • Jury names disclosed after final round for fairness

  • Experienced jurors evaluate both live and online performances

06. Guidelines

Participation fees are generally non-refundable

  1. If fewer than 10 applicants register for an instrument category, it may be canceled or combined for awards.

    • Cancellation by organizers:

      • The organizers may cancel the competition or change schedules/procedures due to insufficient participants or unavoidable circumstances.

    • If the competition is cancelled before preliminary judging:

      • Participants may choose either:

        • A full refund, or

        • Full credit transfer to the next competition

        Some administrative/payment processing fees may be deducted.

  2. As absolute scoring is used, there may or may not be any winners in each category.

  3. Please monitor the website for updates or announcements.

  4. The competition schedule and events may be adjusted or canceled due to unforeseen circumstances, such as COVID-19 or other emergencies.

  5. Decisions on unlisted matters are at the discretion of the organizers.

  6. Categories with insufficient participants may be combined for judging.

  7. Awards and privileges are subject to change based on organizer circumstances.

  8. The organizers are not responsible for any disadvantages from missed website announcements.

  9. Scholarships may be subject to tax deductions (varies by country)

  10. Submitted videos and performances may be used for promotional and archival purposes by the organizers

Final Round Application Form.

Link to application will be announced soon