2026 Sejong Music Competition

RULES AND REQUIREMENTS (2026)

The First Round of the 2026 Sejong Music Competition will be held virtually.
Participants must submit video recordings for the preliminary round.

Finalists from each division will be invited to perform live before a panel of judges on Saturday, December 5, 2026, at:

BISCO Hall
Korean Cultural Center of Chicago
9925 Capitol Dr.
Wheeling, IL 60090

Please note: Submissions that fail to meet all requirements will be disqualified.

 

Submission Deadline

Monday, October 26, 2026, at 11:59 PM CDT

 

Divisions and Prizes

NEW! The Elementary Division has been discontinued.

  • Senior Division (Grades 9–12): First ($700), Second ($600), Third ($500), Best Interpretation of Korean Music ($500)
  • Junior Division (Grades 8 and younger): First ($500), Second ($400), Third ($300), Best Interpretation of Korean Music ($300)

 

General Rules

  • This competition is open to all pre-college violin and piano students residing in the United States, regardless of ethnicity or nationality.
  • Videos that do not comply with the video submission guidelines will be disqualified and will not be reviewed by the judges.
  • Violin contestants must perform with a live pianist unless the selected work is written for unaccompanied violin.
  • Judges will select one recipient of the Best Interpretation of Korean Music award in each division. This award is independent of the First, Second, and Third Place prizes.
  • Students may compete in a higher division than their school grade but must perform the Required Repertoire for that division.
  • Previous First Prize winners may not compete again in the same division.

 

Repertoire

Each contestant must perform two pieces:

  1. Chosen Piece
    • Piano: One solo work of the student's choice
    • Violin: One fast movement from any concerto
    • Must be performed from memory.
    • Repeats should be omitted.
  2. Required Repertoire

 

Applications

  • Complete the online application through the application page on our website.
  • Submit a clean, unmarked PDF of your chosen piece (not the Required Repertoire).
  • The application fee is $100 and is non-refundable. Payment must be made through PayPal on our website using your preferred payment method.

 

Video Submission Guidelines

  • Submit two separate videos:
    • One for the Required Repertoire
    • One for your chosen piece
  • Both recordings must have been made within three months of the submission deadline.
  • Upload each video separately through the online application.
  • Name each video using the following format:
    first_name_last_name_division_title_of_music
    Example: john_doe_senior_arirang.mp4
  • There is no time limit for recordings.
  • Videos must be continuous, unedited performances. Audio and video must be recorded simultaneously. External microphones and audio enhancements are not permitted.
  • Upload videos to YouTube only and set the privacy setting to Unlisted. Do not use Private or Public settings.
  • Professional studio recording is not required. Use the best equipment available, such as a smartphone, tablet, webcam, or camcorder.
  • Use a tripod or stable stand to keep the camera steady.
  • To create your PDF music file, we recommend using a free mobile scanning app such as Adobe Scan, available for iOS and Android .
  • Click here to learn how to upload a video to YouTube.

 

Video Framing

  • Record in horizontal (landscape) format.
  • The performer's full body should remain visible throughout the performance.
  • The camera must remain stationary.
  • Piano contestants: Position the camera on the performer's right side.

 

Performance Requirements

  • Required Repertoire:
    • Sheet music may be used.
    • Observe all written repeats.
  • Chosen Piece:
    • Must be performed from memory.
    • Omit all repeats.

 

Judging Process

After submission, videos will be downloaded, anonymized, and uploaded to our internal judging platform as unlisted videos. Judges will not know contestants' identities until after all results have been finalized.

 

Sponsoring Organizations

  • Illinois Arts Council Agency
  • DB Kim Jun-Ki Foundation
  • Overseas Koreans Agency
  • Seoul National University Alumni Association in Chicago
  • BISCO Foundation

If you have any questions, please contact us at SejongMusicCompetition@gmail.com .