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Overview 

The Stanford Baipu International Music Competition, organized by the Stanford Baipu Chinese Music Group (SBCMG). This competition is dedicated to fostering cultural exchange, elevating global appreciation for Chinese music and art, and igniting artistic creativity within communities. This prestigious competition aspires to create a dynamic and enriching platform where students and professionals can connect, inspire, and illuminate their musical talents, transcending borders and uniting audiences worldwide. The competition will take place over two rounds of online competition (First Round and Final Round) through video submissions, culminating in a Winners Concert to celebrate outstanding performances.

Eligibility 

The Stanford Baipu International Music Competition warmly welcomes musicians and music enthusiasts from around the world, providing a stage for artistic excellence and cultural exchange. The competition features both Professional and Amateur divisions, each offering Solo and Ensemble categories. Within each category, participants are grouped by age (see details below) to ensure a fair, professional, and enriching competition experience for all.

To encourage continuous artistic growth and progression, recipients of the Gold with Distinction award in any solo division may only compete in a higher age group in future competitions using the same instrument, and may not re-enter the same age group. This restriction does not apply to ensemble performances.

Competition Category

Amateur Division

Solo Competition for Solo Mastery Award: Guzheng, Chinese Woodwinds, Guqin, Pipa, Erhu, Gaohu, Yangqin, Ruan, Liuqin, Sanxian, Gayageum

• Repertoire requirements: Each contestant must prepare 2 pieces of their choice (original, traditional, contemporary, or concerto works);  Each piece must not exceed 8 minutes in duration.

• Group (age of contestant as May 1, 2026)

  • Children's Group: Age 8 and under

  • Group A: Ages 9–11

  • Group B: Ages 12–14

  • Group C: Ages 15–17

  • Group D: Ages 18 and above

Ensemble Competition for Ensemble Synergy Award: 2-12 people ensemble of any of combination with at least one of the instruments listed in solo competition 

• Repertoire requirements: Each contestant must prepare 1 pieces of their choice (orignal, traditional, contemporary, or concerto works)；Each piece must not exceed 8 minutes in duration.

• Group (age of contestant as May 1, 2026, if any one musician in an ensemble is 19 years old and older, then that ensemble will be part of Group B)

  • Group A: 18 and under

  • Group B: 19+

Professional Division

Solo Competition for Solo Mastery Award: Guzheng, Chinese Woodwinds, Guqin, Pipa, Erhu, Gaohu, Yangqin, Ruan, Liuqin, Sanxian, Gayageum

• Repertoire requirements: Each contestant must prepare 2 pieces of their choice (original, traditional, contemporary, or concerto works);  Each piece must not exceed 8 minutes in duration.

• Group (age of contestant as May 1, 2026)

  • Group A: Ages 11 and under

  • Group B: Ages 12–14

  • Group C: Ages 15–17

  • Group D: Ages 18 and above

Ensemble Competition for Ensemble Synergy Award: 2-12 people ensemble of any of combination with at least one of the instruments listed in solo competition 

• Repertoire requirements: Each contestant must prepare 1 pieces of their choice (orignal, traditional, contemporary, or concerto works)；Each piece must not exceed 8 minutes in duration.

• Group (age of contestant as May 1, 2026, if any one musician in an ensemble is 19 years old and older, then that ensemble will be part of Group B)

  • Group A: 18 and under

  • Group B: 19+

Judging Criteria

Final award placements are determined based on each participant's final score. The maximum possible score is 100 points.

• Gold with Distinction: 98.00–100.00

• Gold: 93.00–97.99

• Silver: 88.00–92.99

• Bronze: 80.00–87.99

• Honorable Award: 70.00–79.99

• Performance Award: 69.99 and below

Prize and Awards

• Solo Competition for Solo Mastery Award: Winners from each Group in the solo Category will be awarded the following: 

  • Gold with Distinction: Electronic Certificate

  • Gold Award: Electronic Certificate

  • Silver Award: Electronic Certificate

  • Bronze Award: Electronic Certificate

  • Honorable Mention: Electronic Certificate

  • Performance Award: Electronic Certificate; and

  • All Winners’ instructors will receive the e-certificate of recognition

• Ensemble Competition for Ensemble Synergy Award: Each member of the Winning ensemble from each Group in the ensemble Category will be awarded the following: 

  • Gold with Distinction: Electronic Certificate

  • Gold Award: Electronic Certificate

  • Silver Award: Electronic Certificate

  • Bronze Award: Electronic Certificate

  • Honorable Mention: Electronic Certificate

  • Performance Award: Electronic Certificate; and

  • All Winners’ instructors will receive the e-certificate of recognition

• Top winners will have the opportunity to perform at the Winners’ Concert

Competition Dates and Location

• Online Application Opens: September 1, 2026 - October 31, 2026

  • First Round Panel Review: November, 2025; Contestant selected for Final round will be announced on www.baipumusic.org on November 22, 2026  

  • Final Round Panel Review and Announcement: Nov-Dec, 2025; Winners will be announced on www.baipumusic.org on December 20, 2026 

• Winner Concert at Stanford: Spring-Summer 2027

  • Top winners will be invited to perform in the Winners’ Concert, which will be held in Spring 2027. Invitations will be sent via the email provided in the competition application.

  • Location: To be announced in Spring 2027

Application Process & Fees

1. Registration portal will open in September 1st through October 31st, 2026 on  www.baipumusic.org. 

   1. Late registration (November 1 -10, 2026): Applications submitted during the late registration period will be subject to an additional late processing fee of $45 per application.

2. Please submit the following documents upon online registration:

   1. Completed Registration Form

   2. YouTube video link(s) showcasing your performance base on the following requirements of the competition category (Please refer to the video example here)

      1. Each repertoire must have its own video link (for the avoidance of doubt, there is no need to provide a self-introduction or announce the repertoire at the beginning of the video); 

      2. Each piece must not exceed 8 minutes in duration.

      3. The videos must be uploaded to the third-party channel designated by SBCMG (e.g., YouTube or Youku) as “unlisted”;

      4. The videos must be recorded in 2025 and must not be edited;

      5. The videos should be a single take with clear visuals and sound quality;

      6. The video should clearly capture the entire instrument, and the performer must be fully visible in the frame;

      7. The performances must be memorized (for the avoidance of doubt, any performances not memorized will not be scored); and

      8. Formal attire (including shoes) must be worn.

      9. The videos must be recorded against a clean, uncluttered background. A plain, solid-color backdrop or a concert hall setting preferred. Avoid messy or distracting environments. 

      10. Please note that the videos uploaded with the application will be used for both the first and final round of the competition. Applicants cannot change repertoires once application is submitted.

3. Application Fee ($USD):

              Solo Mastery Award

• $150 per contestant, per category

              Ensemble Synergy Award

• $80 per contestant in the ensemble

Late registration (November 1 -10, 2026): Applications submitted during the late registration period will be subject to an additional late processing fee of $45 per application.

General Rules

• Applicants must carefully read through the Competition Terms before submitting their application. 

• Repertoire selection cannot be changed after the submission deadline.

• The panel of judges will determine the list of winners for each category. If no contestant meets the required standard, the judges reserve the right to withhold the award. All decisions made by the judges are final. Any attempt to discuss competition matters or directly contact judges will result in disqualification. Judges also reserve the right to withhold comments.

• SBCMG reserves the right to record, use, and reproduce any submitted video materials. Final award winners’ videos and the Winners Concert will be published on youtube.com/@baipumusic.

• For future competitions, past first-prize winners in the same competition group are not eligible to participate again in that group.