Competition Rules

1. Competitors may compete in no more than four competition categories, and must choose only one competition level in each category;
   
2. In the Piano Four Hands and Chamber Music categories, competitors may not participate in more than one team per category;
   
3. Competitors may compete only in categories that correspond to their level of musical ability;
   
   3.1   Competitors who are registered in the Concerto category may not also compete at the Elementary or Intermediate Level for the same instrument;
   
   3.2   If the Organiser discovers that the Competitor’s level of ability does not correspond to the categories for which s/he has registered, it reserves the right to disqualify that competitor from the categories in question;
   
4. Competitors who have won first prize in any solo instrument category in past Macao Young Musicians Competitions shall not be eligible to compete in that category;
   
5. Full-time professional musicians and full-time students of music performance in piano or harp at music academies are not eligible to compete;
   
6. Competitors must perform in the specified order. The order of performance may be altered only under exceptional circumstances and only with the express approval of the Organizer. The Organizer will contact the competitor by telephone to inform him/her whether the request has been approved, and if so of the new performance time;
   
7. Competitors must arrive at the competition venue at the specified time, inform the staff of their arrival, and present their valid Macau resident ID card in order to receive a number card for the competition;
   
8. Competitors who do not pick up their number cards at the on-site Registration Table by the specific time will be considered LATE;
   
   8.1     Competitors who arrive late will be allowed to perform on stage, but may not compete for any prizes. Judges will provide late competitors with a written assessment, but will not award a score;
   
   8.2     Competitors who have not arrived at the competition venue by the time the MC announces their name to perform on stage will be considered “no-shows,” and will not be permitted to perform on stage;
   
9. After being registered by members of the Organization, competitors are allowed to leave the venue temporarily. However, those who have not returned to the competition venue by the time the MC announces their name to perform on stage will be considered “no-shows,” and will not be permitted to perform on stage;
   
10. All scoring decisions made by the judges are final;
    
11. The judges may require a competitor to repeat a performance if they feel that they have not been able to make a fair assessment based on the original performance;
    
12. The judges may require a competitor to terminate a performance if it exceeds the time limit or if they feel that they have heard enough to assess the performance;
    
13. Competitors in the Concerto category are required to arrange their own accompaniment. In the event that the accompanist(s) is/are absent at the scheduled time of performance, the judges will give the Competitor a written assessment but will not award a score;
    
14. Competitors, their teachers, relatives or representatives may not speak with or otherwise have contact with the judges during the course of the competition; if they do, they will be immediately disqualified;
    
15. If any competitor is a relative, a student, or business associate of any of the judges, the competitor must notify the Organiser before the start of the competition so that the judge in question will not score the competitor in that category. The Organiser reserves the right to disqualify the competitor from the competition or strip the competitor of any prizes s/he has won if it is discovered that the competitor has concealed such a relationship with a judge;
    
16. The registration fee is non-refundable;
    
17. Each category must have a minimum enrolment of FIVE competitors or teams in order to compete for prizes; 
    
    17.1  In the event that a category is under-enrolled, competitors may still perform on stage. The judges will provide a written assessment and a score, but competitors may not compete for First, Second or Third Prize. If the competitor’s performance is truly outstanding, judges may recommend him or her for the Cultural Affairs Bureau Prize, the Talented Prize, the Best Ensemble Performance Prize or Wright State University Piano Scholarship Award, and s/he may be a candidate to perform at the Awards Ceremony and Winners’ Gala Concert;
    
18. The Organiser reserves the right to amend or rescind any regulation pertaining to the Competition, and reserves the right of final decision in case of uncertainty or dispute.