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Tokyo Music Competition

About

About the Tokyo Music Competition

The competition is presented by the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, the Yomiuri Shimbun, the Kao Corporation, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to discover, foster, and support the young gifted performers aiming to start their independent career as an artist.

Features of this competition

In the finals, the contestants perform with an orchestra and the audience votes for the best performers. The most voted will receive the Audience Award. Also, this is one of the most representative competitions in Japan that is unique in that the juries are mainly active performers and the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan offers the winners special supports such as providing opportunities to perform on stages and helping organize recitals.

Prizes and Support

1. Prizes

Those who place first, second, and third in each section are stated as the winners, and they will be awarded diplomas and cash prizes according to the judges at the final rounds.
Other finalists will be awarded diplomas with extra prizes as well.
Also, the finalist of each section who obtained the largest number of votes from the audience will receive the Audience Award with an extra prize.

2. Support for the winners

(1) Engagements for the performances organized by the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan
Those who place first and the top will perform with an orchestra at "The Winners Concert" (venue: Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Main Hall) which Tokyo Bunka Kaikan presents in the following year of the Competition.
The winners have a possibility of performing at the various concerts and operas presented or co-presented by the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan.
We will recommend them to the concerned organizations for performing with orchestras based in Tokyo at the "Classical Concerts with Emerging Artists" which are held by the Tokyo municipalities.
(2) Recital support
If a winner holds a recital during the next 5 years from the competition, the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan will co-present the recital once per winner, providing the Recital Hall at half the cost (excluding adjoining facilities, piano tuning fees and such ) and supporting through public relations and advertisement.
(3) Promoting the winners
The winners' detailed profiles are listed in the Tokyo Music Competition Report which is distributed to the organizations involved such as music management offices and the press.
The winners' profiles and their upcoming activities will be posted on the Tokyo Music Competition-List of Winners of the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan website.
(4) Introducing the winners as a performer to the related events
The winners will be recommended as a performer of various events including concerts organized by other institutes of the Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture.

History

1961 The Tokyo Bunka Kaikan opened its doors.
1965 Emerging Musician Debut Audition started.
2003 The program was expanded as "Tokyo Music Competition" by Akira Miyoshi, a past President of the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan.
Launched the First competition. (Sections: Piano, String, Wind, Brass, Voice)
2004 The 2nd competition (Sections: Piano, String, Wind, Brass, Voice)
2005 The 3rd competition (Sections: Piano, String, Wind, Brass, Voice)
2006 The 4th competition (Sections: Piano, String)
The former President of the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Norio Ohga added orchestra accompaniments to the finals.
2007 The 5th competition (Sections: Piano, String, Wind, Voice)
Added the Audience Award.
2008 The 6th competition (Sections: Piano, String, Brass, Voice)
2009 The 7th competition (Sections: Piano, String, Wind, Voice)
2010 The 8th competition (Sections: Piano, String, Brass, Voice)
2011 The 9th competition (Sections: Piano, String, Wind, Voice)
2012 The 10th competition (Sections: Piano, String, Brass, Voice)
2013 The 11th competition (Sections: Piano, String, Wind, Voice)
Started to invite juries from overseas.
2014 The 12th competition (Sections: Piano, String, Brass, Voice)
2015 The 13th competition (Sections: String, Wind, Voice)
Renewal towards internationalization:
  • Increased guest juries.
  • Participants with any nationality and legal domicile are welcome.
  • Abolished preliminary screening (based on audio source).
  • Added contrabass to the String section and tuba to the Brass section.
2016 The 14th competition (Sections: Piano, Brass, Voice)
2017 The 15th competition (Sections: Piano, String, Wind)
2018 The 16th competition (Sections: String, Brass, Voice)
2019 The 17th competition (Sections: Piano, Wind, Voice)
2020 The 18th competition (Sections: Piano, String, Brass)
2021 The 19th competition (Sections: String, Wind, Voice)
2022 The 20th competition (Sections: Piano, Brass, Voice)
2023 The 21st competition (Sections: Piano, String, Wind)
2024 The 22nd competition (Sections: String, Brass, Voice)