6th Ise-Shima International Composition Competition

6th Ise-Shima International Composition Competition　

Aim

Our mission is to promote composers’ activities and to give a chance for them through our competition. This competition is for classical and modern classical music. As for popular music composition, please try our “International Popular Music Composition Competition”: https://en.iseshimaart.com/music-competitions

ELIGIBILITY

•    Our competition is open to all nationalities.

•    No age limit.

•    Composers who have a close personal relationship with any member of our organization may apply only if they indicate this by answering the relevant question on the application form. Our members: https://www.iseshimaart.com/about-us

APPLICATION PROCESS

• Competitor Online Application – AVAILABLE September 28, 2025
• DEADLINE: August 1, 2026 (23:59 GMT: https://greenwichmeantime.com/current-time/)
• Full score (pdf format) and/or recording composed solely by an applicant must be submitted via application form (https://en.iseshimaart.com/international-composition-competiti).
• The recording is not mandatory and may be computer generated.

• Application Fee – A non-refundable payment of 5,000 Yen (approximately 35 to 40 US Dollars) can be paid via following page after fulfilling the form (credit card or PayPal):

  https://en.iseshimaart.com/international-composition-competiti

• The score has to be sent from the form.
• All important messages will be sent by info at iseshimaart.com. Confirm the e-mail setting to receive the messages from this e-mail address.
• Depending on a situation, we may ask winners to send us a copy of ID.
• Full name of applicants must be written correctly on the application form because the name will be used on a certificate.

General rule

• Instrumentation and duration are free, from a solo piece, choir, concerto to orchestra.　
• An electro acoustic work is acceptable.
• Full score must be uploaded from the application form: https://en.iseshimaart.com/international-composition-competiti
• The score may be an explanation document of the work, instead of traditional notation.
• The submitted work may be already performed or awarded.
• Composers may submit more than one work but must complete a separate entry form and fee for each work.
• Composers may apply by submitting the URL of their audio recording, uploaded to any online storage, video, or audio sharing platform, provided that the privacy settings allow the juries to access and listen to the file until the competition results are announced.
• An incomplete application may be disqualified.
• Under no circumstances can alterations be made to works once submitted.
• To promote the winners, the awarded works will be published on our website if the audio file’s privacy setting is public. In addition, if the winning composers provide their SNS information in the application form, we will also publish it for promotional purposes.
• Due to postal restrictions in certain locations, we are unable to send physical certificates to those areas. In such cases, we will provide a PDF version of the certificate via email instead.

Prizes

•    Grand Prix – 100,000 Yen with a certificate

•    Up to 35 special prizes winners with certificates

The printed certificate will be dispatched within a month after publishing the result.

Competition Rules and Regulations

•    The judging panels’ decisions are final.

•    Application of the Competition constitutes acceptance by the contestant of all published rules, regulations and procedures.

•    Ise-Shima Art Company reserves the right, in conjunction with the Competition judge, not to award the prizes, to change the regulation, or to change or split the prize money if, in the opinion by the judge, such action is justified for any reason.

•    The result will be notified by email on 31st August 2026 and will be published on our website.

•    Contact email: info[at]iseshimaart.com

Head of the Jury 

Dr. Sumio Kobayashi

He has received formal musical training, excelling with piano and solfège, since 1985. He won at I.C.O.M.S. 29°Concorso Internazionale di Composizione, Gyeongsangnam-do Special Prize at Isang Yun Prize, was second place at the Toru Takemitsu Composition Award in 2013, was a finalist at Pablo Casals International Composition Competition in 2015 and won the International Composers' Competition of the European Capital of Culture Wrocław 2016. He has made appearances at festivals such as Takefu International Music Festival, Tongyeong International Music Festival, and Weimarer Frühjahrstage für zeitgenössische Musik. Currently, Kobayashi is an associate professor at Nihon University in Tokyo. He received a doctor’s degree (linguistics) from the University of Kent in the United Kingdom.