Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Fees, deadlines, time limits and performance times, and repertoire rules differ from venue to venue and may be revised from one competition to the next. For the detailed rules, please see each venue’s current Competition Rules page. If this page and a Competition Rules page differ, the Competition Rules page prevails.

About the Judging

Purpose of the Judging

Our aim is to recommend as many musicians as possible — of all ages, nationalities, occupations, and musical backgrounds, professional performers included — for the opportunity to perform at distinguished international concert halls and leading universities. As an international competition, we also place importance on giving performance opportunities to a diverse, international group of participants. While a high level of technical skill and musical expression is our primary consideration, we also take into account the differing educational environments and circumstances of each country when making recommendations.

Judging Method

The judges and individual scores are not disclosed. How scores correspond to prize levels is stated on each venue’s Competition Rules page.
Score sheets and written feedback are not provided.
Results are final and will not be changed.
We do not respond to any questions about the judging, including questions about the judges, the content of the judging, or the results.
If you post results or related information on the web or social media, please take care to protect personal information and privacy. If we determine that a post may defame or damage the reputation of the competition or any third party, we may ask you to remove it.

Video Audition Results

All entrants are notified of their result by email, whether or not they are selected. If you have not received your result, please contact admin@specialvenue.org.
Results are sent to the student. Teachers, please ask your student for the result.

If You Do Not Receive Our Emails

We send results and other important information by email. Some email providers and school or workplace email systems may filter messages with attachments, or messages from addresses you have not contacted before, into a spam, junk, or promotions folder, or block them altogether. We recommend registering a personal email address, such as Gmail, when you apply for the video audition. Please also add admin@specialvenue.org to your contacts, and check your spam, junk, and promotions folders around each announcement date.

How We Contact Winners' Recital Performers

We will send you an invitation email to the Winners’ Page. Please be sure to bookmark the link to the Winners’ Page. All important notices and information are provided through the Winners’ Page. For when the invitation email is sent, please see each venue’s Competition Rules page.

If you forget to save the link, please contact admin@specialvenue.org.

About the Winners' Recital

Pedal Extenders, Footstools, Bench Adjustment, and Music Stands

Pedal extenders and footstools may be used only if the performer brings their own. The organizer does not provide them. Setup time is included in your performance time. Setup is carried out by the stage staff.
Time spent before playing, including adjusting the height of the piano bench, and time spent walking on and off stage are included in your performance time. Please prepare well so that you can finish within your performance time.
Under venue rules, parents and teachers may not enter the dressing rooms, waiting areas, or the stage.
Stage staff at some venues may not be familiar with adjusting pedal extenders and footstools. Our staff will assist where needed, but please let your child know in advance that things may not go exactly as they do at home or in lessons.
Music stands and chairs for cello, chamber music, and so on are set up by the stage staff.
Music stands are available at Tokyo Opera City, Carnegie Hall, Harvard University, the San Francisco Opera House, and the Vienna Musikverein. At other venues, please bring your own if you need one.

Piano Makes and Benches

Carnegie Hall – Steinway, hydraulic bench
Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall – Steinway (planned)
Vienna Musikverein – Bösendorfer, hydraulic bench
Harvard University – Bechstein
Stanford University – Bechstein C234 (2026 recital); subject to change
San Francisco Opera House – Yamaha
Other venues – Usually Steinway or Yamaha, but this is not guaranteed.
Piano benches usually have no backrest and are adjusted by a rotating knob or hydraulically.
The piano make may change depending on the venue’s terms of use. We are unable to tell you the specific model.

Acoustic Performance Only

Only acoustic instruments may be used at the Winners’ Recital. Only piano accompaniment is permitted; recorded or electronic accompaniment is not allowed. Microphones may not be used (this also applies to musical theatre repertoire in the voice category).

Bowing

There are no announcements or introductions of performers before each performance. Please bow before and after you play. Out of consideration for the audience, please avoid spending unnecessary time on stage making adjustments.

Accompanists

Only piano accompaniment is permitted.
We can introduce an accompanist to those who wish. The accompanist’s fee is separate. The typical fee varies by venue, so please see each venue’s Competition Rules page.
Important: The competition only introduces accompanists and is not responsible for any issues that arise between the performer and the accompanist. Special Venue LLC is released from all liability in every such matter, including communication problems, cancellations, the quality of the performance, and payment disputes.
All communication and payments are handled directly between the performer and the accompanist.
We will do our best to introduce an accompanist who can communicate in English or Japanese as needed, but this cannot be guaranteed, as it depends on the accompanist’s availability.

Performance Time, Repertoire, and Number of Pieces

How your Winners’ Recital repertoire and performance time are decided varies by venue. Please follow each venue’s Competition Rules page.
Your performance time includes walking on and off stage, bowing, and setup.
As a rule, you may perform one piece.
If you exceed your performance time, or perform two or more pieces without permission, we may stop your performance.

Our purpose is to offer as many people as possible the opportunity to perform at great halls such as Carnegie Hall, and the time limits exist for that reason. We ask for your understanding.

Venues Where You Choose Your Performance Time When You Apply

Please choose a time that covers the length of your piece plus the time needed to walk on and off stage, bow, and set up your instrument or bench. If you use a footstool or pedal extender, or play an instrument that needs tuning on stage, please allow extra time.
Please time your performance before you apply.
If the piece you wish to perform is longer than the performance time you choose, please fit it within that time by omitting repeats or making cuts.
If your performance ends before the performance time you chose, the difference in the participation fee is not refunded.
For the performance times available, the participation fees, and whether changes are accepted after you apply, please see each venue’s Competition Rules page.

Changing Your Repertoire or Performance Time

Whether you may change your repertoire or performance time, the procedure, and any fee vary by venue. Please follow each venue’s Competition Rules page.

Notes for venues that allow changes:
There is no need to resubmit a video or be re-judged, but please enter the performance time as accurately as possible. It affects how many performers can take part in the Winners’ Recital and how the recital is run.
If the piece and the performance time you entered clearly do not match, the office may contact you.

Extended Performance Time and a Second Piece

Whether extended performance time or a second piece is allowed, and any fee, vary by venue. Please follow each venue’s Competition Rules page.

Even at venues that offer them, they are allowed only when the program has room. We will let you know whether this is possible on the Winners’ Page.

Performance Session, Running Order, and Leaving Early

The organizer decides the performance session and the running order. Whether requests are accepted varies by venue. Please follow each venue’s Competition Rules page.
Even at venues that accept requests, requests to set or change your place in the running order, or to leave early, are as a rule not accepted. If you have an unavoidable reason, please contact us with documentation that can be verified, such as a flight booking confirmation or a school event notice. We are not able to accommodate every request. If your request is approved, you will be asked to submit an Individual Request Form (a fee may apply).
A fee applies to requests to change the running order after the program has been announced. The printed program cannot be changed, and the fee may be higher.
If you leave early without notifying us and obtaining permission in advance, you will not receive your award certificate or trophy. We are also unable to ship them afterwards.

There Is No Judging at the Winners' Recital

No grand prize or similar award is announced (this rule changed in 2025). To make clear that the Winners’ Recital is a celebration of every winner’s dedication and achievement, we have discontinued judging at the recital.

Tickets

Performers and their piano accompanists do not need to purchase tickets.
Under venue rules, everyone entering needs one ticket per person. Children under school age may attend, but a ticket must be purchased for them.
Ticket prices, on-sale dates, and how to buy tickets vary by venue. Please see each venue’s Competition Rules page. For venues where the Competition Rules page does not give this information, please see below.
Carnegie Hall: All seats reserved. Tickets go on sale approximately two months before the recital. Tickets are $75-$85 each (fees are charged separately). We will announce the details on our website once the on-sale date is confirmed.
Other U.S. venues: General admission, $65 (advance) to $75 (at the door). Tickets go on sale approximately two months before the recital.
We are unable to offer discounted or complimentary tickets.

About Rehearsals

Only Carnegie Hall has a rehearsal.
The rehearsal is usually a few hours before the concert. Rehearsal times are announced on the Winners’ Page.
The rehearsal is used for close-up photography and adjusting the setup, so there is no time to play your piece through. Please expect to play for about two minutes at most.
Parents and teachers may not enter the rehearsal under any circumstances.
Photography and video recording during the rehearsal are strictly prohibited under venue rules. Anyone who does not follow this rule will be disqualified and will not be permitted to perform at the Winners’ Recital. In that case, no refund will be given.
Anyone who disrupts the running of the event may not be permitted to perform at the Winners’ Recital on the day. In that case, no refund will be given.
Other venues: There is no rehearsal, so please book a practice room or similar yourself if needed.

Schedule on the Day of the Winners' Recital (examples; subject to change depending on the venue)

Tokyo Opera City

No rehearsal.

For performance start times, please see the Competition Rules page. Details such as check-in times will be announced on the Winners’ Page.

Carnegie Hall (times may shift by about 30 minutes depending on the day of the week)

3:30-5:30 p.m.: Rehearsal (30 minutes per group, at Carnegie Hall)
6:30 p.m.: Dressing room check-in at Carnegie Hall; doors open
7:00 p.m.: Concert begins; award ceremony at the end of the concert
10:00 p.m.: Recital ends

Harvard University, Stanford University & San Francisco Opera House

No rehearsal. The schedule may change significantly depending on the number of participants.

9:30 a.m.: Group A performers arrive; doors open
10:00 a.m.: Group A recital begins; award ceremony at the end of the recital
1:00 p.m.: Group A recital ends
1:30 p.m.: Group B performers arrive; doors open
2:00 p.m.: Group B recital begins; award ceremony at the end of the recital
5:00 p.m.: Group B recital ends

Vienna Musikverein

No rehearsal. (Based on past recitals; this may change.)

1:45 p.m.: Dressing room check-in
2:00 p.m.: Doors open
2:30 p.m.: Recital begins; award ceremony at the end of the recital
5:30 p.m.: Recital ends

For both the rehearsal and the recital, please arrive at the designated place by the specified check-in time. As a rule, the time of day at which you perform cannot be requested or changed.
There is no place to change. Please arrive dressed for your performance.
If we cannot confirm your presence by five minutes before the Winners’ Recital begins, you will be treated as late or as having withdrawn. If you are treated as late, the organizer may change your place in the running order.
You may not perform a piece different from the one you registered in advance.
The organizer may change the order of the program depending on how the day runs.
How award certificates and trophies are presented varies by venue (at some venues they are handed to you backstage after the performance; at others they are presented at an award ceremony held immediately after the Winners’ Recital). Please see each venue’s Competition Rules page.
If you do not stay until the end of the performance in which you appear, or of the award ceremony, you will not receive your award certificate or trophy (we are also unable to ship them after the recital).
Depending on how the Winners’ Recital runs, the award ceremony, or the finale in which performers are asked to line up on stage, may be changed or cancelled.

Other

Travel, Accommodation, and Practice Rooms

The travel agency H.I.S. supports participants traveling from Japan so that they can take part in the competition with peace of mind.
All travel, transportation, and accommodation costs for attending the Winners’ Recital are borne by the participant. Participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation, accommodation, and practice rooms.
For details, please see the “Travel Information” page.

Disclaimer: Any information obtained or arrangements made through a travel agency have no connection with Special Venue LLC, the organizer, or any individual involved in running the competition. We accept no responsibility for any issues with a travel agency.

Memorization

As a rule, the Solo Category performs from memory.
As a rule, the Duo Category performs from memory, but the accompanist may use the score.
The Chamber Music Category may use scores.
If you use a score at the Winners’ Recital, you must turn the pages yourself.
Music stands can be provided at Tokyo Opera City, Carnegie Hall, the Vienna Musikverein, Harvard University, and the San Francisco Opera House. If you need a music stand at any other venue, please bring your own.

Photography and Recording

Tokyo Opera City: Photography, audio recording, and video recording from the audience are strictly prohibited.
Carnegie Hall: Unauthorized photography, audio recording, and video recording are strictly prohibited. Anyone breaking this rule may be asked to leave by hall staff.
Vienna Musikverein: Family members may take photographs, but video recording is prohibited.
Harvard University, Stanford University, and the San Francisco Opera House: Family members may take photographs, record video, and record audio.
Because the Harvard University venue is a historic building, tripods and attaching anything to the venue’s fixtures are prohibited.
When taking photographs or video, please take care not to disrupt the recital. Depending on how crowded it is, the organizer may ask you to stop photographing or recording in the lobby and other areas. Please note that there is very little time for photographs in the lobby.
Photography rules may change with each venue’s policy. For the current rules, please see each venue’s Competition Rules page.

Photo and Video Services

Whether photo and video services are offered varies by venue. Please see each venue’s Competition Rules page.

When Photos and Videos Are Ready (venues with photo and video services only)

Photos: Published on the Winners’ Page approximately two to three weeks after the Winners’ Recital.
Videos: Published on the Winners’ Page approximately five to six weeks after the Winners’ Recital.

We are unable to accept requests for earlier delivery. Thank you for your patience.

Use of Photos and Videos (venues with photo and video services only)

Copyright in the photographs, audio recordings, and video taken by the organizer or by a photographer or videographer arranged by the organizer (“Event Media”) belongs to Special Venue LLC, the organizer.
Performers may freely use their own Event Media for personal, non-commercial purposes, such as sharing it with family and teachers and posting it on their own social media. Commercial use, broadcast, and sale or provision to third parties are not permitted.
The organizer may use participants’ names, photographs, video, and performances for running and promoting the competition (including the official website, archival display, and short social-media clips), in any media now known or later developed. For participants under 18, a parent or guardian gives this consent.

Letters of Recommendation for School Applications

If you need a letter of recommendation for a school, college, or conservatory application, we can issue one. Please email us with the details of what is required.

Lost Items

Items left behind are held by the venue. Please contact the venue where you performed directly. Special Venue LLC accepts no responsibility for loss or damage.

Results on the Website and Digital Certificates

Every entrant receives one digital certificate according to their result: an award certificate for prize winners, an Honorable Mention certificate, or a certificate of participation.
Performers at the Winners’ Recital and purchasers of the Winner’s Package are listed on the “Results” page of the official website after the Winners’ Recital registration deadline (listed for three years). The listing includes a photograph, name, nationality (not shown if you prefer), and age (not shown for adults aged 21 and over).
All names on the website are shown in English (in the Latin alphabet). If your browser’s automatic translation displays a name in another script, that is not how we publish it.
Printed award certificates are handed to you on the day of the Winners’ Recital. For purchasers of the Winner’s Package, the certificate and trophy are shipped.

Publication of Results

We may provide results to newspapers, television, and other media.
Participants’ names are printed in the program on the day.
We may send participants and teachers information about future competitions and other announcements.
Winners may be asked to help promote Special Venue LLC’s programs, with portrait photographs, performance photographs, and performance videos featured in our promotional materials.

Discontinuation of the World Ranking

The World Ranking is discontinued from the 2027 Tokyo competition. The 2026 World Ranking will remain on the website during 2027 and will be removed from 2028.

Cancellations and Refunds

We do not accept cancellations for reasons attributable to the participant, and fees paid are not refunded. The video audition fee is applied to carrying out the judging, and the Winners’ Recital participation fee to the venue, the running of the event, and the commemorative items; in both cases these costs are fixed at the time of application.

If all or part of the Winners’ Recital is cancelled or changed at the organizer’s discretion, the organizer’s response is as set out in “Cancellation or Change of the Event” on the Competition Rules page and in the Terms and Conditions.

Fee Revisions

Rental fees at each hall and the labor costs set by the halls’ unions rise by about 10% every year. Tariffs and inflation also affect the running of the competition each year.
For this reason, the competition’s participation fees and service fees are reviewed and revised every year.
Fees, and how they are set (by age, category, performance time, and so on), vary by venue. For current fees, please see each venue’s Competition Rules page.

The competition is supported by the organizer’s personal funding, which covers hall rental fees, staff costs, and a range of service-related expenses.
Through this dedicated effort, the competition is sustained, with the aim of supporting the future of children and young musicians and offering valuable opportunities to perform at each hall.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

This FAQ is updated from time to time. Please check for the latest information.

Disclaimers

In the following, Special Venue LLC, the organizer, is referred to as “the Organizer”; the Special Venue Music Awards International Competition as “the Competition”; and the Winners’ Recital as “the Recital.” “The Organizer” includes Special Venue LLC and each of the operators of the Competition.

On completing an application to the Competition, the participant is deemed to have agreed to all competition rules and terms published on the official website, including the English versions, as well as to the disclaimers and the handling of personal information.
The Organizer is not responsible for any trouble arising between participants, or between a participant and a third party, in the course of participating in the Competition or the Recital. If a participant’s conduct causes damage to the Organizer or to a third party (the venue operator, an audience member, and so on), the participant who caused the damage shall resolve it at their own expense and responsibility.
The Organizer is not responsible for theft or loss at the venue, trouble relating to sales, or accidents within the venue, including the parking lot. These are to be resolved by the parties concerned.
At the Recital, a photography company may take and sell photographs and video. The Organizer is not responsible for any trouble between a participant and the photography company.
The Organizer may photograph the venue for its records. With the Organizer’s permission, news media may also photograph the venue for coverage.
The Organizer is not responsible for postal or delivery accidents (delay or non-delivery) affecting mail relating to the Competition or the Recital, or mail addressed to the Organizer.
The scheduled venue, date, and times may change due to operational or other unavoidable circumstances. Any change will be announced on the official website or the Winners’ Page.
The method and timing of the announcement of results may change without notice, depending on the number of entrants and the progress of the judging.
All or part of the Recital and related events may be cancelled, postponed, or changed due to an epidemic, a natural disaster such as a typhoon or earthquake, fire, circumstances on the part of the venue, orders or advisories of governments or public authorities, travel restrictions, suspension of transport services, or any other cause beyond the Organizer’s reasonable control. The decision whether to proceed may be made on the day itself. In such a case, the Organizer is not responsible for any resulting damage. Postponement, a substitute event, a change of venue, a full or partial refund of participation fees, and any other response are decided at the Organizer’s discretion according to the circumstances. Costs incurred for participation, such as travel and accommodation, are not compensated under any circumstances. Please prepare for this yourself, for example with travel insurance.
If the Recital is cancelled for the reasons in the preceding paragraph, items intended to be handed over at the venue (trophies, certificates, and so on) may not be delivered. If an alternative delivery is made, the method and timing are decided at the Organizer’s discretion.
While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information published on the official website, the Organizer is not responsible for actions taken by users on the basis of that information.
Photographic and video data are affected by the venue’s equipment, the work of the photographer or videographer, technical factors, and other conditions; accordingly, the quality, completeness, and delivery of the data are not guaranteed. The Organizer is not responsible for any defect, loss, or other failure of the data arising from any cause whatsoever, including the venue’s equipment and staff and the photographer or videographer arranged by the Organizer. In the event that the Organizer is held liable for any reason, such liability shall not exceed the amount paid for the service in question, and travel expenses, accommodation expenses, participation fees, and other indirect damages are not compensated. Whether and how any refund or other remedy is provided in the event of a data issue is decided at the Organizer’s discretion.