The 41st TICC Conditions of Participation (July, 2026)
The 41st Takarazuka International Chamber Chorus Contest
-July 18-19, 2026-
The unique choral competition specially for small sized choirs!
Please join TICC and make your beautiful harmony echo in the City of Music, Takarazuka, Japan!
Application ONLINE
1. Please submit application form via website below.
application form ONLINE
2. Upload audio file（The number of recording participants is from 8 to 24 people.）
Upload
AUDITION APPLICATION FEE : Free
♪ Preliminary Screening Application Guidelines
(1) As a general rule, recordings should be made by the competition participants. (Recordings must be made on or after March 1, 2025.)
(2) Stereo recordings only. For mail submissions, please use CDs. Also, please add track marks for each piece. (Separate tracks for each piece.)
(3) Performance time must be between 5 minutes 00 seconds and 10 minutes 00 seconds. The choice of pieces and the number of pieces are free, and they do not have to be the pieces to be performed in the competition.
(4) The recording method is free, but please clearly state the recording conditions (date of recording).
(5) Sound editing (effects, combining individually recorded parts, etc.) is not allowed.
(6) You may apply to multiple divisions with the same recorded content.
(7) Applications that do not comply with the number of people or performance time regulations will not be considered for preliminary screening. Furthermore, applications submitted after the application deadline will not be accepted for any reason.
Outline
Dates:
2026
Saturday, July 18
Competition, Awards Ceremony, and Social Gathering
Sunday, July 19
Group Feedback Sessions and Special Concert
Venue:
Takarazuka Vega Hall
1-2-18 Kiyoshikojin, Takarazuka City, Hyogo
665-0836 JAPAN
Organizers:
City of Takarazuka,
Takarazuka Foundation for Culture Promotion,
Takarazuka International Chamber Chorus Contest Committee
Sponsorship:
Hyogo prefecture, Takarazuka Board of Education, Takarazuka International Friendship Association,
Japan Choral Association, Hyogo Choral Association, Takarazuka Choral Association,
The Asahi Shimbun Company, NHK Kobe
CONTEST CATEGORIES:
CHILDREN’S & YOUTH CHOIR
SENIOR CHOIR
EQUAL VOICE CHOIR
MIXED VOICE CHOIR
Judges (alphabetical order)
Ariel Quintana, Yui Katada, Yumiko Tanimura, Nozomi Terasawa,Motoyama Hideki
Conditions of Participation
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, 2007). This rule does not apply to conductors and accompanists.
Voice: No restrictions on voice parts. Mixed, Female, or Male voices can participate.
Performance Time: 10 minutes or shorter, including intervals between songs
Repertoire Requirements:
a. Choirs must sing at least one song from Renaissance, Baroque, Classical or Romantic pieces (composed on or before 1900), 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, 1976). This rule does not apply to conductors and accompanists.
Voice: No restrictions on voice parts. Mixed, Female, or Male voices can participate.
Performance Time: 10 minutes or shorter, 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 on or before 1900).
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 age restrictions
Voice: Female voice only or Male voice only can participate
Performance Time: 10 minutes or shorter, including intervals between songs
Repertoire requirements:
a. Choirs must sing at least one song from Renaissance, Baroque, Classical or Romantic pieces (composed on or before 1900), 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: 10 minutes or shorter, including intervals between songs
Repertoire Requirements:
a. Choirs must sing at least one song from Renaissance, Baroque, Classical or Romantic pieces (composed on or before 1900), 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.
INSTRUMENTS FOR ACCOMPANIMENT:
A grand piano will be prepared by the Contest Committee.
* 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 20.
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
OTHERS:
1. The Contest Committee may secure entry spots for the choirs based in Takarazuka.
2. Piano pitch will be prepared at 442Hz.
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
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, 2024.
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 application form.
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.
Enquiry
If you have any questions, please make enquiry to the following e-mail address in English.
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: ticc1984takarazuka@gmail.com
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