GOLDEN COAST INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION 2026 ONLINE COMPETITION — OFFICIAL RULES & REGULATIONS

Piano • Strings • Winds • Voice

 

APPLICATION DEADLINE November 1, 2026

RESULTS ANNOUNCED November 6, 2026

Email: info@goldencoastcompetition.org

ELIGIBILITY The Golden Coast International Music Competition Online Competition is open to musicians of all nationalities and backgrounds.

CATEGORIES • Piano • Strings • Winds • Voice

Contestants may enter both the Solo Division and Concerto Division.

A separate application and entry fee are required for each division.

The Competition Committee reserves the right to verify a contestant’s age and eligibility.

 

VIDEO SUBMISSION

All entries must be submitted by YouTube video link.

The video may be listed as Public or Unlisted, but it must remain accessible to the judges throughout the judging period.

The contestant’s face and hands, when applicable, should be clearly visible in the video. Videos must represent the contestant’s own performance and must not be digitally altered in a way that changes the musical performance.

DIVISIONS & PERFORMANCE TIME LIMITS

SOLO DIVISION 7 & Under — 3 minutes

9 & Under — 4 minutes

11 & Under — 5 minutes

13 & Under — 5 minutes

15 & Under — 7 minutes

18 & Under — 7 minutes Adult — 8 minutes

 

Solo Division Requirements

• Repertoire is the contestant’s choice.

• Contestants may perform one or more selections, provided the total performance time does not exceed the time limit for their division.

• Piano performances must be memorized.

• Memorization is optional for Strings, Winds, and Voice.

CONCERTO DIVISION

9 & Under — 6 minutes

11 & Under — 7 minutes

13 & Under — 8 minutes

15 & Under — 8 minutes

18 & Under — 9 minutes

Adult — 10 minutes

 

Concerto Division Requirements

• Contestants must perform one movement of a concerto.

• Cuts are permitted in order to meet the division time limit.

• Piano accompaniment is required when appropriate for the repertoire.

• Contestants are responsible for arranging their own accompaniment for the submitted video.

ENTRY FEE Online Competition Entry Fee:

$85 per entry Contestants for Solo and

$95 per entry Contestants for Concerto

Divisions must submit separate applications and entry fees.

All entry fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

 

AWARDS

Awards are determined by each contestant’s score and artistic merit according to established award standards.

Multiple contestants may receive the same award within a division.

First Place Cash Award: 

Second Place Cash Award: 

Third Place Cash Award: 

Honorable Mention Cash Award: 

All award recipients will receive an official electronic award certificate.

RIGHT TO WITHHOLD AWARDS

The judging panel reserves the right to withhold any award if no contestant meets the required performance standard. All judging decisions are final.

PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES

Selected award recipients may be invited to perform in future Golden Coast Winners’ Recitals or special performance events in the United States.

Performance invitations are offered separately from competition awards and are subject to availability and the discretion of the Competition Committee.

GENERAL RULES

• The judges’ decisions are final.

• Incomplete applications or inaccessible video links may not be considered.

• Applications received after the deadline may not be accepted.

• The Competition reserves the right to make necessary changes to competition rules, dates, awards, or other competition matters.

• By submitting an application, contestants agree to abide by all Competition rules and decisions.

PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES

First, Second, and Third Place winners may be invited to perform in future Golden Coast Winners’ Recitals or special performance events in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Winners who accept the invitation and perform in person will receive the following Cash Performance Awards:

First Place

Second Place

Third Place 

Performance invitations are subject to availability and the discretion of the Competition Committee.