Awards

1. The first prize winner will receive USD $5,000 award and performing at NEC's Jordan Hall with Mercury Orchestra, the national winner of the 2010 American Prize in Orchestral Performance, and conductor Channing Yu, 2010 American Prize in Orchestral Conducting.
2. The first prize winner will also be invited back to perform a solo recital in the 2026 Summer FREE Concerts @ NEC, with additional compensation.
3. The Second prize winner will receive USD $2,000 cash award. By judge's decision, the second prize winner maybe invited back to perform a solo recital in the 2026 Summer FREE Concerts @ NEC, with additional compensation.
4. The Third prize winner will receive USD $1,000 cash award.
5. Those who passed the Preliminary and advanced to the Semi-Final Round could request housing arrangement from Wednesday August 13 to Monday August 18, 2025, and that of the first-prize winner to Sunday August 24, 2025.
6. Those who passed the Preliminary and advanced to the Semi-Final Round could request a travel reimbursement up to USD $300 based on the travel related receipts.

Jury Panel  (in alphabetical order)
The judges will not give scores to his/her current students

For Video Preliminary

1. Professor Ning An 安寧, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore.
2. Professor Jianing Kong 孔嘉寧, Royal College of Music, London, UK
3. Professor Anton Nel, University of Texas at Austin - Butler School of Music. USA
4. Professor Angel Ramon Rivera, former Director of New England Conservatory’s Preparatory School.
5. Professor Tian Ying 應天峰, Frost School of Music at University of Miami.

For Semi-Final and Final Rounds

1. Professor Marc-André Hamelin, New England Conservatory of Music, Lifetime Achievement Award from the German Record Critics’ Association.
2. Professor Jung-Ja Kim, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, USA.
3. Professor Michael Lewin, Head Piano Department of The Boston Conservatory at Berklee, USA. Artistic Director of the Boston Conservatory Piano Masters Series.
4. Professor Sergey Schepkin, Carnegie Mellon University, New England Conservatory of Music Preparatory, USA
5. Mr. Channing Yu, Conductor Mercury Orchestra, USA, Official collaborative pianist will be provided for all finalists

Official collaborative pianist

• Mr. Haiqi Zhang

How to apply

1. Submit a non-refundable USD $150 application fee, payable to Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts, 3 Partridge Lane, Lincoln, MA 01773, USA. Via PayPal , Zelle  or a bank check.
    
2. Email the Application to foundation@chineseperformingarts.net with the following:
   • The Application Form. The Application Form is available on this webpage.
   • Image of a government issued official proof of birth date, such as the passport or driver's license.
   • For applicants who are under 18, the parent/guardian's information and signature are also required.
    
3. Upload the unedited screening videos to YouTube (or Youku for students in China). Provide the links with detailed repertoire information in the Application Form. The video recording should be prepared from within the past two years.
    
4. AUDITION Repertoire: Repertoire choices should show the applicants range technically and musically. It should include both A and B of the following:
   • FIRST movement of a sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert.
   • One or more solo piece(s) in contrasting style at competitor’s choice.
   All pieces must be played by memory. The repertoire could be repeated in the Semi-Final Round.
    
5. The total duration of the videos should not exceed 20 minutes.
    
6. The results of the Video Preliminary will be announced by June 20, 2025 via e-mail. Up to ten (with two additional on wait-list) applicants will be invited to the Semi-Final Round on Saturday August 16, 2025 at New England Conservatory's Williams Hall to perform solo pieces by memory, plus a required orchestral excerpt (about 5 -7 min) from the concerto, to be announced on August 14, 2025 (two days before the Semi- Final Round) in front of the Jury Panel and audience.
    
7. The chosen Semi-Finalists should confirm their participation via e-mail no later than June 28, 2025, and provide the repertoire for the Semi-Final Round. A short bio up to 250 words, and a head-shot photo for publicity purpose are also required. The Semi-Finalists should indicate whether housing is needed. Practice rooms will be provided at New England Conservatory.
    
8. The requirements of repertoire for the Semi-Final Round include two parts:

• 15 to 20 minutes of solo piece(s) of contrasting styles that must include a FIRST movement from a sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert. The repertoire from the preliminary round could be repeated in the Semi-Final Round.
• A required orchestra excerpt (about 5 -7 min) from the Ravel Piano Concerto for the Left Hand (Éditions Durand) to be announced on August 14, 2025 (two days before the Semi-Final Round). Performance will be accompanied by the official collaborative pianist on the second piano.

9. If the competitor exceeds the time limit, the Jury has the right to stop the performance.
    
10. The competitors should arrive New England Conservatory at least two hours prior to the assigned time slot. Warm-up practice rooms will be provided.
     
11. All travel expenses are the applicant's responsibility. Upon request, a travel reimbursement of USD $300 could be provided based on the travel related receipts.
     
12. The order of appearances at the Semi-Final Round will be determined by drawing on Wednesday August 13, 2025, 6 pm at NEC's Williams Hall. If the candidates could not appear in person, his or her designated representative (with prior notice) could draw on his or her behalf. This order will be used for rehearsals, Semi-Final and Final rounds.
     
13. The Jury’s decision is final and binding. This event is open to the public.
     
14. Up to four Finalists will be invited to the Final Round next evening, Sunday August 17, 2025, 7 pm to 11 pm at New England Conservatory's Williams Hall in front of the same Jury Panel. This event is open to the public.
     
15. Each Finalist will have one hour rehearsal with the official collaborative pianist on Sunday August 17 from 10 am to 12 pm, and from 1 pm to 4 pm, on assigned time slot. Individual practice rooms will be provided.
     
16. The Finalists will perform the assigned concerto in its entirety from memory, with the official collaborative pianist on the second piano. The result will be announced right after the Final Round. The Jury’s decision is final and binding. This event is open to the public.
     
17. The first prize winner will start rehearsals and performance with Mercury Orchestra on dates and venues as listed above.
     
18. By signing the Application and Release Form, the applicant and/or his/her parent/guardian of the
    applicant agrees to release the Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts 中華表演藝術基金會, the New
    England Conservatory of Music, the Mercury Orchestra, and their agents and employees from any and all claims, demands, and cause of action on account of any injury, illness, or loss which may occur during his/her participation in the 2025 Fou Ts'ong International Concerto Competition, and the Summer FREE Concert Series at NEC 2025.
     
19. Application and Release Form

Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts
Fou Ts'ong International Concerto Competition 2025
Concerto 2025: Maurice Ravel: Piano Concerto for the Left Hand (Éditions Durand)
www.ChinesePerformingArts.net
Email: foundation@chineseperformingarts.net


APPLICATION AND RELEASE FORM 2025

Name: (English first name) ____________ ( English last name )________________

Nationality as shown on passport or passport-equivalent document: ______________
Birth Date (MM/DD/YR): ___________Age (as of June 6, 2025) _________ M□ F□
(Government issued official proof of birth date required, attach a scanned image of passport or equivalent)

Mailing Street Address:

 ________________________________________________________________

City _____________________ State/Zip _____________ Country _____________

Mobile Phone:___________Email of applicant: ______________________________

Current School and Grade: _____________________________________________

Current teacher: ________________ Email: _______________________________

Other teacher(s) of the past two years: _________Email(s): _____________________

Other teacher(s) of the past two years: _________Email(s): _____________________

Videos for Preliminary Audition: (composer, complete title of the work and movements)

Upload the unedited screening videos to YouTube (or Youku for students in China), and provide the links with detailed repertoire information below.

AUDITION Repertoire: Repertoire choices should show the applicants range technically and musically. It should include both A and B as below:
A, FIRST movement of a classical sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert.
B, One or more solo piece(s) in contrasting style at competitor’s choice.

The total duration of the videos should not exceed 20 minutes. All pieces must be played by memory. The repertoire could be repeated in the Semi-Final Round.

Composer, complete title of the work and movements

1:______________________________________________length: ________ min
 
Link of the video:____________________________________________________

2:______________________________________________length: ________ min
 
Link of the video:____________________________________________________

3:______________________________________________length: ________ min

Link of the video:____________________________________________________

4:______________________________________________length: ________ min
 
Link of the video:____________________________________________________
 

Release Statement
All applicants are required to sign
 

I, _______________________(Name), release the Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts 中華表演藝術基金會, the New England Conservatory of Music, the Mercury Orchestra, and their agents and employees from any and all claims, demands, and cause of action on account of any injury, illness, or loss which may occur during my participation in the Fou Ts'ong International Concerto Competition, and the Summer FREE Concerts @ NEC 2025.

I understand that the Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts holds the copyright to all images and video recordings captured during the competition and performances for archival purposes. It is expected that the final concert at Jordan Hall will be recorded and made available for subsequent use in any manner or for any purpose deemed appropriate by the Foundation, across all existing or future media platforms. Neither the Foundation nor its assignees or licensees shall be held liable for any compensation to competitors arising from the use of materials derived from these recordings.


________________________________ ________________________
Signature of Applicant Date

_________________________________________________________
Signature of Parent or Guardian Date
if under 18 years of age

Please return the Application and Release Form, proof of birth date, the YouTube or Youku links of the Preliminary Audition video, and a non-refundable application fee of US $150, via PayPal, Zelle (to cathy@fcpfa.net), or bank check payable to Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts, before June 6, 2025, to:

Dr. Catherine Tan Chan 譚嘉陵
Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts 中華表演藝術基金會
3 Partridge Lane, Lincoln, MA 01773, USA
Mobile: 617-968-7094
Email: Foundation@ChinesePerformingArts.net
 

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