Musical Passport

Expression Music “Musical Passport 2026” Competition Rules & Regulations

Eligibility

1. The competition is open to participants of all nationalities.
2. There is no minimum or maximum age limit for the Solo Performance categories.

Application & Fees

1. All fees are non-refundable and must be paid in full upon submission of the application.
2. No refunds will be issued for withdrawals after submission of the application. Transfer of fees to another competition or category is not permitted.
3. Participants are responsible for ensuring their availability on the published competition dates.
4. Applications will only be considered complete upon receipt of all required documents, accurate information, and full payment.
5. Non-payment of registration fees will result in the application being deemed void, invalid, or automatically cancelled.

Judging

1. The decision of the Judge(s) is final and not subject to appeal or discussion.
2. Contacting any Judge before or during the competition is strictly prohibited and may result in disqualification.

Category & Repertoire

1. The grade category for Solo Performance is determined by the repertoire selected.
2. Solo entries submitted to the incorrect grade category will be asked to revise their entry.
3. Entries submitted under an incorrect grade category may be required to revise their application.
4. Participants are only permitted to compete in ONE grade category.
5. Available categories
   1. Piano (Baroque / Classical / Romantic / Impressionistic / Modern)
   2. Strings (Baroque / Classical / Romantic / Impressionistic / Modern)
   3. Voice (Broadway / Opera / Pop)
   4. Drums
6. No change of repertoire is permitted once the application has been submitted, unless specifically requested by Expression Music due to an incorrect grade category.
7. Repertoire for all Solo categories must be selected from the current and/or past syllabi of MTB, ABRSM, or Trinity College London.
8. Music scores outside the listed syllabi are subject to approval by Expression Music.
9. All genres and arrangements are accepted in the Duet Categories.
10. In the Solo String Categories, both unaccompanied and accompanied works are accepted. However, any accompanied work performed without the accompaniment part will be disqualified regardless of performance quality.
11. All String participants performing accompanied works must perform with a live piano accompanist.
12. For the Voice Pop category, participant age will be determined by year of birth. Example: 2026 – 2020 = 6 years old.
13. Only ONE piece is permitted per entry for the Solo Initial–Diploma Categories.
14. Participants may apply for up to FOUR categories.
15. All performances must be performed from memory. Sheet music is strictly prohibited.

Terms & Conditions

1. The Judge(s) reserve the right to:
   1. Listen to only part of the program presented if sufficient material has been heard for adjudication purposes.
   2. Withhold awards if the required standard is not achieved.
   3. Award joint prizes or determine a sole winner in the event of a tie.
   4. Refrain from providing written comments or adjudication sheets.
2. Price Categories:
   1. Platinum Prize: 93 points and above
   2. Gold Prize: 85 points and above
   3. Silver Prize: 70 points and above
   4. Bronze Prize: 60 points and above
   5. Future Star: At the discretion of the Judge(s)
3. If a participant is currently studying, or has studied within the previous 12 months, with any Judge (excluding masterclasses), that Judge’s marks for the participant will not be counted. The participant’s final result will be determined by averaging the marks of the remaining Judge(s).
4. Expression Music reserves the right to combine, divide, or cancel categories depending on the number of entries received.
5. Expression Music reserves the right to limit the number of prizes awarded and to amend the type or value of awards without prior notice.
6. The competition is open to the public.

Liability & Media Rights

1. Expression Music shall not be held liable for any illness, injury, loss, theft, or damage to personal property occurring during travel to or participation in the competition.
2. Expression Music reserves the unrestricted right to photograph, film, record, livestream, broadcast, and publish any part of the participant’s involvement in the competition, including rehearsals and performances.
3. By entering the competition, participants waive any rights to compensation, royalties, or financial claims arising from the use or distribution of such recordings or materials.

General Regulations

1. All rules and regulations must be strictly adhered to.
2. Any requested supplementary documents must be submitted by the stated deadlines.
3. By submitting the Application Form, participants acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agreed to comply with all Rules & Regulations and Terms & Conditions of the Expression Music “Musical Passport 2026” Competition.

Disclaimer

All information contained in this document is accurate at the time of publication. However, Expression Music reserves the right to make amendments, revisions, or changes if circumstances require.

Fees for Categories

Maximum Duration

Registration