Regulations

Eligibility Requirements

  1. The Competition is open to solo performances by individuals aged 4 to 30 (herein defined as “Candidates”), and is open to all standards of playing.
  2. Candidates’ ages will be determined as of 11.59 pm BST on 30th July 2021. AY Academy reserves the right to verify the age of any candidate.
  3. Candidates are limited to one entry per instrument.
  4. Candidates are allowed to enter multiple categories.
  5. The Competition is open to nationals of ALL countries of the world.
  6. The Competition is open to young musicians and actors who learn or play musical instruments, sing or act in an amateur, educational or professional capacity.
  7. Candidates who are students at a full-time specialist music or drama school or college must enter for the appropriate group division in the appropriate age bracket.
  8. Candidates must make sure that the information they submit is accurate and up-to-date to the best of their knowledge at the time of making their Competition entry. Inaccurate or false information will result in investigation and possible disqualification from The Competition.
  9. Entries must be accompanied by successful payment of full entry fees to be valid. Entry fee is £75 per entry.
  10. Bursaries are available to help towards the entry fee for Candidates who are currently receiving bursary or Free School Meals from their local authorities. AY Academy will require evidence to support bursary applications and will conduct checks to validate the applications. Whether a bursary application is approved and the amount of bursaries provided will be solely at AY Academy’s discretion.

Competition Categories and Groups

  1. The Competition has 5 categories:
  • Strings
  • Piano
  • Voice
  • Woodwind & Brass
  • Speech

2.    Each category is divided into the following groups:

  • Group One (ages 4-5)
  • Group Two (ages 6-7)
  • Group Three (ages 8-11)
  • Group Four A (ages 12-15)
  • Group Four B (age 12-15 for full-time specialist music/drama school students)
  • Group Five A (ages 16-18)
  • Group Five B (age 16-18 for full-time specialist music/drama school students)
  • Group Six (ages 18-30)

Competition Repertoire Requirements †

*Any Candidate who chooses to include a piece of music written by a British composer born after 1860 will automatically be entered for the competition for the British Music Society Prize. Please indicate entry for this Prize by putting ‘BMS’ in a bracket next to the chosen British composer’s repertoire’s title. (please note that the BMS Prize is open to Strings, Piano, Voice, Woodwind and Brass Categories).

Strings Category, Piano Category, Woodwind and Brass Category

  • Group One: Choose 2 pieces of music, contrasting in style, which reflect your current level of ability. Total performance time may last no more than 3 minutes.
  • Group Two: Choose 2 pieces of music, contrasting in style, which reflect your current level of ability. Total performance time may last no more than 5 minutes.
  • Group Three: Choose 2 pieces of music, contrasting in style, which reflect your current level of ability. Total performance time may last no more than 7 minutes.
  • Group Four A: Choose 2 pieces of music, contrasting in style, which reflect your current level of ability.  Total performance time may last no more than 9 minutes.
  • Group Four B: Choose 2 pieces of music, contrasting in style, which reflect your current level of ability. Total performance time may last no more than 9 minutes.
  • Group Five A: Choose 2 pieces of music, contrasting in style, which reflect your current level of ability. Total performance time may last no more than 12 minutes.
  • Group Five B: Choose 2 pieces of music, contrasting in style, which reflect your current level of ability. Total performance time may last no more than 12 minutes.
  • Group Six: Choose 3 pieces of music, contrasting in style, from at least two different style periods and which reflect your current level of ability. Total performance time may last no more than 15 minutes.

Voice Category:

  • Group One: Choose 2 songs, contrasting in style, which reflect your current level of ability. Total performance time may last no more than 3 minutes.
  • Group Two: Choose 2 songs, contrasting in style, which reflect your current level of ability. Total performance time may last no more than 5 minutes.
  • Group Three: Choose 2 songs, contrasting in style, which reflect your current level of ability. Total performance time may last no more than 7 minutes.
  • Group Four A: Choose 2 songs, contrasting in style, which reflect your current level of ability.  Total performance time may last no more than 9 minutes.
  • Group Four B: Choose 2 songs, contrasting in style, which reflect your current level of ability. Total performance time may last no more than 9 minutes.
  • Group Five A: Choose 2 songs, contrasting in style, which reflect your current level of ability. Total performance time may last no more than 12 minutes.
  • Group Five B: Choose 2 songs, contrasting in style, which reflect your current level of ability. Total performance time may last no more than 12 minutes.
  • Group Six: Choose 3 songs, of which two must be art songs, the other must be an aria. The three songs must be of at least two different languages. Total performance time may last no more than 17 minutes.

Speech Category:

  • Group One: Choose 2 extracts of contemporary work from the 20th or 21st Century, such as fiction, poetry or fairy stories, contrasting in style, which reflect your current level of ability. Total performance time may last no more than 3 minutes.
  • Group Two: Choose 2 extracts of contemporary work from the 20th or 21st Century, such as fiction, poetry or fairy stories, contrasting in style, which reflect your current level of ability. Total performance time may last no more than 5 minutes.
  • Group Three: Choose 2 extracts of contemporary work from the 20th or 21st Century, such as fiction, poetry or fairy stories, contrasting in style, which reflect your current level of ability. Total performance time may last no more than 7 minutes.
  • Group Four A: Choose 2 extracts of contemporary work from the 20th or 21st Century, such as modern play, novel, film, radio or TV script, contrasting in style, which reflect your current level of ability.  Total performance time may last no more than 9 minutes.
  • Group Four B: Choose 2 extracts of contemporary work from the 20th or 21st Century, such as modern play, novel, film, radio or TV script, contrasting in style, which reflect your current level of ability. Total performance time may last no more than 9 minutes.
  • Group Five A: Choose 2 extracts of contemporary work from the 20th or 21st Century, such as modern play, novel, film, radio or TV script, contrasting in style, which reflect your current level of ability. Total performance time may last no more than 12 minutes.
  • Group Five B: Choose 2 extracts of contemporary work from the 20th or 21st Century, such as modern play, novel, film, radio or TV script, contrasting in style, which reflect your current level of ability. Total performance time may last no more than 12 minutes.
  • Group Six: Choose 3 extracts of contemporary work from the 20th or 21st Century, such as modern play, novel, film, radio or TV script, contrasting in style, which reflect your current level of ability. Total performance time may last no more than 15 minutes.

† Rules on the time limit:

If the total running time of your chosen programme exceeds the time limit set for your Group, you are allowed to make cuts to the pieces and omit repeats to be able to fit the performance within the time limit. However, the performance of each piece must be recorded as a single uninterrupted video. Time limits must be strictly adhered to. The adjudicators will stop assessing any part of the performance that extends beyond the time limit.

Prizes*

All participating candidates will receive a comment sheet for each entry they make and all participating candidates will receive a certificate of participation (electronic).

  1. Royal Academy of Music Prize
  • A £500 cash prize.
  • Publicity across the Competition’s social media platforms including website, Facebook and Instagram.
  • Invitation to perform at Royal Academy of Music (London) at the 5th or 6th New Talent British International Youth Music Competition and Festival in the Summer of 2022 or 2023 (when restrictions relating to Covid-19 permit The Competition to return to the original in-person format)
  • Royal Academy of Music Prize Certificate (electronic format)

The Royal Academy of Music Prize will be awarded to one candidate. This prize will be adjudicated by Professor Jonathan Freeman-Attwood, Principal of the Royal Academy of Music.

2. Virtuoso Prizes:

  • A £300 cash prize.
  • A 1-1 masterclass with a member of the jury panel (online format lasting 45 minutes)
  • Publicity across the Competition’s social media platforms including website, Facebook and Instagram.
  • Invitation to perform at Royal Academy of Music (London) at the 5th or 6th New Talent British International Youth Music Competition and Festival in the Summer of 2022 or 2023 (when restrictions relating to Covid-19 permit The Competition to return to the original in-person format)
  • Virtuoso Prize Certificate (electronic format)

Virtuoso Prizes will be awarded to a maximum of one candidate per category. Virtuoso Prizes may be vacated if adjudicators feel the level of performance within the category has been insufficient to attain the Prize.

3. British Music Society Prize:

  • A single £100 cash prize for the best performance of a British work written by a British composer born after 1860.
  • Publicity across the Competition’s and British Music Society’s social media platforms including website, Facebook and Instagram.
  • Invitation to perform at Royal Academy of Music (London) at the 5th or 6th New Talent British International Youth Music Competition and Festival in the Summer of 2022 or 2023 (when restrictions relating to Covid-19 permit The Competition to return to the original in-person format)
  • British Music Society Certificate (electronic format)

Please note that the BMS Prize is open to Strings, Piano, Voice, Woodwind and Brass Categories.

4. Age Group 1st Prize:

  • Publicity across The Competition’s social media platforms including website, Facebook Page and Instagram.
  • Invitation to perform at Royal Academy of Music (London) at the 5th or 6th New Talent British International Youth Music Competition and Festival in the Summer of 2022 or 2023 (when restrictions relating to Covid-19 permit The Competition to return to the original in-person format)
  • 1st Prize Certificate (electronic format).

5. Age Group 2nd Prize:

  • 2nd Prize Certificate (electronic format).

6. Age Group 3rd Prize:

3rd Prize Certificate (electronic format).

7. Age Group 4th Prize:

4th Prize Certificate (electronic format).

8. Virtuoso Music: Teaching Award

Awarded for excellence in music teaching to the direct music teacher of the Virtuoso Prize winners.

  • Virtuoso Music: Teaching Award Certificate (electronic format).

9.  Virtuoso Music: Teaching Centre Award

Awarded for excellence in music teaching to the music school or music centre where the Virtuoso Prize winners study.

  • Virtuoso Music: Teaching Centre Award Certificate (electronic format).

10. Certificate of Achievement

Certificates of Achievement will be awarded to performers who have, in the opinion of the adjudicators, reached a technically competent and musically interesting level of performance.

  • Certificate of Achievement (electronic format).

*Rules on Prizes

  • An Age Group 1st Prize will be made in age groups where there are up to four entries, with no other prizes for place given (Age Group 1st Prize may be vacated if adjudicators feel the level of performance within the age group has been insufficient to attain the Prize). An Age Group 2nd Prize will be made additionally in age groups where there are between five and six entries. An Age Group 3rd Prize will be made additionally in age groups where there are seven or eight entries. An Age Group 4th Prize will be made additionally in age groups where there are nine or more entries.
  • Printed Certificates are available to be posted to candidates upon request. International postage fee and handling fee will be charged in addition to the Competition Entry Fee.

Entry

  1. Entry is now open for The 4th New Talent British International Youth Music Competition.
  2. Entry deadline: 15th August 2021 11:59pm BST .
  3. Deadline for repertoire details and video link submission: 15th August 2021 11:59pm BST.

How to enter：

  1. Log in to The 4th New Talent British International Youth Music Competition official website: www.ayacademy.net. The Competition can also be accessed through the domain name: www.newtalentyouthmusic.com;
  2. Fill in the competition entry form;
  3. After hitting ‘Send’ on the form, you will automatically be redirected to the payment page;
  4. Pay for Competition entry fee by credit or debit card(Visa, Mastercard or American Express) or Alipay;
  5. If you prefer another payment method such as bank transfer, please contact us at competition@ayacademy.net to arrange.
  6. After successful Competition entry form submission and competition entry fee payment, you have successfully entered for the competition;
  7. Entries must be paid for before they can be accepted;
  8. All Candidates must provide a valid email address in the competition entry form as communication will be via email. Entry confirmation and other information will be sent via email to each Candidate. AY Academy will not be responsible for any consequence as a result of non-receipt of emails.
  9. When you have decided your repertoire and uploaded your performance video to YouTube (or Youku if YouTube is blocked in your country), please come back to our website and fill out the Competition Repertoire Details Form by 15th August 2021 11:59pm BST;
  10. Guidance on how to set your YouTube video link as ‘unlisted’ can be found here; guidance on how to create a Playlist on YouTube incorporating several YouTube videos can be found here; If YouTube is blocked in your country, you can use Youku for video upload, please see guidance here.
  11. If Competition Repertoire Details or Performance Videos are not submitted by 15th August 2021 11:59pm BST, AY Academy reserves the right to remove the candidate from the Competition without notice, and future entries to Competitions organised by AY Academy may be affected.
  12. The acceptance of late entries is solely at the discretion of AY Academy;
  13. If you are entering for more than one instrument or discipline, you need to complete the whole entry process again for each separate instrument or discipline you would like to enter.

Performance

  1. This is a competition at which candidates are judged within the context of video recorded performances. Candidates perform a selection of works according to their appropriate age group requirements within their competition category.
  2. Candidates may perform from memory or from sheet music/text in the performance video.
  3. Candidates must compile their performances into one video and upload the video to YouTube, or record their performances separately and upload the videos to YouTube and create a Playlist, and set the video/playlist as ‘unlisted’. If YouTube is blocked in the Candidate’s country, Candidates must compile their performances into one video and upload the video to Youku, which must be password protected.
  4. Videos which have been professionally edited will not be accepted, and candidates who submit such videos will be disqualified from the Competition. Basic trimming and compiling is acceptable. Any editing that alter the sound and structure of the music will be considered as professional editing and the video will not be accepted.
  5. An electronic copy of the music/text will need to be submitted with Candidates’ repertoire details and video link through the Competition Repertoire Details Form. In keeping with the laws of copyright, these need to be original or scans/photos of the original.
  6. In light of situations around Covid-19, we do not require candidates to be accompanied. Accompanied performances will still be welcomed as long as all regulations in the Candidates’ locations relating to Covid-19 are strictly followed. CD backing tracks are permissible and ‘distanced accompaniment’ is also permissible. However, the CD backing track or the ‘distanced accompaniment’ must not contain the part being performed by the Candidate; in such cases where the backing track or the ‘distanced accompaniment’ does contain the part being performed by the Candidate, the Candidate will be disqualified from the Competition.
  7. There may be occasions when the context of a performance does not require an accompaniment e.g. in the context of traditional folksongs or music written expressly for solo instrumental performance such as J. S. Bach’s Cellos Suites. In such cases, candidates would not need to ‘manufacture’ an accompaniment never intended by the composer.
  8. Candidates offering solo piano should not be accompanied by any other instrument. This would make the performing ensemble a duo, trio, quartet etc. and would not satisfy the competition criteria of ‘solo performance’.
  9. Please see here for guidelines on recording video performances.

Adjudication

The adjudicators will judge each performance according to:

  • Melodic & Rhythmic Accuracy
  • Intonation
  • Tempo & Flow
  • Tone
  • Mood and character,
  • The appropriateness of the programme
  • Holistic view of the performance.

The adjudicators will not enter into any discussion or correspondence regarding their decision; the decision of the adjudicators will be final and not subject to appeal.

Cancellation

Refunds will not be available in any form once the Competition entry fee payment is completed. If Competition Repertoire Details or Performance Videos are not submitted by 15 August 2021 11:59pm BST, AY Academy reserves the right to remove the candidate from the Competition without notice, and future entries to Competitions organised by AY Academy may be affected. Entry fees of disqualified Candidates will not be refunded.

Changes to Jury or other Personnel

The Competition reserves the right to change members of the Jury Panel, or any other Competition Personnel from those advertised, without notice. In such a case, the Personnel will be replaced by professionals of a similar calibre to those advertised, and will be announced as soon as possible.

Competition Results

Competition Adjudication for this and all competitions organised by AY Academy is conducted fairly and professionally to the the best of the ability of the adjudicators. Adjudicators will not enter into any discussion or correspondence regarding their decision; any decision made by the adjudicators is final and not subject to appeal.

Award Ceremony and Award Winners’ Concert

The Award Ceremony and Award Winners’ Concert will be held online this year through technology such as Zoom, and will be held together in one session. Competition results will be revealed and announced live during the session. The Award Ceremony and Award Winners’ Concert will be held at 14:00 BST (current London time) on Sunday 19th September 2021, via Zoom.

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