Funding

Self Funded

Program dates

Jul 16, 2027 – Jul 18, 2027

Cultural Exchange•USA · Boston · Hybrid

Boston International Music Competition

Boston International Music Competition Executive Committee

Application Deadline

March 1, 2027

Official Page

The Boston International Music Competition (BIMC) is run by the Boston International Music Competition Executive Committee and produced by WeStar Academy of Music, based in Lexington, Massachusetts. One competition covers four tracks: BIMC Premier for voice, piano, strings and other instruments; BICEC for choruses, ensembles and orchestras; BICC for composers; and BICSC for Chinese-language singing. Every track opens with a recorded video round judged remotely, and selected entrants are invited to on-site finals and a winners’ concert in the Boston area.

Premier, BICC and BICSC run each year, and BICEC is held every two years. Entrants pay a fee per round and compete for cash prizes, plaques and certificates, and gold winners are offered further concert performances.

Benefits & funding

  • BIMC Premier: one Grand Prix of US$2,000, gold awards of US$200 for the non-music-major groups (A, B, C, D1) and US$1,000 for the music-major group (D2).
  • BICC: gold awards of US$200 for age groups A to C and for D1, and US$500 for D2.
  • BICEC: gold awards of US$1,000 for non-music-major groups and US$1,500 for music-major groups.
  • BICSC: gold awards of US$500 for music majors and US$200 for non-professional entrants.
  • Silver and bronze winners receive a plaque and a certificate; honorable mentions receive a certificate.
  • Gold composition works may be invited to perform at a WeStar Four Season Concert or the Winners’ Concert.
  • Entrants pay their own costs. Premier rounds cost US$128 per person for a solo entry and US$120 per person for a duet, trio or quartet; BICC costs US$128 per entry; BICSC preliminaries cost US$98 per person for a solo entry and the finals US$118; BICEC costs US$600 to US$3,000 per round depending on group size.
  • Premier entrants in the D1 and D2 college groups pay no Round 2 fee.
  • The finals and the winners’ concert carry no extra fee for finalists. The optional masterclass and campus-tour package costs US$680.
  • The FAQ page lists US$1,500 for the Premier D2 gold award while the current Premier rules list US$1,000, so entrants should confirm the figure before paying.

Eligibility

  • Open to all nationalities. The Round 1 application form takes city and country as free text and applies no country restriction.
  • BIMC Premier: ages 5 to 35 on the stated cut-off date, in voice, piano, strings or other instruments, as a soloist or in a team of two to four.
  • BICC: composers aged 7 to 35 on the submission deadline, writing for solo or duet, chamber forces of three to five, or large ensemble and orchestra.
  • BICEC: choruses, ensembles and orchestras with at least five members, aged 5 and up.
  • BICSC: singers of Chinese-language repertoire with no age limit, in bel canto, folk or popular style, entering as a soloist, duet, team or choir.
  • Students and graduates of music colleges must enter the music-major division (D2).
  • No degree, residency or gender requirement is stated.

Can you apply?

Here's who can apply

Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.

  • Age requirement

    ≥ 5 yrs

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Application process

  1. 1
    Choose the track and the age and category division that fit the entrant.
  2. 2
    Pay the entry fee for that round on the competition payment page.
  3. 3
    Complete the online application with the payment order number, photo identification, an artistic photo, the score and a YouTube or Bilibili video link.
  4. 4
    Check the announced results date; semi-finalists submit a further video round and finalists register for the on-site rounds.
  5. 5
    Attend the finals and the awards concert in the Boston area if selected.

Program timeline

  1. BICC 2027 applications open

    Sep 1, 2026

  2. BIMC Premier 2027 applications open

    Oct 1, 2026

  3. BICSC 2027 applications open

    Dec 1, 2026

  4. BICC 2027 submission deadline, 11:00pm EST

    Feb 1, 2027

  5. BICC 2027 winners announced

    Feb 21, 2027

  6. BIMC Premier 2027 Round 1 deadline

    Mar 1, 2027

  7. Premier semi-finalists announced

    Mar 22, 2027

  8. Premier Round 2 video deadline

    Apr 11, 2027

  9. BICSC 2027 preliminary deadline

    May 1, 2027

  10. Premier finalists announced

    May 3, 2027

  11. Premier finals registration closes

    Jun 20, 2027

  12. Premier on-site finals, Cary Hall, Lexington MA

    Jul 16, 2027

  13. Premier awards concert, Cary Hall, Lexington MA

    Jul 17, 2027

  14. BICEC 2028 application deadline

    Feb 1, 2028

  15. BICEC 2028 finals, Lexington MA

    Apr 29, 2028

  16. BICEC 2028 awards ceremony, Cambridge MA

    Apr 30, 2028

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