The 42nd TICC Application Guidelines (July, 2027)
REGULATIONS
CHILDREN’S & YOUTH CHOIR CATEGORY
Size of Choir: 8 - 24 singers (excluding conductors and accompanists)
Age: All singers must be 19 years old or younger (born after April 1, 2008). This rule does not apply to conductors and accompanists.
Voice: No restrictions on voice parts. Mixed, Female, or Male voices can participate.
Performance Time:
Not be less than 5 minutes and not longer than 10 minutes including intervals between songs.
Repertoire Requirements:
a. Choirs must sing at least one song from Renaissance, Baroque, Classical or Romantic pieces (composed generally before the 1900s), and
b. Choirs must sing at least one “a cappella” piece (without any instrumental accompaniment).
Participation Fees:
Group Registration Fee JPY20,000 per choir, and
Member Registration Fee JPY1,000 per person (including conductors and accompanists)
Participation fees do not include admission fees to the competition.
SENIOR CHOIR CATEGORY
Size of Choir: 8 - 24 singers (excluding conductors and accompanists).
Age: All singers must be at least 50 years old (born before March 31, 1977). This rule does not apply to conductors and accompanists.
Voice: No restrictions on voice parts. Mixed, Female, or Male voices can participate.
Performance Time:
Not be less than 5 minutes and not longer than 10 minutes including intervals between songs.
Repertoire requirements:
Choirs must sing at least one song from either a. or b.
a. Renaissance, Baroque, Classical or Romantic pieces (composed generally before the 1900s).
b. “A cappella” piece (without any instrumental accompaniment).
Participation Fees:
Group Registration Fee JPY30,000 per choir, and
Member Registration Fee JPY3,000 per person (including conductors and accompanists)
Participation fees do not include admission fees to the competition.
EQUAL VOICE CHOIR CATEGORY
Size of Choir: 8 - 24 singers (excluding conductors and accompanists)
Age: No restrictions on age
Voice: Female voice only or Male voice only can participate
Performance Time:
Not be less than 5 minutes and not longer than 10 minutes including intervals between songs.
Repertoire requirements:
a. Choirs must sing at least one song from Renaissance, Baroque, Classical or Romantic pieces (composed generally before the 1900s), and
b. Choirs must sing at least one “a cappella” piece (without any instrumental accompaniment).
Participation Fees:
Group Registration Fee JPY30,000 per choir, and
Member Registration Fee JPY3,000 per person (including conductors and accompanists)
Participation fees do not include admission fees to the competition.
MIXED VOICE CHOIR CATEGORY
Size of Choir: 8 - 24 singers (excluding conductors and accompanists)
Age: No restrictions on age
Voice: Mixed voice
Performance Time:
Not be less than 5 minutes and not longer than 10 minutes including intervals between songs.
Repertoire Requirements:
a. Choirs must sing at least one song from Renaissance, Baroque, Classical or Romantic pieces (composed generally before the 1900s), and
b. Choirs must sing at least one “a cappella” piece (without any instrumental accompaniment).
Participation Fees:
Group Registration fee JPY30,000 per choir, and
Member Registration fee JPY3,000 per person (including conductors and accompanists)
Participation fees do not include admission fees to the competition.
* Singers are not permitted to take part in more than one choir in the same category. However, this rule does not apply to conductors and accompanists.
* If you have any queries regarding the choice of pieces, please contact the Contest Committee in advance.
INSTRUMENTS FOR ACCOMPANIMENT
A grand piano will be prepared by the Contest Committee. A=442Hz.
* Special method of playing the piano, for example, ‘prepared piano’ is prohibited.
If choirs would like to use other instruments, prior permission from the Contest Committee will be required.
PRIZES & AWARDS
Gold prize, Silver prize, and Bronze prize will be awarded in each category.
And First to Third places of overall competition will be announced. The prize money will be as follows.
Overall First Prize: JPY300,000
Overall Second Prize: JPY200,000
Overall Third Prize: JPY100,000
* There will be no duplication of the first to the third prize winners.
The Hyogo Governor’s Award will be awarded to the best Japanese choir.
The Takarazuka Mayor’s Award will be awarded to the best choir of the Senior Choir Category.
The Education Superintendent of Takarazuka City Board of Education Award will be awarded to the best choir of the Children’s & Youth Choir Category.
* There may be the case no choirs eligible for award each prize.
* The prize winning choirs of each category, if selected by the Contest Committee, are to perform at the Special Concert on July 18.
PRELIMINARY AUDITION (BY AUDIO RECORDINGS)
On the basis of the submitted recordings, preliminary audition will be conducted by the Contest Committee to determine eligibility and order of entry to the competition.
MUSIC COPY RIGHT FEE
All the participating choirs are responsible for the cost of copyright use of the musical works used in the competition, including consumption tax. The total amount of copyright fee will be borned equally by the participating choirs.
JUDGING METHOD
Point System
For details, please click here
THE COST FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE COMPETITION
All the expenses: travel, meals and accommodation to participate in the competition shall be borned by the participating choirs.
PRELIMINARY AUDITION APPLICATION GUIDELINES
1. Songs for the audition must be recorded by the members participating in the competition. The songs must have been recorded on and after March 1, 2026.
2. The recordings must be in stereo. Please record on CDs if you submit the recordings by post. Each song must be track marked. (Each song must be divided by track.)
3. The duration of performance must not be less than 5 minutes and not longer than 10 minutes.
4. Applicants may have free choice of repertoire for the preliminary audition. There is no limit to the number of songs. It is not necessary to perform the same songs at the competition.
5. There is no restrictions on recording methods, however, the recording conditions (when and where it was recorded) must be stated in the repertoire list.
6. Recordings must be un-edited material and must not use sound effect or mixing of separate recordings.
7. It is acceptable to apply for more than one category by submitting the same recording.
8. If the number of singers, performance time do not conform to the regulations in this guidelines, the entry may be disqualified from the audition. The submissions received after the deadline will not be accepted for any reason.
You can apply for the preliminary audition online or by post.
a. Application ONLINE
1. Please submit application form via website below.
Online Application
2. Upload audio file and the repertoire list (in the excel file), or send the recorded CD with a list of songs to the following address by post.
Upload
b. Application by POST
1. The name of choir must be clearly stated on the surface of CD and CD case.
2. The submitted CD will not be returned.
3. Please fill in the application form and send it to the address below with a recorded CD by post.
AUDITION APPLICATION FEE
Free
APPLICATION DEADLINE
All entries must be submitted by Sunday, January 31, 2027 (Japan Standard Time). The result will be announced by e-mail around late February.
CONTACT DETAILS FOR ENQUIRY
Takarazuka International Chamber Chorus Contest Committee
c/o Takarazuka Vega Hall
1-2-18 Kiyoshikojin, Takarazuka, Hyogo 665-0836 JAPAN
Tel.: +81-797-84-6192 Fax: +81-797-84-9772
E-mail: ticc@takarazuka-c.jp
