The 1st Takamatsu International Piano Competition

How to apply

Fill out the official application form (which can be downloaded from the competition homepage) and send the following by registered mail to the competition offices (Applications sent by courier or delivered by hand will not be accepted).

（1）2 color passport photographs taken within 6 months of the date of application (4cm x 5cm, upper body only)

　　※One to be affixed to your application form
　　※One to be used for publicity materials, such as the programme

（2）A copy of your passport, or some other official proof of age

（3）Recording of your performance of the pieces for the initial selection (cassette, MD, CD, DAT are all acceptable)

※Please write your name, the names of the pieces, and where and when they were recorded on the submitted medium (CD, MD etc.)
※The performances should have been recorded after 1st November 2004
※We cannot return any material submitted
※The competition organisation and affiliated bodies cannot be held in any way responsible for any loss or damage to any application materials in transit.

Initial Application fee

The initial application fee of ￥1,000 is to be paid into the bank account specified overleaf by the 5th December 2005 (Mon).
※Your application will only be accepted once confirmation of your deposit has been received.

Deadline

All entries must be posted by : 21st November, 2005 (Mon).
※For contestants applying from overseas, please send confirmation of your application by sending a fax to the T.I.P.C. offices（＋81-87-841-3937） by the 21st November 2005 (Mon).

Applications and enquiries to

The Takamatsu International Piano Competition Offices,
960, Kasuga-cho, Takamatsu, Kagawa, 〒761-0194 JAPAN
TEL：81-87-841-3936　　FAX：+81-87-841-3937
e-mail：info@tipc.jp　　http://www.tipc.jp

Initial Selections

The judging for the initial selection (which will be carried out using the recordings and materials provided by the contestant) will determine the contestants who will go　through to compete in the preliminary rounds.
All costs incurred in applying for the initial selection are to be paid in full by the contestants.

Judging Period: mid-December 2005

The venues and the criteria for the judging will be announced on the Competition homepage:
http://www.tipc.jp

※The results of the initial selections will be sent to all contestants individually by the 31st January 2006 (Tue)

※Contestants who have been selected will receive the competition consent form along with details of the performance order for round 1 and further details of the competition.

※Contestants will be required to return the consent form to confirm their entry into the competition.

The Competition

・The competition consists of preliminaries (rounds1～3) and the final.
・The judging will be based on the contestants’ performances of their selection from the set pieces.
・The details of the dates and venue are as follows:

Competition Entry Fee

●Contestants who are selected to compete in the preliminary rounds will be required to pay a competition entry fee of \20,000 into the account specified below by the 15th February 2006 (Wed).
※If payment of the fee is not received by this deadline, the contestant will be disqualified.

Registration for the competition

●All contestants are expected to attend the opening ceremony, the details of which, they will be notified of by competition offices. Competition registration will be carried out at the opening ceremony.
●Contestants who cannot perform in the order specified, will be disqualified.
●The performance order for contestants who have made it through to the first round will be decided in strict impartiality by lots drawn by the Chair of the panel of judges.
●At the opening ceremony, contestants may draw lots themselves, to determine the order in which they will perform for the subsequent rounds. The final decisions on the order of performance will be at the discretion of the chairman of the panel of judges.

Bank Account Details

The entry fee and any charges incurred are to be paid in full by the applicant by bank transfer (see below)

※Any bank charges are to be paid in full by the applicant.

※Any application fees or bank charges paid will not be reimbursed by the organisers under any circumstances.

Practice sessions

The organisers will provide the following practice opportunities to all contestants during the competition free of charge:

○　4hr/day from 17th March (Fri) in a practice room equipped with a piano.
○　Each contestant will have one practice session with the orchestra before round 3 and before the final. In principle, the rehearsal before round 3 would be for a maximum of 40 minutes, and the rehearsal before the final would be for a maximum of 1hr 30min (including meetings with the conductor).

Transportation

Regarding travel expenses to and from Takamatsu for contestants coming from overseas:
See below for details of the travel grants which the organisers will provide for successful applicants. Responsibility for all transport expenses exceeding the sums stated below will be borne by the contestant:

●Contestants from the following countries will be eligible for travel grants to the value of ￥50,000:

Bangladesh/ Bhutan/ Brunei/ Cambodia/China/ East Timor/ India/ Indonesia/ Korea/ Laos/ Malaysia/ Mongolia/ Myanmar/ Nepal/ North Korea/ Pakistan/ Singapore/ Sri Lanka/ Taiwan/ Thailand/ The Maldives / The Philippines/ Vietnam /

●Contestants applying from any foreign countries other than those listed above will be eligible for travel grants to the value of ￥100,000.

In cases where the grant is subject to taxation under Japanese law, the grant will be paid with the tax deducted at the source (based on a rate of 20%). All grants will be paid in Japanese yen.

The organisers also agree to provide free transportation to and from the venue and the accommodation (where contestants are staying in accommodation specified by the organisers) free of charge.
Any other expenses incurred will be borne by the contestants themselves.

Financial assistance for other expenses

The accommodation costs for all contestants will be borne by the organisers from 3 days prior to the start of the competition (15th March 2006 (Wed)) until the end of the period indicated below. Accommodation will be limited to the accommodation chosen by the organisers and the organisers will pay the expenses for this accommodation only.
All other expenses (food, drink, communications) will be at the personal expense of the contestant.

・Round 1 contestants : The morning of the day after the judging of the first round
・Round 2 contestants : The morning of the day after the judging of the second round
・Round 3 contestants : The morning of the day after the judging of the third round
・Finalists : The morning of the second day after the completion of the final judging.

※Any expense other than those mentioned above will be borne solely by contestants themselves.

Visas

If you require a visa to enter Japan you (the contestant) must apply for it in person. If you require a letter of invitation to obtain a visa, then please contact the competition offices.
If you do require a letter of invitation you will need to provide your local Japanese diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate) with the following details.

○　Full name (Surname, Names written in your native language)
○　Sex, Date of Birth, Nationality, Occupation, Address, Telephone number
○　Travelling funds (airfare, living expenses during your stay in Japan including food and lodging)
○　Details of individual who will bear your expenses during your stay (Name, sex, occupation, relationship, address, contact details)

Insurance

Please ensure that you have personal travel accident / injury / health insurance, and third party, fire and theft insurance for your luggage and personal belongings. This is your responsibility.

Copyright and Neighbouring rights

The broadcasting, performance, audio and visual recording, publishing and imaging rights to the opening ceremony, awards ceremony, and performances during the competition in its entirety and in relation to any related events subsequent to the competition after it has ended are and remain the sole property of the organiser, The Takamatsu International Piano Competition Committee.

Compliance with Japanese Law

This application form has been drawn up based on the guidelines for the opening of the 1st Takamatsu International Piano Competition. Any dispute regarding the contents of the form will be resolved using the text contained in the original Japanese application form and according to Japanese law.

Other

Contestants will not be permitted to give any performances during the course of the competition other than those which are specifically for the purposes of the competition. This does not necessarily apply to any contestants after they have been eliminated. This rule is subject to re-evaluation dependant on certain extenuating circumstances.

1st Prize Winner’s Gala Concert

・The organisers will undertake to arrange a gala concert for the 1st prize winner, to be held in Kagawa within three years.
・The 1st Prize winner will be required to perform at this event.
・The performance fee will be to a total of ￥100,000.
・The organisers will undertake the payment of the performance fee and of all related travel and accommodation expenses.