Guide for Applicants
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- The 10th Competition
- Application
- Guide for Applicants
The one for the 10th Competition (held in 2026) will be open in September, 2025.
Guide for Applicants
1 Name
The 9th Mt. Fuji International Opera Competition of Shizuoka2 Aim of the Competition
Commencing in 1996, the 50th year after the death of MIURA Tamaki, the Mt. Fuji International Opera Competition of Shizuoka is held once every three years to commemorate the world-famous prima donna, known for her ties to this prefecture.
The Mt. Fuji International Opera Competition of Shizuoka aims to discover young talented musicians and give a boost to their careers in the field of vocal music. It also hopes to contribute to the world-wide promotion of Shizuoka’s culture through international cultural exchange.
MIURA Tamaki
MIURA Tamaki is regarded as the very first Japanese soprano to achieve world renown. She played the title role in the opera, Madama Butterfly, and the number of her performances around the world reached more than 2,000. Tamaki was praised by the composer, Puccini. Puccini stated his admiration for her, “It was as if I had composed Madama Butterfly solely for Madama MIURA.”Tamaki's parents and husband were Shizuoka natives and she herself had once lived in Shizuoka.
3 Jury (Alphabetical order)
| Chairperson | KIMURA Toshimitsu (Japan) |
|---|---|
| Members | CHOI Sang-Ho (South Korea) David GOWLAND (United Kingdom) HAMADA Rie (Japan) Werner HINK (Austria) IHARA Naoko (Japan) MIURA Yasuhiro (Japan) Françoise POLLET (France) Lenore ROSENBERG (U.S.A.) Cheryl STUDER (U.S.A.) |
4 Dates
| The 1st Round | Saturday October 28 – Monday October 30, 2023 |
|---|---|
| The 2nd Round | Wednesday November 1 – Thursday November 2, 2023 |
| The Final Round | Sunday November 5, 2023 |
| Award Ceremony | Sunday November 5, 2023 |
5 Location
ACT City Hamamatsu Main Hall (111-1 Itaya-machi, Naka-ku,Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka, Japan)6 Eligibility
Age 36 or younger (born on or after October 28, 1986)This age requirement for eligibility applies only to the 9th Competition.
7 Application Rules
(1)Postal Application
Mail the following six materials to the Secretariat.
| 1. Application Form |
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|---|---|
| 2. List of Pieces to Be Judged | List of Pieces to Be Judged[PDF:77.7KB]
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| 3. Preliminary Audition Recording Certificate | Preliminary Audition Recording Certificate[PDF:78.5KB]
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| 4. Photographs |
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| 5. Identification |
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| 6. Recording for preliminary audition |
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(2)Online Application
Visit the official website to submit application.
"Application" page of the official website:
URL: https://www.suac.ac.jp/opera-en/competition/application/
*Click the brown box named "Apply Online" at the bottom of the page linked above, then access the online application form to click the purple box in the middle of that page.
| 1 Application Form 2 List of Pieces to Be Judged 3 Preliminary Audition Recording Certificate |
See the notes on the website to fill out. |
|---|---|
| 4 Photographs 5 Identification 6 Recording for preliminary audition |
Upload the files to the website or mail the materials to the Secretariat. |
(3)Mailing Address
The Secretariat for the Executive Committee of the Mt. Fuji International Opera Competition of Shizuoka
Shizuoka University of Art and Culture
2-1-1 Chuo, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka 430-0929, Japan
(4)Submission Period
Thursday January 5 to Monday May 1, 2023.
All application materials MUST BE RECEIVED BY MAY 1, 2023.
Online Application will be accepted from 12:00 noon (JST), Thursday, January 5, 2023, closed
at 12:00 noon (JST), Monday, May 1, 2023.
(5)Notes
- Submitted application materials will not be returned to the applicants.
- Applications must be made individually. (One envelope must not contain application materials of more than one applicant.)
- Applicants residing outside Japan are requested to mail the application materials early enough to allow them to arrive in the office by the deadline. Please note that mail may sometimes be delayed due to custom procedures.
- Applicants are responsible for keeping copies of the application form and the List of Pieces to Be Judged.
- Please notify us of any changes in your contact information or addresses.
- Applicants have no list to refer to regarding <self-chosen aria/s> and <proposed aria/s>, and can freely choose aria/s if it/these meet/s the conditions of the aria described in this guide.
- Applicants must select <self-chosen role> from the “List of Self-Chosen Roles for the 2nd Round”.
8 Preliminary Audition
Preliminary audition will be based on the submitted recordings. The results of the preliminary audition will be informed to all applicants by Friday June 30, 2023.9 Piano Scores for Aaccompanist
Applicants who have received the notification of acceptance as a result of the preliminary audition should send the piano scores by post to the Secretariat.
(1) Piano scores to mail (all six arias)
1. One <self-chosen aria> for the 1st round and one <self-chosen aria> for the final round.2. Four <proposed arias>.
(2) Deadline for submission
(3) Notes
1. Be sure to send these BY POST. Submission by email is not accepted.2. Do not need to send the score of the <self-chosen role>.
3. All the scores should not be bound into one. Each score should be separately provided to the Secretariat to be clearly distinguishable.
4. Write notes on the score if any changes including deleting some parts on the arias to be performed.
5. The scores are not required if contestants bring their own accompanist.
10 Application Fee
Applicants who have received the notification of acceptance as a result of the preliminary audition must pay an application fee of 20,000JPY by Monday, August 7, 2023. The payment method will be notified along with the notification of acceptance.* Any charges associated with the payment of application fee will be borne by the applicant.
* The application fee is not refundable for any reason.
11 Visa Acquisition
Contestants who need to acquire a visa to enter Japan must apply for the visa at their nearest Japanese embassy or Consulate General of Japan.If a certificate of invitation is required for the visa application, contestants must immediately notify the Secretariat of this need.
12 Piano Accompanists
The Secretariat will provide official competition accompanists. Contestants are allowed to bring their own accompanists.13 Performance Schedule
The schedule of contestants' performances will be determined by random drawings.
(1)The 1st Round:
The order of participation is decided by a random lottery by a computer by the Executive Committee. Each contestant will be notified of his/her 1st round performance date along with the results of the preliminary audition.
(2)The 2nd Round and the Final Round:
Contestants themselves participate in the drawing in order to determine their performance schedule.
14 Rehearsals
(1)Rehearsals with official accompanists:
| The 1st Round | Two 60-min. rehearsals are available for each contestant. |
|---|---|
| The 2nd Round | One 90-min. rehearsal is available for each contestant. |
* Details of the rehearsal schedule will be determined and announced by the Secretariat.
(2)Rehearsals for finalists:
- Piano rehearsals with the conductor are scheduled for Friday November 3.
- The orchestral rehearsals are scheduled in the Main Hall for Saturday November 4.
(3)Private Rehearsals:
Each contestant will be provided a rehearsal room with a piano for 60 minutes a day, free of charge, starting two days prior to his/her first performance. In addition to the above, 60 minutes a day will be provided free of charge to own accompanists. Contestants cannot enter the room.
15 Adjudication
The Adjudication process of the competition adopts the judging committee's adjudication guidelines.
(1)The 1st Round: [Piano accompaniment]
The contestant shall perform one <self-chosen aria> and one <proposed aria>. The Judging committee specifies which <proposed aria> to be performed by the contestant on the day of the 1st round (total of 2 arias).
*The time length required to perform the two arias must be within ten minutes. If the performance takes more than ten minutes, contestants should make his/her performance shorter by omitting some parts of the arias. Also, if the performance does not finish after ten minutes, the performance may be terminated at the discretion of the Jury.
*Contestants can decide the order of the two arias.
(2)The 2nd Round:[Piano accompaniment］
The contestant shall perform a part/parts of the <self-chosen role>. The judging committee specifies which part(s) to be performed by the contestant from among the whole opera score after the 1st round. Contestants CANNOT choose which part(s) of the <self-chosen role> to perform.
*If a part/parts involving a duet is assigned, the contestant shall perform his/her part only.
(3)The Final Round:[Orchestra accompaniment］
Conductor: TAKAHASHI Naoshi
Orchestra: Tokyo Symphony Orchestra
The contestant shall perform one <self-chosen aria> and one <proposed aria>. The judging committee specifies which <proposed aria> is to be performed by the contestant after the 2nd round (total of 2 arias).
* Contestants can decide the order of the two arias.
*In case that the Secretariat cannot obtain orchestral scores for the <self-chosen aria> or the <proposed aria> to be performed in the Final Round, contestants may be asked beforehand to change their repertoire/s.
Notice on Performance
1. All performances must be performed from memory and in the original key and language. The particular arias that are customarily sung in a different key or language may be exempted from the above-mentioned rule.Il barbiere di Siviglia by Rossini
Rosina's aria from Act 1
Una voce poco fa: originally written in E major but customarily sung in F major
Martha by Flotow
Lionel’s aria from Act 3
Ach so fromm: originally written in German but customarily sung in Italian
3. Every stage of this competition is open to the public.
16 Prizes and Awards
The finalists who win the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes are defined as the official prizewinners. The other finalists will not be ranked.
(1)Prizes:
| The 1st prize | ￥3,000,000 Trophy, Certificate of merit |
|---|---|
| The 2nd prize | ￥1,500,000 Trophy, Certificate of merit |
| The 3rd prize | ￥750,000 Trophy, Certificate of merit |
| Finalists prize | ￥400,000 Certificate of merit |
| Audience prize | Certificate of merit, additional awards |
* All prize amounts shall be subject to taxation in compliance with Japanese tax laws.
* When the same prize is awarded to more than one finalist, the prize money may be equally divided among the prizewinners and finalists.
(2)MIURA Tamaki Special Prize:
This prize is special scholarship for the purpose of further education, and will be granted to a talented and promising contestant from among Japanese nationals.
(3) Additional awards:
Additional awards donated by certain groups or individuals who agree with the mission of this competition may be given to finalists.
17 TV Program by Prizewinners
The winners of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd prizes, and the MIURA Tamaki Special Prize may be required to appear in a TV program without additional compensation.
(1)Dates of recording:
Monday November 6 to Wednesday November 8, 2023
The host organization will decide the dates among three days.
(2)Accommodation and travel expenses will be fully covered.
18 Financial Support for Traveling
Each contestant is responsible for his/her travel expenses. However, the Secretariat shall provide financial support for traveling to the contestants who play for the 1st round. The amount depends on the contestant’s country of residence when the host organization decides who passes the preliminary audition. This support will not be applied to contestants’ own accompanist.
(1) Non-Japanese contestants residing outside of Japan:
2. 100,000 JPY per contestant residing outside of Asia
(2) Japanese contestants residing outside of Japan:
(3) Contestants residing in Japan:
(4) Time of Payment:
(5) Other:
19 Full Accommodation Aid
As long as contestants stay at the accommodation facilities assigned by the Secretariat, the room charge will be covered by the Secretariat based on the following guidelines.
(This aid will not be applied to contestants' own accompanists.)
(1) For contestants of the 1st round:
Two days prior to contestants' first performance date through Tuesday, October 31, 10:00 AM.
(2) For contestants of the 2nd round:
Two days prior to contestants' first performance date through Friday, November 3, 10:00 AM.
(3) For finalists:
Two days prior to contestants' first performance date through Monday, November 6, 10:00 AM.
20 Disclaimer of Liability
The Secretariat will not compensate for any physical, material, or mental damage caused or suffered by the contestants during the period of the competition. Each contestant is responsible to buy insurance.
21 Miscellaneous
(1) Changes of Application Rules:
(2) Copyrights:
(3) Protection of Personal Information:
(4) Governing Law:
(5) Other:
22 Host Organization (Alphabetical order)
The Executive Committee of the Mt. Fuji International Opera Competition of Shizuoka| Chairperson | KAWAKATSU Heita | Governor, Shizuoka Prefecture |
|---|---|---|
| Honorary Advisors | TOKURA Shunichi YABUTA Hiroyuki |
Commissioner, Agency for Cultural Affairs Chairperson, Shizuoka Prefectural Assembly |
| Director of Board | IDENO Tsutomu | Lieutenant Governor, Shizuoka Prefecture |
| Vice Directors of Board | KIMURA Toshimitsu SUZUKI Yasutomo |
Professor Emeritus, Toho Gakuen School of Music Mayor, Hamamatsu City |
| Board Members | HANAI Kazunori IKEGAMI Shigehiro KAWAI Hirotaka KINAE Naohide NAKATA Takuya OCHIAI Toru TSUBOUCHI Hideki YOKOYAMA Toshio |
Chairperson, Hamamatsu Cultural Foundation Superintendent, Shizuoka Prefectural Board of Education President & CEO, KAWAI Musical Instruments Mfg. Co., Ltd President, Shizuoka Prefectural Association for Cultural Affairs President and Representative Director, YAMAHA Corporation Executive Director, Shizuoka Cultural Foundation Chairperson, Culture and Tourism Committee, Shizuoka Prefectural Assembly President, Shizuoka University of Art and Culture |
| Auditors | ISHIGAKI Akihiko MATSUDA Takahiro |
Managing Director and Director General, Shizuoka Association for International Relations Lawyer, Aoba Law Office |
Committee of Project Planning & Management
| Members | FUJINO Tadayuki HAMADA Rie IHARA Naoko HANAI Kazunori IDENO Tsutomu KANAYAMA Shigeto KIMURA Toshimitsu KISHI Suminobu MIURA Yasuhiro ONITA Masahiko SHIMONO Tatsuya SUZUKI Yasutomo |
Director of Operations and Financial Affairs, New National Theatre, Tokyo Singer Professor Emeritus, Tokyo University of the Arts Chairperson, Hamamatsu Cultural Foundation Lieutenant Governor, Shizuoka Prefecture Permanent Director, Japan Federation of Musicians Professor Emeritus, Toho Gakuen School of Music Opera Scholar Director Fomer Professor, Showa University of Music General Music Director, Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra Professor, Kyoto City University of Arts Mayor, Hamamatsu City |
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