1.  Principle

 This competition is held to contribute to culture through the popularization and promotion of choral music and to provide a stage for international exchange.

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2.  Participants

 All participating choirs must be amateur choirs. However, conductors and accompanists are exempt from this requirement. Professional musicians and music teachers may perform as singers in amateur choirs.

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3.  Constitution of the Categories

This competition comprises the following categories.

 

(1) Category A-1: Children’s Choir  (13-year-old or younger)

(2) Category A-2: Children’s Choir  (18-year-old or younger)

(3) Category B: Senior Choir

(4) Category S: School-based Choir (Approx. 18-year-old or younger)

(5) Category C: Youth Choir (28-year-old or younger)

(6) Category D: Chamber Choir

(7) Category E: Equal Voice Choir

(8) Category F: Mixed Choir

(9) Category G: Contemporary Music

(10) Category H: Folklore Music

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4.  Number and Age Requirements

 The number of singers and age limits for each category are as follows. This excludes the conductors and the accompanists.

 

 (1)【Category A-1: Children’s Choir  (13-year-old or younger) 】

Minimum 12 singers. All singers must be aged 13 or younger on the day of the competition. Must be a treble voice choir.

 

 (2)【Category A-2: Children’s Choir  (18-year-old or younger) 】

Minimum 12 singers. All singers must be aged 18 or younger on the day of the competition. Must be a treble voice choir.

 

 (3)【Category B: Senior Choir】

Minimum 10 singers. All singers must be aged 50 or above on the day of the competition, and the average age must be 60 or above. Open to mixed, female, and male choirs.

 

 (4) 【Category S: School-based Choir (Approx. 18-year-old or younger)】

Minimum 10 singers. Must be affiliated with an educational institution (elementary school, junior high school, compulsory education school, high school, or secondary education school). Open to treble, mixed, female, and male choirs.

 

 (5)【Category C: Youth Choir (28-year-old or younger)】

Minimum 12 singers. All singers must be aged 28 or under on the day of the competition. Open to mixed, female, and male choirs.

 

 (6)【Category D: Chamber Choir】

10 to 24 singers. Open to mixed, female, and male choirs.

 

 (7)【Category E: Equal Voice Choir】

Minimum 10 singers. Female or male voices only.

 

 (8)【Category F: Mixed Choir】

Minimum 16 singers. Mixed voices only.

 

 (9)【Category G: Contemporary Music】

Minimum 10 singers. Open to mixed, female, and male choirs.

 

 (10)【Category H: Folklore Music】

Minimum 10 singers. Open to mixed, female, and male choirs.

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5.  Program and Performance Time

Performance pieces and time requirements are as follows. Each choir may participate in up to 3 categories. Choirs competing in multiple categories must not repeat any pieces across categories.

 

(1)【Category A-1: Children’s Choir (13-year-old or younger) 】Equal Voices

Set Piece: New piece composed by Ko MATSUSHITA 

Program should include the set piece. The number of pieces is free to choose.

The set piece is a very simple piece for 2 voices, unaccompanied. Other pieces may use any accompaniment.

The duration of performance must be 12 minutes or less (including intervals between pieces).

 

(2)【Category A-2: Children’s Choir  (18-year-old or younger) 】Equal Voices

a, Set piece: New piece composed by Ayako MEIDA

b, Piece composed in or after 1945 by a composer from the choir's country/region.

Program must include both a and b. 

Total number of pieces must be at least 3.

The set piece is an unaccompanied work for 2 or 3 equal voices. Other pieces may use any accompaniment.

The performance duration must be between 9 and 12 minutes (including intervals between pieces).

 

(3)【Category B: Senior Choir】Mixed/Female/Male Voices

Each choir may freely perform a program of its selection. No set piece.

The number of pieces is free to choose. Any accompaniment may be used.

The performance duration must be 10 minutes or less (including intervals between pieces).

 

(4)【Category S: School-based Choir (Approx. 18-years-old or younger)】Mixed/Female/Male Voices

a, Set piece: New piece composed by Shin-ichiro IKEBE 

b, Piece composed in or after 1945 by a composer from the choir's country/region.

Program must include both a and b.

Total number of pieces must be at least 3.

The set piece is unaccompanied. Any accompaniment may be used for pieces other than the set piece.

The performance duration must be between 9 and 12 minutes (including intervals between pieces).

 

(5)【Category C: Youth Choir (28-year-old or younger)】Mixed/Female/Male Voices

a, Set piece: New piece composed by Shin-ichiro IKEBE 

b, Piece from the Renaissance/ Baroque period. For female/ male choirs (for female/male choirs, pieces originally composed for mixed choir and arranged for female/male voices may be used).

Program must include both a and b. Also, these must be performed without accompaniment.

Total number of pieces must be at least 3.

For pieces other than a and b, only one piece may be performed with a tempered instrument such as a piano. Free to use percussion instruments without pitch, and body percussion.

The performance duration must be between 9 and 12 minutes (including intervals between pieces).

 

(6)【Category D: Chamber Choir】Mixed/Female/Male Voices

a, Set piece:  New piece composed by Kentaro SHUTO

b, Piece from the Renaissance/Baroque period (for female/male choirs, pieces originally composed for mixed choir and arranged for female/male voices may be used.) or piece from the Romantic Period.

Program must include both a and b. Also, these must be performed without accompaniment.

Total number of pieces must be at least 3.

For pieces other than a and b, only one song may be performed with a tempered instrument such as a piano. Free to use percussion instruments without pitch, and body percussion.

The performance duration must be between 9 and 12 minutes (including intervals between pieces).

 

(7)【Category E: Equal Voice Choir】Female/Male Voices

a, Set piece: New piece composed by Takatomi NOBUNAGA

b, Piece from the Renaissance/Baroque period (The piece originally composed for mixed choir and arranged for female/male voices may be used.) or piece from the Romantic Period.

Program must include a and b. Also, a and the piece from the Renaissance/Baroque period of b must be performed without accompaniment. For piece from the Romantic period, this can be accompanied by piano. 

The set piece and the Renaissance/Baroque piece (b) must be performed unaccompanied. The Romantic piece may be performed with piano accompaniment.

Total number of pieces must be at least 3.

Only one song may be performed with a tempered instrument such as a piano.

Free to use percussion instruments without pitch, and body percussion.

The performance duration must be between 9 and 12 minutes (including intervals between pieces).

 

(8)【Category F: Mixed Choir】

a, Set piece: New piece composed by Takatomi NOBUNAGA

b, Piece from the Renaissance/ Baroque period or a piece from the Romantic period.

Program must include a and b. Also, these must be performed without accompaniment.

Total number of pieces must be at least 3.

For pieces other than a and b, only one song may be performed with a tempered instrument such as a piano. Free to use percussion instruments without pitch, and body percussion.

The performance duration must be between 9 and 12 minutes (including intervals between pieces).

 

(9)【Category G：Contemporary Music】Mixed/Female/Male Voices

Set piece:  "YOU ARE A STAR!-STELLA ES!" composed by Monica NASTI (approx. 4'30")

Program must include the set piece.

All other pieces must be composed in or after 1960. The number of pieces is free to choose.

For pieces other than the set piece, only one song may be performed with a tempered instrument such as a piano. Free to use percussion instruments without pitch, and body percussion.

The performance duration must be between 10 and 13 minutes (including intervals between pieces).

 

(10)【Category H: Folklore Music】Mixed/Female/Male Voices

Folklore music or music composed/arranged using motifs from folklore of the country / region / culture region of the choir’s origin. No restriction upon the total number of pieces or accompaniment.

The performance duration must be between 7 and 10 minutes (including intervals between pieces).

Choirs in this category will not be selected for the Grand Prix competition; however, there is an audience award for outstanding choir.

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【General Rules】

a, For performances under or over the time limit, 3 points will be deducted per 10 seconds from the choir's overall score.

b, The set piece may be performed in any order within the program.

c, The organizer will provide a grand piano (A = 442 Hz). Extended techniques such as internal playing or prepared piano are prohibited.

d, Applause is permitted only before and after each choir's performance. Stage entry and exit time is not included in the performance time.

 

【Definition of Year of Composition by Period】

1.    Piece from the Renaissance/ Baroque period

The Renaissance: Composers born approximately AD 1400 to AD 1600.

Examples of composers:

Guillaume Dufay, Johannes Ockeghem, Josquin Des Prés, Heinrich Isaac, Jacob Obrecht,

Antoine Brumel, Adrian Willaert, Clemens non Papa, Orlando di Lasso, Clément Janequin, 

Jacques Arcadelt, John Dunstable, John Taverner, Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, Thomas Morley,

John Dowland, John Wilbye, Thomas Weelkes, Orlando Gibbons, Cristóbal de Morales,

Francisco Guerrero, Tomas Luis de Victoria, Costanzo Festa, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina,

Giulio Caccini, Luca Marenzio, Giovanni Gabrieli, Carlo Gesualdo, Claudio Monteverdi, Adriano

Banchieri, Jacobus Gallus, Hans Leo Hassler, Michael Praetorius, etc.

 

The Baroque: Composers born approximately late 16th century to early 18th century.

Examples of composers:

Giulio Caccini, Giovanni Gabrieli, Claudio Monteverdi, Adriano Banchieri, Michael Praetorius,

Gregorio Allegri, Orlando Gibbons, Heinrich Schütz, Henry Purcell, Johann Sebastian Bach,

Georg Friedrich Händel, etc

 

2.     Piece from the Romantic period

Composers born approximately from the late 18th century to the late 19th century.

 

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6.  Grand Prix Competition

The choir with the highest score in each category (except the Folklore category) or nominated by the jury will participate in the Grand Prix Competition held on the final day. One choir will be selected as the Grand Prix winner.

 

Each choir must submit its Grand Prix Competition program along with its category program(s) at the time of application. 2 pieces must be performed in the Grand Prix Competition. Pieces may be freely selected regardless of genre, year of composition, or accompaniment. One of the 2 pieces may be repeated from the Final Round. However, choir size, age requirements, and voice parts must comply with the regulations of the category from which the choir was selected (see Section 4: Number and Age Requirements).

 

 The duration of performance must be 10 minutes or less (excluding interval between pieces). For the Grand Prix Competition, applause between pieces is allowed, and the timing will pause between pieces. If the actual performance time exceeds 10 minutes, the choir will be disqualified.

 

Choirs participating for 2 or more categories have to submit Grand-Prix programs for each category.

However, these programs may be identical.

 

7.  Qualifying Round

 The artistic committee will select choirs for participation based on submitted audio recordings. Submitted recordings must be 2 pieces performed in October 2024 or later. No restriction upon the selection of pieces. Choirs that pass the qualification round can participate in the Final Round that will be held in Tokyo. The Qualification judgment will take place once, in the first half of January 2026. The results will be e-mailed to each choir by the end of January. 

Official invitation and consent form for participation will be sent along with this announcement.

 

8.  Jury

 The artistic committee determined and commissioned 6 international juries and 1 domestic jury. The decision of the jury is final and will not be changed by any means.

  The jury for the 8th Tokyo International Choir Competition 2026 is as below.

 

Sofia SÖDERBERG（Composer/ Conductor,Sweden）

Ambrož ČOPI(Composer/ Conductor, Slovenia)

Paul SMITH (Singer/ Conductor, United Kingdom)

Susanna SAW (Conductor, Malaysia)

Ronnie Kay Yen CHENG (Conductor, China/ Hong Kong SAR)

Cristian GRASES (Composer/Conductor, Venezuela/ United States)

Keita NAJIMA(Conductor, Japan)

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9.  Method of judgment

【Category A-1, A-2, B, S, C, D, E, F, G】

  During the Category Competition, each jury member will score each choir's performance based on the following criteria using a 100-point scale. The average of these points will determine the final score.

 

<Technical Elements (TES):  max. 100 points>

TES is an average of the 4 elements below.

1. Intonation (100 points)

2. Rhythm sense (100 points)

3. Interpretation / Fidelity to score (Including difficulty level of the pieces) (100 points)

4. Sound quality / Blending of the voices (100 points)

 

<Artistic Impression (AIS):  max. 100 points>

AIS will be scored for the overall performance, including the quality of their program building.

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The Technical Elements Score (TES) will be the average of the 4 criteria above (max. 100 points). The Artistic Impression Score (AIS) will be given for the overall performance (max. 100 points). The average of TES and AIS will be each jury member's score for the choir. The final score will be the average of the 5 middle scores after excluding the highest and lowest scores from the 7 jury members.

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【Category B】

  Points will be added to the overall final score according to the average age of the members as below. The prize will be determined based on the points added.

　Average Age

           under 65: no additional points

  65 to under 70: + 2 points

  70 to under 75: + 4 points 

  75 to under 80: + 6 points

  80 to under 85: + 8 points

  85 or older      : + 10 points

 

【Category H】

  　The jury will score each choir on a 100-point scale based ONLY on the Artistic Impression Score(Technical Elements are not evaluated).

  The final score will be the average of the 5 middle scores after excluding the highest and lowest scores from the 7 jury members.

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10.  Prizes

  Choirs will be awarded prizes according to their scores as follows:

Gold Prize: 85 points or higher

Silver Prize: 75 points or higher

Bronze Prize: 65 points or higher

 

In addition to the Gold, Silver, and Bronze prizes, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place will be announced for each category. Special prizes will also be awarded:

 

Best Conductor

 

Best Interpretation Prize [Best Interpretation of a piece from Renaissance and Baroque Period (or Romantic Period) ]

 

Best Interpretation Prize for Contemporary Music 

 

Big Wave Award [Most Promising Choir]

 

 The final score from each jury and brief comments (from 5 jury members)  will be sent to the choir after the Grand Prix competition.

 The choir awarded 1st prize in the Grand Prix competition will be the Grand Prix Choir and will get the right to participate in the 5th World Choral Championship 2027, held in Tokyo, Japan. 

 

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11. Prizes and Prize Money

1st place in each category: JPY 50,000

Grand Prix Choir: JPY 500,000

 

All choirs qualified for the Final Round will receive a Participation Certificate. 

Awarded choirs will receive a diploma.

Gold prize choirs will receive a trophy and a diploma.

Grand Prix Choir will receive a special trophy and a diploma.

 

 

12. Performance Opportunities Outside the Competition

Participating choirs may, if they wish, perform in several concerts that will be held around the main venue.

 

13.  Participation Fees

<Fee for qualification>  JPY 5,000 per choir

 

<Fee for Final Round>  This will be the total of the per-choir and per-member fee.

- Per-choir fee: JPY 50,000 per category

 

One choir may participate in up to 3 categories.

No category change will be allowed after passing the Qualifying Round.

 

- Per-member fee for members in a choir: JPY 5,000

 

 Participating choirs must pay all competition-related fees, including travel and accommodation. 

However, if the artistic committee determines that a certain choir is exceptionally outstanding, financial support of approximately JPY 100,000 to 200,000 may be provided for travel expenses.

 

14. Handling of Country/Region Names, Notations, Designations, and Flags

 

1. Participating groups must declare their group name, the notation and designation of their country or region, and their national or regional flag at the time of application for the Qualifying Round. In principle, the organizer will respect and use the declared information.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　​​

2. The organizer will display the national/regional flags specified by participating groups in the venue. The displayed flags must be respected, and no objections, requests, or protests will be accepted regarding other groups' flags, or the names, notations, and country/region designations described in Article 14-1. The organizer will follow the participating groups' instructions regarding these matters and will bear no responsibility for them.​　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　.

3. ​The Tokyo International Choir Competition is a non-political event aimed at artistic and cultural exchange, and does not permit any acts of political assertion or intent, displays, demonstrations, or any other similar activities.

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15. Prohibition of Disrupting the Competition

 

1. Participating groups must not abandon their performance or withdraw from the competition without a valid reason.​

2. If the organizer finds that a group has violated Article 14 or engaged in acts that disrupt or seriously harm the competition's operations, the organizer may:

Cancel the group's participation

Restrict their future participation

Request compensation for damages

 

16. Musical Prohibitions

Choir which have any connection or relationship with the jury cannot apply for this competition.

Qualifiers cannot contact the jury member(s) from the announcement of the finalists until the end of all events of the 7th Tokyo International Choir Competition 2025.

Performing the set pieces before the premiere in the competition is prohibited, except for the SATB version of “YOU ARE A STAR!-STELLA ES!”

 

17. Prospective participants must understand that this competition is a civilian-led peace activity, and must participate only after agreeing to all contents of these competition regulations.

 

18.  Application Period

Application period: 15th November 2025 - 15th December 2025.