Japan International Choral Composition Competition 2025

Host: The International Choral Organization of Tokyo

<<Regulations for Participation>>

 【Purpose】 

The International Choral Organization of Tokyo announces the Japan International Choral Composition Competition 2025 (ICCC Japan 2025), the aim of which is to promote choral music through the creation of new and innovative choral repertoire. 

【Qualification】 

Participation is open to composers of any nationality and any age, whether professional or amateur. 

【Jury Members】 

The jury will be consisted by the members below: 

Chief Jury: John August Pamintuan (Philippines),

Jury: Ivo Antognini (Switzerland), Rihards Dubra (Latvia) André J Thomas (USA), and Toyotaka Tsuchida (Japan) 

Artistic Director: Ko Matsushita (Japan) 

The Artistic Committee will support the juries. 

【Judgement Criteria】 

The judgement process is based on the assessment of the submitted music score. 

【Award / Commendation】 

The composer of the 1st-prize winning work will receive a prize of 100,000 Japanese Yen and a diploma, and the work will be published by Edition ICOT. The 2nd and 3rd prize winners and the honorable mention winners will receive a diploma, and following recommendation by the jury, there may be a possibility that these works will also be published. From prize-winning works, the set piece of the 8th Tokyo International Choir Competition in HARUMI (to be held in 2026) will be selected. 

【Application Rule】 

The ICCC Japan 2025 is dedicated to choral compositions defined, written and stated as below: 

・ SATB a cappella, basically each voice must not be divided, except when fulfilling the condition as follows: a maximum of two division per one voice, and the length of the divided section being around 10 % of the whole work. No accompaniment including percussion and bodywork is allowed. 

・ The work must stand on its own and should not be in the form of a suite, i.e. consisted of multiple pieces. 

・ Duration: No less than 2 minutes and no more than 3 minutes. 

・ Text: Latin and English (or mixed Latin & English) only, contents may be either sacred or profane. If the text is not in public domain, a written statement by the author or copyright holder for the use of the text must be attached to the entry e-mail. 

【Application Format】 

・ State the performance duration on the top of the 1st page of the score. 

・ Format: PDF, made from Finale, Sibelius, or a similar scorewriting program. 

・ If possible, attach the MP3 audio file extracted from the scorewriting program via online storage (ex. Google Drive or Drop Box) when submitting the work. 

・ Do not state the composer’s name anywhere on the score. If there is an author of the text, the name of the author shall be clearly stated. 

・ The original text and its English or Japanese translation should be attached to the score. 

【Application Deadline】 

All entries must be sent by 23:59 31st March 2025 GMT (16:59 31st March Pacific Daylight Time, 19:59 31st March Eastern Daylight Time, 00:59 1st April British Summer Time, 01:59 1st April Central Europe Summer Time, 08:59 1st April Japanese Standard Time). 

【Application Process】 

・ Participation to the ICCC Japan 2025 will be finalized by filling the web entry form, submitting the composed work and other documents (as applicable) to the administrative office by e-mail, and paying the participation fee. 

・ All materials are to be sent by e-mail to icccjapan-apply@icot.or.jp. Other methods of application are basically not applicable. If other methods are preferred, please contact the administrative office. 

【Application Fee / Payment】 

Entry fee is 6,000 Japanese Yen per composition. 

Please make the payment via PayPal in the currency of Japanese Yen within 3 days of submitting the work. There is a link on the ICCC Japan website to make this payment, otherwise please make payment to (office@icot.or.jp). Please notify the administrative office (icccjapan-office@icot.or.jp) if payment via PayPal is not possible. 

【Timetable】 

The initial judgment will be done by middle of May 2025. The title of the qualifying compositions of the initial judgment will be published on the ICCC Japan website. The final judgment will follow, and award-winning works along with the work to be published will be determined around in early June 2025. There will be no public announcement of the results until as stated below. 

【Announcement of Award Winners】 

All the Results will be announced on the website in late June. 

【Privilege for Award Winners】 

The premiere performance of the awarded works will be made by The Metropolitan Chorus of Tokyo, conducted by Ko Matsushita (composer/choir conductor). 

The announcement and performance will be web broadcasted worldwide via YouTube LIVE. 

【Premiere Performance】 

The premiere performance will take place during the 7th Tokyo International Choir Competition.

Date and time: Sunday, 26 July 2025, performance time to be confirmed 

Venue: Dai-ichi Seimei Hall,Tokyo

Details of the date and time will be announced on the ICCC Japan website and on Facebook. 

【Important Notes before Submission】 

・ The work must not been performed, awarded nor published before, from the time of submission until the announcement of the results. A declaration that the work fulfills this condition (any format is allowed) must be submitted. 

・ A participant can apply as many works as wanted. One entry form for each work must be filled. 

・ Upon the awarded works that will be published, the publishing right will belong to Edition ICOT. 

・ Participation in the competition implies full knowledge and acceptance of these regulations. 

・ The jury’s decision is final. 

・ For works selected as a set piece of the 8th Tokyo International Choir Competition, its composer must arrange the work for TTBB, SSA (or SSAA). 

【Documents Required for Submission】 * submit to icccjapan-apply@icot.or.jp before the deadline 

1. Composed work (which clearly state the performance time and does not state the name of the composer, in PDF format) 
2. Original text and the English or Japanese translation of the text (no format restrictions) 
3. Declaration that the work has not been performed, awarded nor published before (no format restrictions) 
4. Permission from the text author if the text is not in public domain (no format restrictions) 

【Point of Contact】The International Choral Organization of Tokyo 

2-29-12 B1F, Kinugaoka, Hachioji-city, Tokyo 192-0912, JAPAN 

Email: icccjapan-office@icot.or.jp 

Tel: +81-42-689-5641 

【Reference Information】 

International Choral Composition Competition Japan website: https://icccj.icot.or.jp/

Tokyo International Choir Competition website: https://www.ticctokyo.icot.or.jp/en