‘Macao Young Musicians Competition’ (CJMM, the Competition) seeks to promote the development of classical music and provide opportunities for young local musicians to gain valuable stage experience and enhance their performance abilities, as well as to encourage participants to discover their musical potential, help them explore professional development in music and possibly embark on a musical career.

4.1 Eligibility

Any person who is born in or after 1998 and holding a valid Macao Resident ID Card.

4.2 Notes

4.2.1 Participant should use the name identical to his/her Macao Resident ID Card;

4.2.2 A Participant may compete in no more than four categories, and shall choose only one level;

4.2.3 Participants should apply for the competition level in accordance with their own level of musical competence or ability. Application for signing up in a competition level lower than one’s competence or ability is strictly prohibited; if non-conformity between a Participant’s declared musical level and competition level is found, or signing up for more than one level in the same category, the organiser reserves the right to disqualify him/her from the competition, and cancel his/her prize won;

4.2.4 If there are less than five Participants or teams enrolled in a Category, the organiser reserves the right to cancel the relevant competition, and Participants shall not raise any objections; under such circumstance, registration fee will be refunded; no registration fee paid will be refunded in any circumstances other than this one.

4.2.5 First-prize winners in any categories of the past Macao Young Musicians Competition are not eligible to compete in the same category again;

4.2.6 No Participant shall be a member of two or more teams competing in the same “Piano Four Hands” or “Piano Chamber Music” Category;

4.2.7 Students majoring in relevant music instrument performance, in diploma or Bachelor’s Degree programmes or above at any music academies or higher education institutions, as well as students of a high school affiliated to a music academy, including “Cursos de Técnica de Música” of the Macao Conservatory, full-time professional musicians engaging in relevant musical instrument performance profession, are not eligible to compete;

4.2.8 No age limit is placed on accompanist, and submission of personal particulars of accompanist is not required during submission. However, Participant is required to produce a copy of his/her personal identification documents for registration during the designated report time of a competition.

4.3 Application Method

4.3.1. Application is done first via online registration, followed by payment and documentssubmission. Details are:

4.3.2.Applicants who are not familiar with computer operation may go, in person, to IC Building during 7th to 10th March and apply through the online registration process with assistance from support officers. Applicants may bring along the required documentsand settle payment on site.

4.4 Submission by Authorized Representative or Group Registration

4.4.1 To protect the rights and interests of Participant, Participant should submit documents and payment in person. Document submission for ensemble categories can be done by the representative of the ensemble. If any of the Participant or representative of ensemble cannot submit document and pay in person, an authorized person may be appointed, with a signed and completed Letter of Authorization (as part of the Online Registration Slip or can be downloaded on website), together with all the required documents. The authorized person should present, during submission of document, his/her identity document for verification. The Participant should make sure that all the documents are complete and correct before submission by authorized person.

4.4.2 For submission of 10 or above applications, Participants may choose submit information collectively; in such case, a Name List of Group Registration (Form C) should be submitted along with Registration Slip from Online Registration and required documents;

4.4.3 If choosing to submit information collectively, Participants are required to complete the Letter of Authorization (as part of the Online Registration Slip), and the authorized person should present, on the registration site, the original of his/her identity document for verification.

4.5 Notes on Changes of Information

4.5.1 Participants are not allowed to change their competition categories, levels and pieces (either free choice or compulsory pieces) after payment; members cannot be added, withdrawn or changed, and representative cannot be renamed for ensemble categories;

4.5.2 In special circumstances, a Participant may request changing the order of performance by completing Request of Change of Performance Order (Form D) must be submitted in person by the Participant during on or before 24th May, 10:00 to 19:00 (including lunch hour) at Cultural Affairs Bureau Building. Change of order of performance is not valid without being approved by the Organizer;.

4.5.3 If a Participant need to change the order of performance with short notice due to an emergency, he or she must fill in a Form for Request of Change of Performance Order (Form D) and submit it in person, along with any documented evidence (e.g. medical certificate), at the Cultural Affairs Bureau Building or the competition venue no later than two working days before the date of a competition. Any change of the order of performance is not valid without being approved by the Organizer;

4.5.4 To protect the rights and interests of participants, a Form for Request of Change of Performance Order (Form D) must be submitted in person by the Participant requesting any change of information. If the Participant or team representative is not able to submit the form personally, he or she must fill in an Authorization Letter to authorize person to submit a form on one’s behalf, and the authorized person must present his or her original, valid identity document for verification when submitting the form.

5.1 A grand piano (A=442) and music stands are available at the competition venue. Application is not required for borrowing them;

5.2 Piano pedal riser is available for borrow and participants are not allowed to use their own pedal riser; Borrowing request need to be made during Online Registration;

5.3 Participants must ensure that the borrowed musical instruments are in good shape without any damage after use. If there is any damage, destruction or loss of the borrowed instruments, the Organiser reserves the right to claim compensation from the Participants;

5.4 Warm-up rooms are available for Participants; schedule of using the warm-up room will be arranged by the Organiser on site according to performance order of competition.

6.1 The order of performance will be determined by the Organiser through computer ballot, and Participants must perform according to the allocated order;

6.2 Participants in the concerto category must perform with their accompanist(s). If the accompanist(s) is/are absent at the scheduled time of performance, the Participants will be deemed waiving the right to participate in the competition, and thus forbidden to perform;

6.3 Rules on competition pieces and music scores:

6.3.1 Participants and their accompanists are responsible for ensuring their use of legal copies of music scores; no photocopies should be used or brought onto the stage; Participants need to arrange their page turner if necessary;

6.3.2 Participants or accompanists using music scores downloaded online shall present a payment receipt in support of such scores are obtained legally;

6.3.3 Participants must perform the pieces as specified on their registration forms;

6.3.4 Participants must submit, at the time of application, one copy of their free choice pieces for Jury’s reference; the copies submittedwill not be returned and will be destroyed by the Organiser after the competition;

6.3.5 Participants are not permitted to compete in more than one category with the same free choice piece, or to perform free choice pieces they have used in previous Macao Young Musicians Competition;

6.3.6 Participants in violation of the rules set in clause 6.3.1 to 6.3.5 will only be given a written assessment in lieu of a score, and thus cannot compete for any prizes;

6.3.7 Participants should follow the music score to complete their performancewithin the time limit. If a Participant deviates from the notation (unless otherwise specified in the score), the Jury shall decide whether his or her overall score will be affected;

6.3.8 Participants shall not play repeats or first time bars (or first endings) unless otherwise stated explicitly in the “set piece selection regulations”. Da Capo (D.C.) and Dal Segno (D.S.) should be played as instructed;

6.4 The list of Jury will be released on 12^th If any Participant is a relative, student, or business associate of any members of the Jury, he or she must notify the Organiser before the competition so that the Jury in question may not score him or her. The Organiser reserves the right to disqualify a Participant and strip him or her of any awarded prizes once discovering that the Participant concealed such relationship with a Jury;

6.5 Jury may require a Participant to stop playing if they believe the performance up till the requested stop is sufficient in arriving a fair decision; on the contrary, Jury may ask a Participant to repeat the piece(s) if they are unable to assess his or her previous performance;

6.6 Participants are prohibited to have any contact with Jury before the announcement of the competition results. Those in violation will be disqualified and their awarded prizes withdrawn;

6.7 The Organiser reserves the right to arrange and change the competition venue(s) or schedule.

7.1 Participants must check-in at the competition venue at the designated time by presenting the original copy of valid Macao Resident ID Cards to collect a badge for performance; Accompanists are required at the same time to produce copies of personal identification documents and collect a receive a badge for performance;

7.2 Participants failing to obtain the badge for performance at the reception desk at the designated time will be regarded as ‘late’. Though permitted to perform, a late Participant will only be given a written assessment in lieu of a score, and thus cannot compete for any prizes;

7.3 Participants who fail to appear on stage after their names called three times will be seen as withdrawn from competition and will not be allowed to perform on stage.

8.1 Assessment Criteria

8.1.1 Competition results are graded on a scale from 0 to 100 points;

8.1.2 Juries will score based on the performing technique, interpretation, musicality, and artistic appeal of Participants;

8.1.3 Competition results will be calculated according to the average of total scores by the Juries, rounded to two decimal places;

8.1.4 Juries reserve the right to make final decision on all music-related issues. All scoring decisions made are final and Participants must respect and accept the those decisions.

8.2 All Categories Prize

8.2.1 There are First Prize, Second Prize, Third Prize, Distinction and Merit in each category. Results will be released in competition venue immediately after the competition;

8.2.2 Participants with a score of 75to 84 will be awarded “Merit” certificate and with a score of 85 or above will be awarded “Distinction” certificate；

8.2.3 The First Prize, Second Prize and Third Prize are awarded to Participants with top three scores at 85 or above. Prize winners will be presented a cash award and a certificate. However, the Jury reserves the right to withhold awarding any of the above prizes and, instead, awards “Distinction” to any of the top scoring Participants, when the Jury is dissatisfied with the artistic achievements of the top scorers even if any of them reached a score of 85 or above.

8.3 Cash Awards of All Categories

8.4 Special Prizes Competition

8.4.1 All the First Prize winners of Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced levels in each category, or any Participant recommended by the Jury, can compete in the Competition for Special Prizes. All the First Prize winners in “Piano Four-Hands & Chamber Music” category can compete for "Best Ensemble Performance Prize";

8.4.2 If one Participant receives more than one First Prize in different categories, his/her qualification for theSpecial Prizes Competition will be based on the number of his/her First Prizes;

8.4.3 Solo or ensembles participants only need to perform one musical piece chosen from compulsory piece or free choice piece from their category;

8.4.4 Participants with top scores at 85 or above will be awarded the titles "Best Performance in Elementary Category", "Best Performance in Intermediate Category" and "Cultural Affairs Bureau Prize" for solo elementary, intermediate and advanced category respectively or the "Best Ensemble Performance Prize" for ensemble category; the Organiser reserves the right not to award prizes in the Special Prizes Competition when no performance in the category qualifies;

8.4.5 Results will be announced following the competition. Winners will receive cash awardand certificates.

8.5 Special Prizes and Eligibility

8.7 Cultural Affairs Bureau Prize

8.7.1 The Cultural Affairs Bureau Prize is awarded to the Grand Champion of the Special Prize Competition winner of the solo advanced category.

8.7.2 The Cultural Affairs Bureau Prize will be granted in the form of a scholarship equivalent to the winner’s first-year tuition fee of music course (excluding miscellaneous and the scholarship provided by the school);

8.7.3 The scholarship will fund the recipient’s first year tuition fee of relevant undergraduate or pre-college division music course, including music instrument performance, vocal performance, music theory, music composition, music therapy or music education, etc;

8.7.4 The winner may be invited to perform in the concert organized by the Macao Orchestra or Macau Chinese Orchestra;

8.7.5 To apply for the release of scholarship, the recipient needs to submit an application letter, Certificate of Prize, acceptance letter of the course, notice and receipt of tuition as well as other relevant documents to the Cultural Affairs Bureau.

8.8 Wright State University Scholarship

Offered by Wright State University Department of Music, Dr. & Mrs. Daniel Tse,as well as Mrs. Irene Romanowski, the Wright State University Scholarship awards to recipients to enroll in an undergraduate program of Piano Performance, Music Education or Music History and Literature at the university.

8.8.1 The scholarship will be awarded to one or more Award Winners of the top three prizes at Secondary School Form 5 or equivalent level in piano solo categories, or any Participants recommended by the Jury;

8.8.2 The Wright State University Scholarship is selected in non-open audition by representatives from the Wright State University. The respresentivites reserve the rights of final decision and interpretation of the scholarship.

8.8.3 The scholarship is awarded via waive of partial tuition fee. Each awardees will be awarded, in four years, the following amount of scholarship:

Wright State University Department of Music and Dr. & Mrs. Daniel Tse: a maximum of USD 24,000.00 scholarship

Wright State University Department of Music and Mrs. Irene Romanowski: a maximum of USD 16,000.00 scholarship

8.8.4 Representatives from Wright State University will recommend the award of Wright State University Scholarship, and the University reserves the final right in awarding this scholarship.

9.1 Score Cards will be distributed to Participants following the competition in each category; any Participant failing to receive a Score Card at the venue may collect it at IC Building with the presentation of his/her Macao Resident ID Card 10am to 7pm from 26th to 28th September (including lunch hour); unclaimed Score Cards will be destroyed after that date;

9.2 All prize winners may collect awards and certificates at IC Building by presenting their Macao Resident ID Card in person, 10am to 7pm from 26th to 28th September (including lunch hour); unclaimed certificates will be destroyed after that date;

9.3 Prize winners or representative of prize winner team should collect the prize in person. If an authorized person is collecting the prize on one’s behalf, a completed and signed Authorization letter and Authorized Person Statement is required during the collection. Details as below:

		Issuing Time	Measures
Rainstorm		After 06:30	Morning session cancelled
		After 11:00	Afternoon session cancelled
		After 16:00	Evening session cancelled
		During the competition	The current session continues
Typhoon	or below	Competitions held as scheduled
	or above	Any time	All session in the day cancelled
		During the competition	Cancellation depending on the actual situation
		When signal lowered to no. 3 from no. 8 or above	All session in the day cancelled

10.1 If Typhoon Signal No.8 (or above) or Rainstorm Warning is issued during the competition, Organiser may reschedule or continue the competition according to actual circumstances; Participants shall decide to stay or not when the competition continues and hold responsibility of their own safety. There will not be a reschedule if the Participants decide not to stay;

10.2 Organiser will announce the news via the website or SMS to mobile phone numbers provided by Participants upon registration.

11.1 All competitions are open for public aged 6 or above;

11.2 Settingon the competition venue is not assigned and is available on a first-come, first served basis;

11.3 Filming and photographing with flash light, which may disturb the participants and jury, are prohibited in the competition venue. Phone calls are prohibited,audiences are requested to turn on silence mode of their mobile phones or other beeping devices.

11.4 Eating and drinking or possession of plastic bags and/or objects considered dangerous is prohibited in the competition venue;

11.5 Audiences in violation of the rules set in clause 11.3 to 11.4, or cause undue disturbance in competition venues may be asked to leave the venue.

12.1 By registering the competition, the Participants acknowledge and agree all the Rules and Regulations here promulgated;

12.2 This Rules and Regulations are available in Chinese, Portuguese and English. The Chinese version shall prevail in case of any divergence;

12.3 The Organiser reserves the right to modify published competition Rules & Regulations. Amendments to its content will be published at the Macao Young Musicians Competition website (www.icm.gov.mo/cjmm), and information announced online shall prevail.

12.4 The Organiser reserves the rights of final decision and interpretation of these Rules and Regulation.