UK International Music Competition (Season deadline)

An entirely online competition — you submit a video or audio link rather than travel anywhere — run in four seasons a year. It is open worldwide to instrumentalists, singers, composers, conductors, choirs, ensembles and orchestras at every level, from a category for age seven and under to a Professional class with no age limit. Existing footage is accepted, so nothing has to be recorded specially.

Twenty-seven categories cover age bands, historical periods (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Modern) and formats: own composition, concerto, sonata, etude, jazz and improvisation, film and game music, musical theatre, national music, arrangements and transcriptions, music video, innovative writing about music, and full CD albums. Composers may submit audio or MIDI and their work can be performed by other people. Performers need their hands and face visible on camera.

It is pay-to-enter and there is no cash prize. One category costs £65, two £120, three £170, four £220. Everyone who enters gets an e-certificate. Scoring is out of 100: 97 and above is a Grand Prize, 91–96 Absolute First, 85–90 First, 80–84 Second, and below 80 is participation only. Each tier can hold more than one winner. The rewards are digital — personalised posters, features on the competition and organiser websites and social channels, and an excellent-teacher diploma for the teachers of top winners. Physical medals, paper certificates and award CDs are ordered separately at extra cost after results.

Judges weigh technique, rhythm, maturity and musical character on one side, and musicianship, expressiveness, presentation and creativity on the other, applied to whichever are relevant to your discipline.