Rules

Solo Category & Ensemble

• Divisions 1 to 7 are for solo instruments (3 elementary, 2 junior, 1 senior, 1 amateur adult)
• Divisions 8 & 9 are for collaborative piano (piano duet, chamber music with piano)

Concerto Category

• Division 10 is for the concerto category – piano, strings, woodwind, and brass.

Specific information about each division is below.

ELEMENTARY (I, II, III)

• Division 1 – Ages 6 and under
• Division 2 – Ages 7 to 8
• Division 3 – Ages 9 to 10

JUNIOR (I, II)

• Division 4 – Ages 11 to 12
• Division 5 – Ages 13 to 15

SENIOR

• Division 6 – Ages 16 to 18

amateur adult

• Division 7 – Ages 19 and higher (music majors and professional musicians are ineligible)

collaborative piano categories

• Division 8 – Piano Duet – All ages welcome.
• Division 9 – Piano with Chamber Music Ensemble – All ages welcome.
• Division 10 – Concerto Category – Ages 18 and under

division requirements

DIVISION	REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS	TIME LIMIT(total performance)	Memorization required?
1 Elementary I (Ages 6 and under)	Perform at least one piece.	5 minutes	No
2 Elementary II (Ages 7 to 8)	Perform two contrasting pieces.	6 minutes	All pieces must be memorized.
3 Elementary III (Ages 9 to 10)	Perform two contrasting pieces.	7 minutes	All pieces must be memorized.
4 Junior I (Ages 11 to 12)	Perform two contrasting pieces.	8 minutes	All pieces must be memorized.
5 Junior II (Ages 13 to 15)	Perform two contrasting pieces.	9 minutes	All pieces must be memorized.
6 Senior (Ages 16 to 18)	Perform two contrasting pieces.	10 minutes	All pieces must be memorized.
7 Amateur Adult (Ages 19 and higher) Note: Students pursuing a degree in music at a college/university are ineligible to compete	Perform two contrasting pieces.	10 minutes	All pieces must be memorized.
8 Piano Duet (Any age welcome)	Perform a minimum of one piece.	7 minutes	No
9 Piano with Chamber Music Ensemble (Any age welcome)	Perform a minimum of one piece.	7 minutes	No
10 Concerto (Ages 18 and under)  Note: winners must be available for performance with Urbana Pops Orchestra	Perform one movement	15 minutes	Must be memorized.

*There is no minimum time limit for any division. While there is a maximum time limit, the judges may stop the contestant during their performance if the time limit is reached.

Additional Rules

• This competition is in both in-person and online format. 
• All pieces are to be performed from memory (except for divisions 1, 8, and 9). Free choice of repertoire for all categories. 
• Participants must bring a copy or original score with measure numbers for the competition judges. Please email all music to chambanamusiccompetition@gmail.com.

For online participants only:

Please see the last page for video submission guidance. Online participants must provide a copy (pdf, scanned, or pictures) of each score with measure numbers for the competition judges. Please email all music to chambanamusiccompetition@gmail.com.

registration deadline

Completed application form with the entry fee must be received by June 10, 2025.  Please submit the application fee with the participant’s name & instrument in the memo area to Tatiana Shustova’s Zelle ID: shustovapiano@gmail.com . 

Late applications will not be considered. 

entry fees

• Divisions 1-7: $70
• Divisions 8: $70 ($35 per participant)
• Division 9: $70 per group
• Division 10: $70
• 45-minute Masterclass: $60 (for competition participants) with one of the judges, online or in person (optional)
• 45-minute Masterclass: $70 (for non-participants) with one of the judges, online or in person (optional)

Note: you can request an accompanist for $60/hour, with individual agreements depending on the piano part.

prizes

• 1^st Place 
• 2^nd Place 
• 3^rd Place
• 4^th Place
• 5^th Place
• Special Prize for the performance of the works by Maurice Ravel.

Judges reserve the right not to award any prize for any division.

rewards

• Certificate for each winner
• Winners are invited to perform in the Winners Recital / Award Ceremony, which is scheduled on June 22,  2025, at 3:00 PM, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 2101 S Prospect Ave, Champaign, IL 61820 in Champaign, IL. All winners should be present to receive prizes, and all participants are encouraged to attend. If you are unable to attend in person, we will have a Zoom streaming option for you.
• Chance to have a masterclass, in-person or online with one of the Chambana Music Competition team members. The rate is $50 for a 30-minute session and $70 for a 45-minute session. The masterclass is scheduled between 12 pm and 2 pm on June 22, 2025. Additional time options can be provided. For scheduling, email chambanamusiccompetition@gmail.com.

additional information

• The competition will be limited to the first 100 applications received.
• In-person competition at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Champaign, Illinois, on Saturday, June 21, 2025.
• The Judges’ decisions are final, and no negotiation is allowed.
• The Winners’ Recital is open to the public and will be recorded (audio/video). Parents are welcome to take additional photos/videos. Parents/participants will need to sign a consent (for photography/video) on the application form.

Video Submission Guidelines and Instructions 2025

Video Submission Deadline is June 10, 2025, at 11:59 PM Central Time

• Videos need to be submitted as a YouTube link
• Each piece will be recorded as a separate video with the student’s name and title of the piece as an unlisted video. 
• Individual movements of a sonata or larger works should be recorded as separate videos. Preludes and Fugues may be recorded as a single video. 
• Video recording should be made with one fixed camera angle/location, focused such that the performer’s body, including hands, feet, and keyboard, is visible throughout the video. Landscape orientation is preferred as if on stage with judges viewing from the audience. 
• The YouTube Playlist should contain unlisted videos of all repertoires listed on the original application. 
• Videos should not be edited within the performance of a piece or movement. Edited videos may be cause for disqualification. 
• Students and teachers should review videos before submitting them to check sound quality and that all links work.

DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST DAY TO SUBMIT!

questions?

Please send an email to chambanamusiccompetition@gmail.com.

We gladly accept donations of any kind. zelle to shustovapiano@gmail.com