The Tokyo MINATO CITY International Music Competition & Workshop

The Tokyo MINATO CITY International Music Competition & Workshop

2025 Cello Section

Eligibility

The Competition is open to people of all nationalities, who were born between 1995 and 2009.

※All applicants must be aged at least 16 and have not yet reached the age of 31 on the first day of the competition (i.e., on 25 September 2025).

Those who are to participate in the competition may not be rejected on any ideological, linguistic, political, religious, or racial grounds.

Prizes

• First Prize

  JPY 5,000,000, Diploma and Gold medal 

• Second Prize

  JPY 2,000,000, Diploma and Silver medal

• Third Prize

  JPY 1,000,000, Diploma and Bronz medal

• Audience Prize

  JPY 300,000

• Diploma of Merit

  JPY 300,000

CD Release

The Executive Committee may release a CD of the Competition’s live performance.

Concert Contract

The first prize winner is guaranteed a recital in Japan until the next competition. In that case, the performance fee will be paid.

Jury

The jury will consist of seven (subject to change) internationally renowned judges.

The jury members must inform the Judging Committee of any Contestant who has studied under them for more than three months within the past two years.

Contestants are not entitled to object or appeal to the decision of the jury.

The jury and Contestants must not have any contact from the beginning of the Preliminary round to the end of the Final. Violation of this rule will disqualify the Contestant and disqualify the jury.

To Applicants: Please make sure to read all the information written on The Tokyo MINATO CITY International Music Competition & Workshop 2025 Cello Section Application Guidelines PDF (English version or Japanese version) carefully.

Notification of Approval for Participation in the Preliminary Round / Application Fee

 • The notification of approval for participation and the scores of the works by Japanese composers (Preliminary round repertoire) will be sent to the candidates who pass Preselection (hereinafter referred to as the “Contestants”).

• Contestants must pay an application fee (JPY 30,000) in cash at the time of registration in Tokyo.

Travel / Accommodation Expenses

The travelling expenses to and from Minato City to participate in the competition shall be borne by the Contestant. However, foreign Contestants (excluding those residing in Japan) will receive a travel subsidy of JPY 100,000. Contestants from Asia will receive JPY 50,000 or round-trip economy class airfare from the international airport nearest their place of residence to Tokyo, whichever is less. The amount of travel subsidy will be calculated based on the Contestant’s place of birth (nationality).

(Claims from the country where Contestants study abroad will not be accepted.)

Contestants of foreign nationalities residing abroad may stay in free accommodation arranged by the organizers (breakfast included). Contestants who bring their pianists must bear all costs associated with the pianist’s travel and stay. Only the Contestant himself/herself may stay in the above accommodation free of charge.

Contestants who wish to have their companions stay at the same hotel must indicate this after notification of approval to participate in the Preliminary round. In this case, the accommodation expenses shall be borne by the Contestant.

Contestants must arrive at Minato City by the start of the drawing of lots on 24 September 2025, and must appear to register at the Competition Secretariat Office. Those who do not register by the deadline will forfeit their right to participate.

Practice

The Executive Committee will provide an official pianist for the Contestants without their own pianist, and allow each of them to have 90-minute opportunity to practice with the pianist once before Semi-final without any charge.

Contestants will be given one opportunity to practice with the orchestra before the Final. The allocation of practice time with the orchestra on the day of the Final round is left to the discretion of the conductor

Performance

The order of performance will be decided on the day before the Preliminary round by drawing lots.

Contestants must attend the specified place by the designated time of the day. However, if a Contestant is late for the designated time due to unavoidable circumstances, the Executive Committee may approve his/her performance with his/her request, depending on the progress of the Competition.

Although it is acceptable to look at the score during the performance, it will affect the judging except for chamber music.

The Preliminary, Semi-final, and Final rounds are open to the public.

Cession of Rights

Regarding all performances related to participation in the Competition and all performances at concerts arranged by the Competition as part of the prize for the first prize winner, all rights below belong to the Executive Committee, and Contestants may not have any objection in any form to the Executive Committee’s use thereof, nor can the Contestant make any financial claim, regardless of reasons.

a. Broadcasting on radio, television, etc.

b. Making audio or video recordings, whether for broadcast or not.

c. Making audio or visual recordings to produce CDs and DVDs, etc., and reproducing or selling them.

d. Photographing, and reproducing, distributing, or selling those photographs.

Repertoire

※ At every round in this Competition, each participant is allowed to choose the order in which he or she will play the different works on his/her programme.

※ The works performed in the Preselection may be included again in the Preliminary and later rounds.

※ If there are any changes to the music to be performed in the Preliminary round and later rounds, notification must be made before Tuesday 15 July, 2025. Any changes made after that will not be accepted. The contact information for the desk will be announced later.

Preliminary round (approximately 30 mins.)

Contestants will choose and perform one from each of A and B, and C ; namely three works in total.

A: any one from the following (at Contestant’s choice)

J.S. Bach

Prelude and Sarabande from any one of the Suite for Solo Cello below:

Suite for Solo Cello No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1010

Suite for Solo Cello No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011

Suite for Solo Cello No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012

* Sarabande without repeat

* The same choice as in the Preselection acceptable

B: any one composition for solo cello at Contestant’s choice (a movement as an excerpt possible, but published works for solo cello only accepted)

C: Japanese composer’s piece (for solo cello, approximately 8 mins.)

  The score will be sent to the Contestants whose participation has been approved.

Semi-final (within 70 mins.)

Contestants will create a recital programme (within 70 mins) with one of L. van Beethoven’s cello sonatas included (at contestant’s choice).

Contestants may include works for solo cello or/and those with piano accompaniment. Excerpts from larger compositions are also acceptable. The programme should consist of works in various styles so that the Contestant can sufficiently show his/her ability required for a professional cellist. However, published works can only be included.

Final

Contestants will choose and perform any one from A, and B respectively (with orchestra).　

A:   

J. Haydn: Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Hob.VIIb:1

Ⅰ. Moderato           (the first movement only, with cadenza)

J. Haydn: Cello Concerto No. 2 in D Major, Hob.VIIb:2

Ⅰ. Allegro moderato    (the first movement only, with cadenza)

※cadenzas created by Contestants themselves only accepted; either previously performed or unperformed

B:   

É. Lalo: Cello Concerto in D Minor

E. Elgar: Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85

R. Schumann: Cello Concerto in A Minor, Op. 129

Orchestra

Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductor

Kimbo Ishii