Rules and Regulations

  1. Musicians of all nationalities worldwide are welcomed to join the HKIMF competitions. Each contestant may apply up to a maximum of four categories.
  2. One division for each enrollment form. Contestants entering more than one division should submit separate Enrollment forms.
  3. Contestants may join older age divisions if they fulfill the relevant requirements.
  4. The HKIMF Organizing Committee will announce the Final Round Entrants List from July 2023. Finalists will also be notified through their Regional Offices. Names of the Finalists will be on The Final Round Entrants List, to be announced on the HKIMF Official Website www.hkmusic.hk or HKIMF Official WeChat: HK_IMF.
  5. Online applicants must register an account before the District Preliminary to view their enrollment data and Final Round Entrants’ list. Besides, HKIMF Organizing Committee require the contestants to submit the final round payment slip copy, photo and valid travel documents to the Regional Organizers for central processing. Contestants from areas with no Regional Organizers, should send all documents to hkimf@hkmusic.hk or mail to competition committee office: Unit 8, 10/F, Rear Block, Wah Fat Industrial Building, 10-14 Kung Yip Street, Kwai Chung, N.T. Hong Kong.
  6. Contestants must report themselves at the reception of the competition venue 20 minutes prior to their designated time. Latecomers may be disqualified.
  7. Contestants must perform their repertoires from memory. Accompanists and Group divisions contestants are exempted. (Marks will be deducted for score-reading performance)
  8. Contestants must bring the original version of their repertoire scores.
  9. The order of performances in the Final Round will be determined by the organizers. Contestants shall raise no objection.
  10. Preliminary Round Videos must be unedited. Contestants may send vides online or post a DVD disc.
  11. Contestants must be the copyright owner of the works they submitted. Besides, contestants agree and understand that the HKIMF Organizing Committee has the right to use all the submitted materials including photos, recordings, videos or any uploaded information in any situation.
  12. Contestants must consult the HKIMF Organizing Committee in advance on whether certain instruments could be used in the competition. They can use them upon receiving written confirmation from the HKIMF Organizing Committee.
  13. Contestants should understand and accept the quality differences HKIMF leased instruments. They shall bear the entire risk of damage to the instruments from any cause during the term of the lease.
  14. Contestants shall keep the instruments in good conditions. Instrument repairs and accessory replacement fees will be charged for any artificial damage.
  15. The committee reserves the right to reschedule the competition date and halls in the case of adverse weather or other emergency conditions.
  16. HKIMF Awards may be awarded to more than one winner. The Organizing Committee reserves the right for equal distribution of cash prizes. Other prize items will be distributed based on decisions from the HKIMF Organizing Committee with no equal distribution guaranteed.
  17. Award-winners must be present in prize presentation ceremonies. Winners from all divisions must perform in the Winner’s Concert during the HKIMF Closing Ceremony. In the event of an absence, the committee has the right to cancel the prizes and cash awards to the winner.
  18. The jury will determine the performance repertoire and order for the winners at the Winner’s Concert. The Champions will also be announced and awarded in the same event.
  19. The jury reserves the right to award extra prize(s) for any divisions. They could also withhold any awards to any division if the contestants do not meet the required competency.
  20. Cash prizes (except Championships) will be distributed on after Final Round result announced. Failure to collect the cash prize will be considered as giving up the prize and the organizer will not re-issue the cash prize in any format afterwards.
  21. Jury Panel has the final decision on the competition results with no objections. Decisions from HKIMF Jury Panel and Organizing Committee are final. Contestants shall raise no objections.
  22. The jury retains the right to stop any performance without objection from the contestants.
  23. Contestants must declare all relations they may have with any Jury Members. Failure to declare such relationships will result in immediate disqualification. Jury may not adjudicate the contestant if they possess teacher-student relationships. Violation will result into disqualification.
  24. Unauthorized photography, audio, and/or video recordings are strictly prohibited. The committee reserves the sole right to record and document the competition. The committee also has the right to release any recordings (such as DVDs, CDs, etc.) for publicity or commercial purposes without seeking further approval from the contestants or make payments of any kind to them. The contestants agree that all copyrights of these recordings belong to the HKIMF Organizing Committee.
  25. Contestants and other HKIMF participants must take appropriate actions to ensure the safety of their musical instruments and personal belongings. The HKIMF Organizing Committee is not responsible for any damage to or loss. Contestants are advised to purchase their own insurances for protection.
  26. It is also the responsibility of the contestants to seek insurance themselves such as: medical, personal injury and death, loss or damage to properties and musical instruments, to protect themselves from possible accidents, fire or theft during HKIMF competitions and their own journeys. Contestant should understand that the Hong Kong International Music Festival and the Grandmaster Orchestral Music Society shall bear no legal responsibility for the abovementioned potential accidents.
  27. Contestants (including parents/teachers of underaged contestants) declare that the information in the enrollment form and any supplementary materials in the are true and correct. False declarations and breaching regulations are grounds for immediate disqualification.
  28. Fee paid are non-refundable for any grounds (including class-suspensions, violations of competition rules, personal reasons, sickness and school activities).
  29. Contestants (including parents/teachers of underaged contestants) declare that they understand and agree with the rules and regulations of the competition. Violation any of the above competition regulations will result in immediate disqualification at the discretion of the competition committee and jury, without refund on enrollment fees, activities fees and administrative fees.
  30. The committee reserves the final rights for to explain the Rules and Regulations. For any disputes regarding to this event, the decisions by the HKIMF Organizing Committee shall be final. No one shall raise any objection.
  31. The HKIMF Organizer committee has the right to amend any of the HKIMF details and regulations at any time without prior notice. The latest information on HKIMF Official Website and On-site announcements shall be final.