The 24th CS Music International Music Competition 2027 (the “CS Music Competition”) has been officially announced and is now open for entries. Hosted by the National Classical Music Performing Arts Associates (NCMPAA) and *Classical Singer* magazine, and organized by the CS Music Competition Organizing Committee. The event will take place April 1–4, 2027 at Dehong Beijing International Chinese School. Registration is open to secondary school, university, and conservatory music students as well as young professional artists aged 12 to 36, both from China and abroad. The competition features three core disciplines — Classical Bel Canto & Opera, Musical Theatre, and Pop Voice — and stands out in China as a rare, high-caliber international music competition that combines officially recognized authority, international music education and academic advancement, and career-resource networking.
2027 the 24th CS Music International Music Competition is officially underway.
Alex Stoddard, Chair of the Competition Jury, extends his best wishes for the success of the competition.
CS MUSIC | A Decade-Plus of International Expertise — Building China’s Most Authoritative Music Competition Brand
Refined over 23 editions, the CS Music International Music Competition has operated in China since its official launch in 2015, partnering successively with the country’s leading music institutions and professional venues — including the Central Conservatory of Music, the Middle School Affiliated to the China Conservatory of Music, the School of Arts of East China Normal University, the Middle School Affiliated to Xinghai Conservatory of Music, the School of Music of Hangzhou Normal University, and the Henan Art Center. With internationally benchmarked judging standards and a diversified talent-development system, it has become one of the most highly regarded international competitions among Chinese music students. To date, the competition has collaborated with more than 100 overseas institutions, invited over 120 full-time professors from renowned international schools to serve in China as adjudicators and guest teachers, served more than 2,800 professional musicians, issued 640 official admission letters from overseas institutions on site, and delivered over 150 international masterclasses — continuously advancing the internationalization of Chinese musical talent. Unlike ordinary commercial music competitions, the CS Music Competition carries the official endorsement of leading overseas institutions and enjoys sustained recognition and support from more than 300 renowned music schools across the United States and worldwide. Every edition features full-time professors from prestigious international institutions serving as adjudicators in China, with all evaluation conducted in strict alignment with the standards of top-tier international competitions and the admissions systems of overseas music schools. It remains one of the few professional competitions in China that is genuinely internationally recognized and endorsed by leading schools, delivering dual empowerment for academic advancement and career development — placing it at the forefront of the industry in both rarity and substance.
CS MUSIC | Four Core, Uniquely Scarce Advantages — Breaking Beyond Single-Dimension Competition
The 24th edition in 2027 represents a comprehensive upgrade. Building on its established high-standard, international level of organization, the competition now integrates the full pathway of “competition performance, admission to leading schools, in-person instruction from master teachers, and career incubation.” Transcending the limits of traditional competitions that merely test artistry, it provides contestants with a premier channel to the world’s leading music schools and professional stages.
1. Judging Panels Formed by Professors from Leading Overseas Schools, with Assessment Standards Aligned to International Norms
This edition brings together 15 renowned overseas music institutions, each officially dispatching senior full-time professors to form a dedicated adjudication panel. Every judge brings front-line teaching experience, admissions-review expertise, and industry credentials. The judging system strictly follows international competition protocols and corresponds fully to the audition standards of overseas music schools, balancing professionalism, fairness, and authority to provide contestants with evaluations that most closely align with international benchmarks.
2. On-the-Spot Admission Offers and Scholarships from Leading Schools — A Direct, Zero-Barrier Pathway to Higher Education
As the world’s only international music competition authorized to conduct on-site admissions, the competition allows all contestants — regardless of whether they advance to the finals — the opportunity to receive, on the spot, professional admission offers from renowned overseas music schools, official letters of strong recommendation, and dedicated scholarships, without navigating complex traditional application procedures. This substantially lowers the threshold for studying music abroad and provides students with an efficient, authoritative fast track to international education.
Official Professional Admission Offers
3. Official Written Evaluations in English — Pinpointing Each Singer’s Artistic Profile
Every contestant receives a professional evaluation written personally by professors from renowned overseas institutions, entirely in English — a document of the highest authority. The feedback offers precise, multi-dimensional analysis covering vocal technique, artistry, repertoire interpretation, and individual potential, clearly charting the direction for each singer’s professional development.
Written evaluations personally penned by overseas professors
4. Masterclasses at Leading Schools + Career Casting — Dual Empowerment, Unlocking Diverse Opportunities
Dozens of public masterclasses led by international faculty will run throughout the competition, allowing students — without leaving China — to learn face to face from renowned overseas professors and observe their teaching, connecting directly with cutting-edge concepts in international music education. In parallel, the competition welcomes overseas music program directors, professional production directors, and top-tier talent agents to scout on site. Outstanding contestants may receive direct offers for opera and musical-theatre engagements as well as professional internships — a seamless bridge from campus competition to professional stage.
CS MUSIC | Exclusive Pre-Competition Programs Now Open — Comprehensive Support for Peak Performance
To help contestants select repertoire strategically, polish their programs, and adapt to the rhythm of international competition in pursuit of their best results, registration for the competition’s two exclusive pre-competition programs is now open.
Berklee Contemporary Voice Masterclass
Taught in person by Lydia Harrell, a full-time faculty member at Berklee College of Music, one of America’s foremost music institutions, this masterclass focuses on strategic repertoire selection while optimizing vocal technique, stage presence, and interpretive artistry — targeting each contestant’s key challenges and elevating their competitive readiness across the board.
International Music Competition Pre-Competition Winter Intensive
Built on a group-based, specialized training model, the intensive delivers systematic curricula tailored to the three disciplines — Vocal Performance, Musical Theatre, and Contemporary Voice. Core components include one-on-one program coaching, live guidance from professors of leading institutions, and full-scale mock-competition rehearsals, fully immersing participants in international competition standards so they arrive at the competition in peak form. CS MUSIC | Registration Guidelines The registration deadline for this edition is January 21, 2027, and all contestants must complete registration through the official channels designated by the Organizing Committee. Unified Assessment Requirements: All adjudication is conducted by overseas judges according to institutional admissions standards. Vocal Performance and Musical Theatre repertoire must be performed in the original language and original key, from memory (music and lyrics). For Contemporary Voice, transposition is permitted as reasonably suited to each contestant’s vocal range and voice type. Vocal Performance and Musical Theatre categories use live piano accompaniment throughout; the Contemporary Voice category may use either live piano accompaniment or officially approved backing tracks.
How to Register
Scan the QR code to go directly to the registration page.
Contact the Organizing Committee
WeChat: Ms. Liu Telephone Registration Inquiries: Ms. Liu — 130 7111 8128 Partnership Inquiries: Mr. Li — 136 8105 3579
