Rules and Regulations

MODERN/CONTEMPORARY - SOLO

(12 years and below, no minimum age limit imposed)

1. Piece Selection: Contestants may select up to one piece/song each for both the pre-screening and finals, chosen to reflect their current performance level. 

2. Submission Requirements: Submissions must consist of solo piano transcriptions or arrangements of modern or contemporary pieces, genres such as pop, jazz, blues, rock, musicals, anime/movie/TV series soundtracks, or Broadway tunes. 

3. Video Pre-screening: Videos submitted for pre-screening must not exceed 3 minutes. Contestants should select a piece or section within the piece that best showcases their playing within this time limit.

4. Performance Duration: The chosen material for finals must not exceed 10 minutes in total duration.

5. Judging Discretion: Judges retain the authority to interrupt performances as they deem necessary during the competition.

6. Score Submission: Participants can decide whether or not to submit scores. If participants decide to submit, it is strongly encouraged to improvise upon the existing scores.

MODERN/CONTEMPORARY - SOLO

(13 years and above, no maximum age limit imposed)

1. Piece Selection: Contestants may select up to one piece/song each for both the pre-screening and finals, chosen to reflect their current performance level.

2. Submission Requirements: Submissions must consist of solo piano transcriptions or arrangements of modern or contemporary pieces. Example genres: Pop, jazz, blues, rock, musicals, anime/movie/TV series soundtracks, or Broadway tunes)

3. Video Pre-screening: Videos submitted for pre-screening must not exceed 3 minutes. Contestants should select a piece or section within the piece that best showcases their playing within this time limit.

4. Performance Duration: The chosen material for finals must not exceed 10 minutes in total duration.

5. Judging Discretion: Judges retain the authority to interrupt performances as they deem necessary during the competition.

6. Score Submission: Participants can decide whether or not to submit scores. If participants decide to submit, it is strongly encouraged to improvise upon the existing scores.

MODERN/CONTEMPORARY - Group

(Open Age)

1. Piece Selection: Contestants may select up to one piece for both the audition and finals, chosen to align with their current performance level.

2. Group Size: Groups may consist of 2 to 5 participants.

3. Submission Requirements: Submissions must be transcriptions or arrangements of modern or contemporary pieces, incorporating a piano part. Example genres: Pop, jazz, blues, rock, musicals, anime/movie/TV series soundtracks, or Broadway tunes.

4. Video Pre-screening: Videos submitted for pre-screening must not exceed 3 minutes. Contestants should select a piece or section thereof that best showcases their playing within this time limit.

5. Performance Duration: The chosen material for finals must not exceed 10 minutes in total duration.

6. Instrumentation
- Compulsory Instrument: Piano
  - Allowed Additional Instruments: Bowed stringed instruments (such as Violin, Viola, Cello, etc.), Wind Instruments, Brass Instruments, Vocals, Guitar (Acoustic/Electric), Bass Guitars (Acoustic/Electric) and Drums. 

 - Additional Instruments are to be brought or prepared by the contestants themselves (not applicable for pianists)
A piano solo section or interlude must be included within the piece. Failure to do so will result in a deduction of marks.

7. Judging Discretion: Judges reserve the right to interrupt performances as they see fit during the competition.

8. Score Submission: Participants can decide whether or not to submit scores. If participants decide to submit, it is strongly encouraged to improvise upon the existing scores.

ORIGINAL COMPOSITION - Solo OR Group

(Open Age)

1. Composition: Participants are allowed to perform only one composition. The same composition from the audition may be repeated in the final round. However, participants are encouraged to use new materials or add new elements to their composition in the final round. 

2. Instrumentation: All compositions must include a piano part. Additionally, compositions may incorporate bowed strings instruments and vocals.

3. Instrumental Requirements:

   - Compulsory Instrument: Piano

   - Allowed Additional Instruments: Bowed stringed instruments (such as Violin, Viola, Cello, etc.), Wind Instruments, Brass Instruments, Vocals, Guitar (Acoustic/Electric), Bass Guitars (Acoustic/Electric) and Drums. 

   - Additional Instruments are to be brought or prepared by the contestants themselves (not applicable for pianists)
A piano solo section or interlude must be included within the piece. Failure to do so will result in a deduction of marks.

4. Video Pre-screening: Videos submitted for pre-screening must not exceed 3 minutes. Contestants should play their composition or select a section from their composition that best showcases their playing within this time limit.

5. Performance Duration: The chosen material for finals must not exceed 10 minutes in total duration.

6. Contestant Format: Applicants may participate either as individual contestants or in groups, with a maximum of 5 members allowed per group in a band setting.

7. Judging Discretion: Judges retain the authority to halt performances at their discretion, based on their assessment.

8. Score submission: Submission of score is optional. Participants can decide whether or not to submit scores of their composition. Note that no additional marks will be given for submission.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS 

• Provide a high-quality recording with 3 minutes duration of the video and not more 
• Participant may choose a song or a section of a piece that best showcases their playing within the duration of 3 minutes.
• Ensure videos display the participant's face, hands, and legs (pedal usage for piano).
• For ensembles: Split-screen or multi-screen recordings are allowed
• Participants may use either a digital or acoustic piano for the audition (For pianists)
• Pitch correction for vocalists, violinists etc. are prohibited. Recordings should be recorded without any pitch manipulation.
• Competition participants must submit either an individual photo of themselves or a group photo if they're entering as a team, according to their respective categories.
•  Upload audition video to YouTube and provide the link in the registration form for judges’ viewing.
  Make sure to enter the details for your video in YouTube as follows: 
• When uploading the audition video, please make sure video title is named in this sequence: 'Participant's name - Song Title (Composer)'
• Video Details:
• • Description: e.g. ‘Audition Video for Kawai Future Virtuoso Award 2024 (Modern/Contemporary - Solo)
  • Video Visibility: Change to Unlisted
  Comment settings: Disable
  

GENERAL RULES

1. Participant Eligibility: The Kawai Future Virtuoso Awards 2024 welcomes participants of all nationalities.

2. Entry Fee: Entry is free of charge, and participants will not be subjected to any fees.

3. Jury Decisions: Decisions made by the Jury are final and not open to further discussion or appeal.

4. Contact with Jury: Contacting any Jury members before or during the competition is strictly prohibited.

5. Age Group Eligibility: Participants' age groups are determined by their year of birth, regardless of their birth month. Entries in the incorrect age group will be disqualified. (*Applicable to modern/contemporary individual category)

6. Complete Application: Applications will be deemed complete only upon the receipt of all necessary documents and accurate information by Kawai Future Virtuoso Awards 2024.
7. Repertoire Changes: Once the application has been processed successfully, no changes to the chosen repertoire are permitted.

8. Multiple Category Entry: Participants can compete in multiple categories but cannot use the same piece/song in different categories.

9. Final Round Selection: Finalists will be chosen to compete in the Live Final Round.

10. Availability: Participants are responsible for ensuring their availability on the published competition dates. Requests for specific performance dates or times will not be accommodated.

11. Pass Requirement: All individuals attending live competition rounds, including parents, teachers, and friends of participants, must purchase a pass or present one if offered a complimentary ticket. Finalists will only receive 1 complimentary ticket each.

12. Responsibility and Security: Participants and attendees are reminded to take full responsibility for the safety and security of their belongings and personal well-being during the competition.

13. Recording Rights: Kawai Malaysia retains the unrestricted right to film, broadcast, photograph, and record any part of the competitor's participation, including rehearsals and performances. Participants agree to waive any claims to financial compensation for the distribution or use of such recordings.

14. Compliance: Competition rules must be strictly adhered to, and all requested supplementary documents must be provided.

15. Closing Concert Participation: All finalists must participate in the closing concert and attend the prize distribution. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of prizes, at the discretion of the Competition Board.

16. Organizer Authority: The event organizer reserves the right to make final decisions in the event of any misunderstandings.

17. Memorization: Memorizing performance pieces is encouraged but not mandatory, and no additional marks will be awarded for doing so.

18. Acknowledgement of Terms: Upon submission of the Application Form, participants acknowledge and consent to the Rules & Regulations and Terms & Conditions governing the Kawai Future Virtuoso Awards 2024, committing to their adherence accordingly.