Download application form (Word).
1. Prizes
1.01 The total prize money is RMB100,000 (approx. €14.000).
1.02 The 1st Jury Prize is RMB30,000 (approx. €4200).
1.03 The 2nd Jury Prize is RMB25,000 (approx. €3500).
1.04 The 3rd Jury Prize is RMB20,000 (approx. €2800).
1.05 There will also be an Audience Vote Prize of RMB5,000 (approx. €700).
1.06 Extra Prize for Best Composition by a Composer Under 21 of RMB5,000 (approx. €700).
1.07 Extra Prize for Best Composition by a Female Composer of RMB5,000 (approx. €700).
1.08 Extra Prize for Best Composition by a Composer with Chinese Nationality and Residence of RMB5,000
1.09 Extra Prize for Composition with best Foshan Intangible Cultural Heritage connection of RMB5,000
1.10 Compositions reaching the final concert will be recorded live.
1.11 Performances of the works by the 3 Jury Prize winners at Foshan Autumn Parade in Autumn 2022.
1.12 Prize winning compositions will receive performances in China during the 2022-2023 season.
1.13 Compositions which reach the final concert may be eligible for publication by Edition MatchingArts.
1.14 Promotion for the 3 Jury Prize winners (through our international network, ensembles, social media
and newsletters) will be arranged.
1.15 Press reviews and interviews will be arranged for the 3 Jury Prize winners.
1.16 The final concert will be live streamed, recorded and available on YouTube and social media.
1.17 The intention is to invite the 3 Jury Prize winners to Foshan when the Covid-19 situation allows.
1.18 All participants will receive an official certificate of participation after the announcements.
2. Rules
2.01 The Competition is open to composers of all nationalities and ages.
2.02 The submitted original compositions may not have been previously performed, published or awarded
a prize of any kind. They must be free of any liabilities, including those with publishing houses.
2.03 Compositions should have a clear mix of Cantonese folkloristic music (Foshan ICH) and Western music.
The composition should be approachable for the people of Foshan.
(For inspiration about Foshan ICH check our websites.)
2.04 Composers should send a short description of their motivation for using their chosen ensemble and the
relationship of their work with Foshan ICH.
2.05 Pieces can be written for 5 instruments up to 18, only instruments chosen from the list below.
2.06 Pieces should contain a combination of Chinese- and Western instruments (see list below).
2.07 Duration between 5-8 minutes (not shorter than 5 and not exceeding 8).
2.08 Alternative use of instruments, electronics or soundtracks are not permitted.
2.09 Pieces should be written using Western music notation (not Chinese notation).
2.10 Instruments may not be doubled.
2.11 Works for solo instrument or voice will not be accepted.
2.12 Arrangements of pieces from only composer’s own hand are allowed (to be mentioned).
2.13 Composers may send more than one work, but only one work per composer can enter the finals.
2.14 Composers will retain ownership of/copyright in their compositions.
2.15 Composers agree that the organisation running the competition may use their composition(s) for
promotion purposes.
2.16 Composers whose works are selected for the final concert will send a video to present themselves.
2.17 Composers will stay in touch with the conductor during the rehearsal period of the ensemble.
2.18 The final concert will be held live for Chinese residents. Composers living in China are encouraged to
attend. The final concert will be also live streamed for people outside of China.
3. Entries
3.01 There is no entry fee.
3.02 Entry emails should be received at
3.03 Entry emails should contain:
- Application Form (see last pages of this document) with title: name_surname_form
- Composition (full score in C and all parts) in PDF-format with title: name_surname_title
- Audio demo in MP3 format with title: name_surname_title
- Short statement in Word format (see Rules 2.04)
3.04 Scores should not include a title, or the composer’s name, the date or any other references which
shows the composer´s identity.
3.05 Only digital scores will be accepted for the competition.
3.06 In scores only musical language in Italian and/or English and in Latin script is allowed. Other text in
any other language is prohibited.
3.07 Titles of the PDF and MP3 files must contain the following data: given name and surname of
the composer, and the title of the piece.
3.08 Incomplete applications and compositions that do not meet above requirements won´t be considered.
4. Instrumentation ensemble
Composers may select from among the following:
7 Chinese instruments: Erhu, Dizi, Guzheng, Chinese Percussion*, Pipa, Sheng and Suona.
11 Western instruments: Flute, Clarinet in B♭, Alto Saxophone, Horn, Trumpet in B♭, Trombone, Violin, Viola,
Cello, Double Bass and Piano.
The division of instruments should be like the following:
Instr. | Chin. | West. | Instr. | Chin. | West. | Instr. | Chin. | West. | ||
5 | 2 or 3 | 3 or 2 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 7 | 8 | ||
6 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 16 | 7 | 9 | ||
7 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 17 | 7 | 10 | ||
8 | 3 or 4 | 5 or 4 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 18 | 7 | 11 | ||
9 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 6 | 8 | |||||
*Chinese Percussion will be considered as 1 instrument, although 3 players are allowed.
(It is inspiring to watch the heritage percussion styles of Foshan Shifan and Ba Yin Luo Gu at our websites.)
List of 13 Chinese percussion instruments which can be used: BO: Small Cymbals and Large Cymbals /
GU: Shagu (Handdrum), Small Drum, Flowerpot (Medium Drum), Bangu (Large Drum) and Shifan Gu (Big drum
with 2 small ones attached) / LAO: Small Knobbed Gong, Su Gong, Small (Peking Opera) Gong, Large (Peking
Opera) Gong and Chaozhou Bass Gong / Muyu (Woodblock).
5. Jury
5.01 All entries will be judged anonymously.
5.02 The jury has the right not to award any of the prizes set out in this document.
5.03 The jury’s decision is final and cannot be appealed.
5.04 Students of the jury can join (because of the anonymity), but when they enter the final concert
the jury member who is the teacher will withdraw voting for that particular piece.
5.05 After four selection rounds all applying composers will be informed about the results (Sept 30th).
5.06 The jury of the 1st Foshan Composers Contest 2022 consists of:
- Guo Wenjing (Professor at Center Music Conservatory, Beijing, China), only final concert
- Henry Kelder (Dutch Composer, Professor of piano at University of the Arts Utrecht, Director of MatchingArts, Artistic Manager of SkyCulture, The Netherlands), chairman
- Hu Xiao (Professor at Sichuan Conservatory in Chengdu, China)
- James Wilding (South African composer, Professor at University of Akron, Ohio, USA)
- Nicholas Smith (British composer and conductor based in Beijing), only final concert
- Seung-Won Oh (South Korean composer based in Europe)
- Tao Mo (Vice Dean at Xinghai Music Conservatory, Guangzhou, China)
- Zhang Zhao (Professor at Minzhu University of China, Beijing, China)
6. Organisation
SkyCulture is a cultural business project bureau based in Foshan and Shenzhen in Chinese southern province of
Guangdong. SkyCulture is the founder of this competition and partner of MatchingArts which will be the
administration office for the Foshan Composers Contest. All Chinese communication will go through SkyCulture
and all international communication outside China through MatchingArts. MatchingArts is an experienced
project bureau in organising international competitions (3 editions of the Keuris Composers Contest and 2 of
the International Alkema Composition Competition). Both bureaus organise festivals, cultural exchanges,
concerts and projects where arts meet music.
Thanks to the following sponsors:
- Foshan Culture, Broadcast, Television, Tourism and Sport Bureau
- Shunde District of Foshan Culture, Broadcast, Television, Tourism and Sport Bureau
- Foshan Intangible Culture Heritage Protection Center
For more information, inspiration and links: https://www.matchingarts.com or www.sky-culture.com
For questions in English: