for Piano & Violin
5th
Singapore
International
music
competition
Deadline: 30 Sept 2026
Singapore International Music Competition (SIMC) is an annual online (International), live (Australia) music competition – for Piano & Violin with LIVE Gala concert & Award ceremony in Singapore, open to all young pianists and violinists below the age of 30 around the world to showcase their artistry and be recognized on an international platform.
SIMC is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of Piano Soloists and Violin Soloists.
Beyond competition, SIMC is committed to fostering long-term musical development. The competition aims to provide meaningful music learning opportunities for all competition winners through scholarship awards to attend overseas music festival, masterclasses, different performance platforms, and other media promotions such as digital recordings and online publicity.
Through receiving support and collaborations with international organizations and renowned music festivals, SIMC is devoted to promoting and supporting rising stars of the current and future generation of local and international musicians!
PRIZES
Winners Gala Concert & Award Ceremony for selected winners in Esplanade – Theatres on they Bay, Recital Studio on 23 December 2026 in Singapore.
In addition, awards and prizes amounting to S$23 000 will be distributed among selected winners in the form of scholarships and concert engagements in 2026/2027*:
- Live concert engagements with chamber orchestras in Europe and Asia
- Music festival Performance & masterclass in Savolinna Music Academy, Finland
- Helsinki Intensive Piano Masterclass “Re-imagining performance”
- Radovljica Spring Academy – Masterclass and festival, Slovenia
- Music Festival Performance & masterclass in Kuhmo Music festival, Finland
- Weimar Piano Masterclass “Transformation of Mastery”, Germany
- Other Masterclasses from SIMC honorary jury panel
Grand Prizes
- Masterclass & Concert at OrkesterEfterskolens Chamber Music Festival, Denmark
- KNS Classical Prize Award – Digital CD distribution and publishing for Absolute prize winners of Artist piano and violin categories
- Concert performance with St George Strings, Belgrade Chamber Orchestra
Top prize winners are given web presence on the homepage of Singapore International Music Competition and official Facebook page. Selected winners’ videos shall also be published on the competition YouTube channel.
Teacher Excellence Awards (for teachers of top prize winners)
*Prizes and scholarships are not convertible or transferable, and competition committee reserves the final rights for distribution and allocation of prize awards.
International Performing Arts and Cultural Organisation, Singapore
The International Performing Arts and Cultural Organisation (IPACO) was founded in Singapore to provide artistic support for performing arts while creating a global artistic network for meaningful cross cultural exchanges. Through organising arts-related events with other international music partners around the world, it aims to inspire a creative learning environment for performing arts to thrive and be nurtured. The goal is to expand positively life-changing experiences for all through music making and music performances.
As a performing arts organisation, we believe that both rigour and creativity forms the core of performance and that a well learned musical journey shall also consist of a life-time of personal discovery, continuous learning, meticulous understanding and re-understanding of musical knowledge, experience and appreciation.
Executive Director
Chen QU
Finnish-Chinese classical pianist and music educator. Currently serving as the Executive Director of the Singapore International Music Competition, Artistic Director of the World Piano Teachers Association (WPTA) Finland, and contributing to the boards of the International Artist Association Finland and the International Performing Arts and Cultural Organisation Singapore, Chen is a multifaceted leader in the musical arts and education field. Read more
For collaboration 
chen.qu@simcsg.com
IPACO Council & Advisory Board Members
Jeremy Wing Kwan Wong - Singapore / Finland
Artistic Director
Doctoral researcher at Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki. Associate faculty at School of Music, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore. The president of World Piano Teachers Association, Finland.
Karl-Heinz Simon - Germany
Professor of Piano and dean of the piano department at the Carl Maria von Weber University of Music in Dresden, Germany.
Lena Ching - Singapore
Deputy Associate Dean, School of Music for Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, University of the Arts of Singapore.
Jarmo Eerikäinen - Finland
Former Piano lecturer & Head of Piano department in Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki.
Honorary Jury Panel
Benjamin Frith
UK
Carles Lama
Spain
Dr. Joseph Rackers
USA
Chen Qu
Finland / China
Cristina Marton-Argerich
Germany
Dr. Inesa Sinkevych
USA
Dr. Nicholas Ong
Singapore
Elena Nesterenko
Germany
Nigel Clayton
UK
Dr. Helena Aung
Thailand / Canada
Lena Ching
Singapore
Dr. Svetlana Belsky
USA
Dr. Kirsten Yon
USA
Dr. Linda Hedlund
Finland
Gina McCormack
UK
Mark Messenger
UK
Matthias Oestringer
Germany / Singapore
Natan Dondalski
Poland
Gabriel Lee
Singapore
Leung Kin-fung
Hong Kong, China
Dr. Mina Mendelson
Serbia