Video Audition Application Rules - 2026 Stanford University

SOLO:  $220 USD *

DUO:    $320 USD per group  *

CHAMBER MUSIC or CHOIR:  $420 USD per group * 

*A 5% processing fee will be applied to all submissions.

Important 

Please note that two separate payments are required to perform at the Winners’ Recital:

1. Video Audition Fee (for the video audition only)
2. Winners’ Recital Participation Fee (only if selected as a winner) 

All payments are non-refundable under any circumstances.

Application Starts: January 1, 2026      

Application Deadline: April 30, 2026    

 Participants must submit:

1. Completed online Application Form with YouTube URL of the video recordings
2. Application Fee

Open to all nationalities, ages, and instruments, including:
piano, strings, winds, brass, classical guitar, harp, voice, traditional instruments, choir groups (up to 25 musicians), piano four-hands, chamber music, and more — including professional musicians.

Please note: We are unable to accommodate instruments that require delivery or shipping.

Applicants must submit ONE video recording with the following time limit:

SOLO

8 years old and under: 3 minutes

9 to 12 years old: 4 minutes

13 to 15 years old: 5 minutes

16 to 18 years old: 6 minutes

19 years old and older (no age limit): 7 minutes  

DUO and CHAMBER MUSIC

12 years old and under: 4 minutes

13 - 18 years old: 5 minutes

19 years old and older (no age limit): 7 minutes  

CHOIR (up to 25 musicians)

5 minutes

Applicants may present works from the classical repertoire, including the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, or Contemporary periods.

• Any interpretation of the classical repertoire is acceptable.
• Shortened versions of pieces are permitted to meet the time limit.
• Original compositions by the applicant are allowed.
• For traditional instruments, repertoire from the applicant’s cultural heritage is welcome.
• For vocal applicants, musical theater repertoire is accepted.

Participants must upload a video recording of their performance to YouTube and include the URL in the Application Form.

Upload Settings:

• Video Title: Full Name, Age, Repertoire Title, Composer
• Visibility: Set to Unlisted 

- Videos recorded within the past year are accepted.
- The repertoire for the Winners’ Recital may be changed later with an additional processing fee.

- Recordings should fairly represent the performer’s abilities, but professional production quality is not required.

- Memorization is not required for the audition, but performances at the Winners’ Recital are generally expected to be memorized.

- You may submit a video that exceeds the time limit. However, for the Winners' Recital, your performance must be shortened to fit within the allotted time. The length of your video will not affect the evaluation.

- Videos without piano  accompaniment may also be submitted for the video audition. This will  not affect the evaluation.

•  A panel of judges evaluates and punctuates the video materials submitted, and the final  selections of winners is based solely on the same recordings submitted.  
• Multiple winners will be chosen in each age category. 
• The judges' decision is final and cannot be appealed. The comments and punctuation of the jury will not be provided. 

By May 15, the winners and each participant will be notified about the Competition results via email. All winners and participants will receive digital certificates.  　

From 90 to 100 points: 1st prize (100/100: Absolute First Prize)

From 80 to 89 points: 2nd prize

From 70 to 79 points: 3rd prize

All prize winners (First, Second, and Third Prize Winners) may perform at the Winners’ Recital if they submit a Winners' Recital application.

Please note: We do not disclose the exact score earned by each participant.

Teachers whose students become winners will be recommended to apply for the Excellent Teacher Award (application fee: $65 plus 5% fee).

The Excellent Teacher Award Application fee includes:

• Certificate of Excellent Teacher Awards (digital and printed)
• Promotion of your name and music school on our competition website
• Listing of your name on the “Excellent Teacher Awards” page under "Result"of our website
• Points will be added to the ‘World Ranking’ (only the top 100 will be listed online).
• Shipping cost for the printed certificate (domestic or international)
   

The results will be sent directly to your students, so please check with them for the outcome and for detailed information included in the email.

Important 

Please note that two separate payments are required to perform at the Winners’ Recital:

1. Video Audition Fee (for the video audition only)
2. Winners’ Recital Participation Fee (only if selected as a winner) 

All payments are non-refundable under any circumstances.

Venue: Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University
Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2026
Time: To be confirmed based on the number of winners

Payment Due: May 20, 2026

SOLO

• $510 Performance Fee
• and $310 Photography Fee (mandatory)
   

DUO

• $425 Performance Fee per musician
• and $310 Photography Fee per group (mandatory)

CHAMBER MUSIC / CHOIR

• $360 Performance Fee per musician
• and $310 Photography Fee per group (mandatory)

＊Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more musicians. Please reach out to us for more information.
 

＊A 5% processing fee will be applied to all submissions.
All payments are non-refundable under any circumstances.

1. Performance of one piece at the Winners Recital
2. Certificate of Achievement (digital and printed) 
3. Trophy
4. Free admissions up to 3 audiences
5. Featured in the “Results” section of the website (with name and photo) for 3 years
6. Points will be added to the ‘World Ranking’ (only the top 100 will be listed online)
7. Professional Photography (digital)

  (8. Professional Videography (digital – The videography service has not yet been approved by Stanford University and may not be available.)

All information regarding the Winners’ Recital will be provided through the Exclusive Winners’ Page.
A link to this page is available on the Winners' Recital Enrollment Form confirmation page once you submit and paid it.

Please note that the Exclusive Winners’ Page cannot be accessed directly from the official website. Be sure to bookmark the page so you can access it at any time.

In addition, by May 25, we will send an invitation email to the Exclusive Winners’ Page. As this will be sent as a group email, please add admin@specialvenue.org to your contacts to ensure it is not filtered as spam or blocked.

1. The piece performed at the Winners Recital must be the same as the one submitted for the video audition.
2. The performance time is the same as the age-based time limit for the video audition.
   The timing begins when you step onto the stage and ends when you leave it, including instrument setup, tuning, placement of footstools and pedals, and chair adjustments. If the time limit is exceeded, the performance may be stopped, and points will be deducted from the world ranking score. Please be sure to exit the stage within the allotted time.
3. We appreciate your understanding, as this policy is intended to give as many participants as possible the opportunity to perform.

If you wish to change your piece, please submit the Repertoire Change Request Form and pay the $65 plus 5% fee by  May 31, 2026. (Changes made after this deadline will incur a fee of $105 plus 5% fee.)
Note: The time limit must still be observed. No re-submission of the video is required.

SOLO

8 years old and under: 3 minutes

9 to 12 years old: 4 minutes

13 to 15 years old: 5 minutes

16 to 18 years old: 6 minutes

19 years old and older (no age limit): 7 minutes  

DUO and CHAMBER MUSIC

12 years old and under: 4 minutes

13 - 18 years old: 5 minutes

19 years old and older (no age limit): 7 minutes  

CHOIR

5 minutes

• The total time includes entering and exiting the stage, setting up instruments, tuning, adjusting benches, pedals, etc.
• If you exceed the time limit, the performance may be cut short, and world ranking points may be deducted. Please be sure to exit the stage within your designated time.
• We appreciate your cooperation in giving as many performers as possible the chance to appear on stage.

Requests to extend the performance time may be accepted only if the schedule allows, with an additional fee of $150 per minute.
The availability of extensions will not be notified on the Exclusive Winners’ Page by May 25, 2026.
(Please note that, due to scheduling constraints, extensions are often not approved in most years.)

• Only piano accompaniment is permitted.
• If using other instruments, please apply under the Duo category.
• If the pianist would like to be listed in the results or program and be eligible for awards, apply as a Duo.
• If you need a pianist, we can recommend one. However, if your request is made too late, we may not be able to arrange a pianist, or an additional fee may apply.
• All arrangements for rehearsals and payments with the accompanist must be made directly between the performer and the accompanist. (Typical fee for pianists: approximately $150–$200, depending on the pianist.)

If you cannot attend the recital, you may purchase a Winners’ Package for $260 plus 5% fee.
Includes:

• Certificate of Achievement (digital and printed)
• Trophy
• Listing in the “Results” section of the website (name and photo) for 3 years
• Points will be added to the ‘World Ranking’ (only the top 100 will be listed online).
• International/Domestic Shipping of the certificate and trophy.

• Participant Responsibility: All expenses—including Winners’ Recital participation fee, photography/videography fees, processing fees, additional charges, travel, lodging, and rehearsal space—must be covered and arranged by the participant.
• Processing Fee: A 5% processing fee applies to all payments.
• Non-Refundable: The Video Audition fee, Winners’ Recital participation fee, photography/videography fees, and any other payments are non-refundable under any circumstances.

For more details, please see the FAQ page.

 In the following, the organizer Special Venue LLC will be referred to as "Special Venue", the Special Venue Music Awards International Competition as "the Competition", and the Special Venue Winners Recital as "the recital". "Special Venue" includes the organizer Special Venue LLC and each operator of the competition.

1. By completing the application process for this competition, participants are deemed to have agreed to all of the participation requirements and terms of participation, including those in English on this website, as well as the disclaimer and handling of personal information.
2. Special Venue will not be held responsible for any problems that arise between participants or between participants and third parties during the course of participating in the competition or the recital. If a participant's actions cause damage to Special Venue or a third party (venue operator, visitors, etc.), the participant who caused the damage will be responsible for resolving the matter at his/her own expense.
3. Special Venue will not be held responsible for any theft or loss that occurs at the recital venue, sales issues, accidents within the venue including the parking lot, etc. These issues must be resolved by the individual involved or between the parties involved.
4. At the recital, a photography company may take and sell photos and videos. Special Venue is not responsible for any issues between participants and photography companies.
5. Special Venue may take photographs of the recital venue for record purposes. In addition, with the permission of Special Venue, mass media may take photographs of the venue for reporting purposes.
6. Special Venue will not be held responsible for any postal or delivery accidents (delay or non-delivery) of mail related to the competition or the recital, or mail sent to Special Venue.
7. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the scheduled venue and date may be subject to change.
8. The method and timing of announcement of the results of this competition may change without notice depending on the number of participants and the status of the judging.
9. In the event of a natural disaster such as a typhoon or earthquake, the organizers will decide whether or not the recital can be held, and may reschedule the event, change the venue, or refund a portion of the participation fee. The decision to cancel the event may be made on the day of the event, but Special Venue will not be held responsible for any expenses incurred for participation, such as travel and accommodation costs, other than the portion of the participation fee.
10. If a natural disaster such as a typhoon or earthquake occurs and the recital is canceled, we may not be able to deliver the items scheduled to be handed over at the concert (trophies, certificates, etc.).
11. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information on Special Venue's website, Special Venue assumes no responsibility for any actions taken by users based on the information on this website.