The 6th edition will be open from 1 March to 1 May 2026!
Premier Music International Competition welcomes applications from all over the world to participate in our online competition.
Please read these rules/terms below carefully:
Competition categories are:
1. Instrument / Voice (solo)
2. Chamber Music / Band / Vocal group-ensemble
3. Composition / Songwriting
4. Choir
The applicants for Solo category will be competing in the appropriate age group(s) and in the appropriate instrument groups:
(strings/plucked/percussion/brass/woodwind/piano/voice) and genres (classical or jazz)
or depending on experience and genre for Chamber music/band and Composition, Choir applicants.
The application criteria are:
* to perform Western culture music - classical, pop/rock, jazz
* to send one or two unedited video recordings of the performances of one or maximum two music piece(s)/song(s) recorded in 2025/26.
* Only non-professionals are allowed to apply until the age of 21
Professional musicians are not allowed to enter including music higher education students - those who are currently undergoing Non-degree, Bachelors, Masters, PhD or equivalent diploma studies! In cases such as these, please visit our sibling site PMIC Pro for entering the competition!
* Composers/songwriters should submit one recent work - composed in 2024 or later.
Musicians who do not have access to Youtube or Vimeo in their country can simply upload their videos/entry material to: https://dbmastering.eu/upload-.html
Rules
General requirements:
Applicants will be judged based on age/experience (duration of study of their instrument/voice), their instrument category and genre.
Applicants are required to submit a second application should they wish to play more than two pieces of music (same or different instrument) or to compete in another music category.
Applicants who fail to submit their video(s) before the video submission deadline (1 May 2026) will be disqualified.
Genres: Classical, Jazz, Pop/Rock
Instruments: strings (violin, viola, cello, double bass), keyboard (piano, organ, harpsichord), plucked (harp, guitar -acoustic, electric, bass, ukulele), percussion (both melodic, such as marimba, vibraphone, xylophone, timpani and rhythmic; drum kit/set, snare drum, etc.), woodwinds (recorder, flute, oboe, saxophone, clarinet, cor anglais, bassoon), brass (trumpet, French horn, trombone).
Voice
If your instrument is not listed above then please contact us.
Repertoire requirement: One or two pieces of music/song - can also be two movements of a piece with or without piano accompaniment - that is reflective of the applicant's current level of performance in any style of music.
Applicants are required to submit a public or unlisted link of a YouTube or Vimeo video recording of their performance.
Music Scores: Participants may submit electronic copies of their scores along with their application. Please do not send any sheet music through post.
Sheet music/scores are not mandatory.
Memorisation: Playing by heart is not mandatory although our jury generally favours performances that are memorised.
Jury
The jury's decision is completely independent, impartial, strives to be fair and will be final.
The jury will provide all applicants with detailed feedback of their performance along with marking criteria.
The judges' students cannot take part in the competition!
Rules for Solo category
The jury will distinguish performances separately in the 3 different genres (classical, jazz, pop/rock) and separate them according to age categories.
Age groups:
Junior 1.: 6 years old (or younger) - 8 years old
Junior 2: 9 years old - 11 years old
Young 1: 12 years old - 14 years old
Young 2: 15 years old - 17 years old
Young Adult: 18 - 21 years old
Age categories are to be understood that the applicant reached their birthday until 1 May 2026.
Junior 1 & 2 - maximum 8 minute playing time.
Young 1 & 2 - maximum 12 minute playing time
Young Adult: maximum 15 minute playing time
Rules for Chamber music/band/vocal ensemble category
The jury will distinguish performances separately in the 3 different genres (classical, jazz, pop/rock) and they will differentiate according to the experience of the applicant playing music and performing music with each other.
Chamber music/band applications are welcome in all sorts of chamber music formations with a maximum of 6 participating members (duo, trio, quartet, quintet, sextet, band) with a maximum playing time of 12 minutes.
Rules for Composition/Songwriting category
Compositions can be between 3 and maximum 12 minutes.
MIDI/audio sound file/or Youtube file is required with submission of application.
If you are submitting a PDF score (optional) then this must be computer generated using music-notation software.
The compositions submitted must be original: arrangements or adaptations of existing works will be excluded!
The compositions can be either published or unpublished (both are accepted).
Participants should ensure that their name/pseudonym is clearly written on the files according to the specified above.
The works presented should not be divided into parts as a song collection, instead, they must be one comprehensive work.
Compositions submitted to the competition shall be deemed the Intellectual Property of the submitting composer.
Rules for Youth Choir category
One or two works can be performed with a duration of, in total, maximum 15 minutes.
All categories are welcome, including children's choirs, chamber choirs, mixed choirs, women or male choirs. Any style of music from classical to contemporary, gospel, pop is accepted.
Video and additional requirements
An unedited video of the performance has to be forwarded to PMIC as a Youtube or Vimeo unlisted or public link.
Videos edited (cut, or manipulated) to alter the performance will not be accepted and will lead to disqualification.
The applicant has to announce their name(s) and the title/composer of the piece at the beginning of the video.
Please make sure that the video is set to 'Public' or 'Unlisted' on Youtube or Vimeo. Private links on Youtube will not be accepted.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the video link is in a working condition. Submission of unopenable links will be disqualified.
The video must clearly show the face and hands of the performer!
Professional quality recording is not mandatory, however, the sound must be clearly audible.
Deadline for application + uploading/sending the video link is 1 May 2026 23:59:59 Central European Time (CET).
Applicants who fail to submit their videos or any part of their application before the submission deadline will be disqualified.
Candidates cannot claim legal rights to recordings and photos submitted to PMIC or broadcasts that may be made in connection with the competition.
All legal rights are reserved by PMIC Pro and no fee is payable to any competitor for performances, photos, recordings or streaming/broadcasts.
All application fees submitted are non-refundable.
We reserve the right to amend, modify temporarily or permanently the price or terms and conditions with or without notice.
You shall not hold us liable for any such modification, amendments or withdrawals.
Awards, Prizes
* Each participant will receive a digital certificate and written feedback of their performance.
All certificates will be sent via email to the registered email address.
* There will be winners in each category and they will receive a special certificate of recognition.
* As mentioned, there will be prizes including Gold, Silver, Bronze and special prizes in each category.
* A few selected winners will be chosen for whom free audio mixing/mastering will be provided courtesy of dBMastering, and the songs can be published on streaming platforms.
* Winner(s) with the highest points will be invited to Budapest for a live concert in 2027!
(Travel fees, accommodation, other expenses not included - contestant will have to finance this themselves!)
* Recognition of Teacher/Tutor/Institution certificates may be received if there is a request.
* In addition, the winners of the competition will have their videos highlighted on our social media channels and website.
Payment
Your application is only valid if you have paid in the application fee in full.
Please note down the order/transaction number of your payment as you will have to provide us with the number when filling out the application form.
Your payment will be completed and processed by PayPal.
You can read about Paypal's terms and conditions for more information about their services here in English: https://www.paypal.com/hu/webapps/mpp/ua/legalhub-full?locale.x=en_US
Or in Hungarian here: https://www.paypal.com/hu/webapps/mpp/ua/legalhub-full
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