American Violinist Zuo Jun was born in a musical family in China. Hailed as one of the most gifted Chinese violinists of his generation, Zuo has been a prizewinner in prominent national and international competitions, including the silver medal of the National Violin Competition of China in 1984, the special prize for the best performance of Chinese work, and the first prize in the China National Violin Competition in Shanghai in 1986. Also, he was awarded prizes in the Kingsville International Music Competition in 1990, the Audience prize of the American Music Teacher’s National Association Competition in 1989, and the Corpus Christi Young Artists Competition in 1989. In 1984, Zuo Jun was invited by the China Ministry of Culture to perform in Beijing’s People Conference Hall to celebrate the 35^th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. In the same year, he gave a solo recital as part of “Spring of Shanghai” music festival.

 Zuo began violin studies at age six and is a graduate of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music where he studied with Professors Shen Guan En and Zheng Shi Sheng. In 1988, Zuo Jun’s talent was noticed by Fredell Lack and he won the full scholarship to study with her at the University of Houston and subsequently with Berl Senofsky and Ariana Bronne.

Zuo has been a first violinist of world-class symphony orchestras–Houston Symphony and San Francisco Symphony for more than eleven years. Zuo has also appeared as soloist with many renowned symphony orchestras, such as Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Jupiter Symphony Orchestra (New York), Julius Grossman Orchestra (New York), Shanghai Ballet Orchestra, National Repertory Orchestra (Colorado), Shanghai Radio Orchestra, San Antonio Youth Symphony, the Shanghai Opera Orchestra, Lake Charles Symphony Orchestra, and New Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. Macau Symphony, Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, Xiamen Philharmonic.

Critics have praised Zuo Jun’s performances for his musicality and technical brilliance. He was featured on “Good Morning America” (ABC) in 1990, interviewed by NHK in 1987, and he has been invited for interviews and live performances by the Public Broadcast Station of Houston (United States) in 2008 and 2010, Zuo was invited by former Defense Minister of Singapore to perform in Victoria Concert Hall, and live performance on Singapore National Television channel in 1986, and he was interviewed by the Channel 8 “Good Morning Singapore” in 2004 and Singapore’s classical music radio station 92.4FM. Zuo recorded “the Inspiration” solo CD which was released in late 2010. This CD features the works of Sarasate, Ravel and Tchaikovsky and others.

Zuo Jun currently is an associate professor and the head of violin studies of Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, he also is a guest Professor at the Wuhan Conservatory. Zuo became a permanent faculty member of the Texas Music Festival in 2007, he is also invited as a faculty member of the Schlern International Music Festival in Italy since 2010 and Saarburg International music festival, Germany. In 2016, as a founder and artistic director, he has established the 1^st Yilan International Music Festival in Taiwan. He has been invited as artistic director of 1^st Qing Yuan International Music Festival in Guangzhou, China.

Educated at prestigious Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music (Warsaw, Poland), he was awarded Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney in 2015 (studying with Natalia Sheludiakova). In 2010, Wojciech was awarded a diploma from the Ministry of Culture of the Polish Government for ‘exemplary achievements in the field of popularising music of Fryderyk Chopin.’

Giving his first performance with an orchestra at the age of 11, throughout his career Wojciech was awarded numerous prizes on various national and international piano competitions, including participation in Sydney International Piano Competition in 2008. His competition performances were released by ABC Classic on 2008 SIPCA Highlights CD (https://itunes.apple.com/np/album/2008-sydney-international-piano-competition-australia/295560983).

Wojciech’s students often obtain highest marks on AMEB and Trinity examinations, compete at national and international competitions, and successfully audition for graduate and post-graduate performance courses in Australia (e. g. Sydney Conservatorium of Music) and abroad.

Nearly twenty years of teaching experience, currently holding position of an Academic Lecturer in Piano at the Australian Institute of Music (since 2010). Given public piano masterclasses in China (Beijing, Shenzhen and Shanghai), Serbia, as well as Australia.

Wojciech’s book entitled ‘Defining National Piano Schools – Perceptions and challenges’ was published in 2016, and is currently available worldwide (https://nationalpianoschools.com/).

My philosophy of Teaching and Learning excellence is providing equal opportunities to all. This is demonstrated in my teaching and supervising roles by focusing on providing all students with the chance to achieve their maximum potential, and prepare them for careers as professional musicians. I focus on each student’s ability to deliver artistic expression in a professional public setting. I am innovative in my approach to teaching and learning, implementing the most recent academic findings into areas such as memorisation (using various types of memory, memory techniques, with particular attention to suit those techniques to individual students’ capabilities and talents), sight-reading (employing modern technology such as sight-reading with the audio of pre-recorded pieces, video recordings of performances), and using the most up-to-date approach to teaching technique, with particular attention to students’ physical wellbeing (combining some of the research in physiology of a human body in the context of performance, some of the techniques leading to recovery of students who already experience issues with their technique).

Australian violinist Wen Zhu was born in China and began learning violin at age five. In 1996, she was awarded a full scholarship to study at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. This Conservatory is the most prestigious in China and boasts a very high standard.

She has been a prize-winner in many International violin competitions. Since moving to Australia in 2002, she has studied at the Australian Institute of Music, where she was awarded Bachelor of Music Degree First Class Honours. She followed this with a Master of Music under Charmian Gadd, as a full scholarship holder at the Australian Institute of Music. She received the highest scholarship to study at the Tasmania Conservatory of Music for a PhD in Music. In 2010, she studied for her second Master of Music at Sydney Conservatorium of Music as a full scholarship holder under Professor Alice Waten.

Graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree with Honours in Clarinet in 2007 and achieved the Dean‘s List at YST. She pursued further as a postgraduate and attained a Master’s Degree in Clarinet Performance at YST and Peabody. She has performed with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and is a member of Singapore Lyric Opera. Chang Hong has years of experience organising international music festivals such as the International Solo & Ensemble Competition with more than 300 participants, study performance tours at prominent locations such as the Esplanade in Singapore and Min-On Concert Association in Japan.

As a school student Michael Bardon studied cello, oboe and clarinet performing as a member of the Pacific School Games Symphony, NSW Public Schools Symphony and the Sydney Olympic Marching Band. 

Accelerated into university at age 17 he holds degrees from the Musikhochschule Luebeck (Germany), Johannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz (Germany), University of Newcastle (Australia) and professional orchestral training as an academy graduate of the Essen Philharmonic Orchestra (Germany). His principal teachers include Professors Diethelm Jonas, Nick Deutsch and Anthea Scott-Mitchell, and he has received master class and chamber music instruction from international artists including Professors Sabine Meyer, Christiane Edinger, Stefan Schilli, Angela Firkins, Jaques Tys, Jochen Muller-Brinken, Markus Möllenbek and Thomas Brandis.

After basing himself in Germany for almost 7 years he returned to Australia in 2011 having performed as soloist, chamber and orchestral musician in countries including Germany, France, Italy, Denmark, Poland, Israel, Korea and Sweden.

Michael was a member of the Essen Philharmonic Orchestra Academy, Neues Kammerorchester Bamberg (now Orchester M18), the wind quintet ‘Pentaphonie’, Sydney Symphony Sinfonia and has performed with orchestras including Oper Frankfurt, Sinfonietta Baltica, Neue Philharmonie Hamburg, Mainzer Kammerorchester and the Sydney Philharmonia Orchestra. He is a recipient of many awards including a prestigious German DAAD prize, a scholarship from the north German Possehl Foundation and a Yehudi Menuhin Live Music Now scholarship.
Additionally he held the University of Newcastle William Bowmore Prize for Postgraduate Studies in Cello and was the 2012-14 Young Ambassador for the Manning Winter Festival.

An initial teaching position in Hamburg has led to further appointments at Newington College, the University of Newcastle Conservatorium and the Australian Institute of Music. Michael is an enthusiastic pedagogue, with student success including the Music Captaincy of Newington College, scholarship holders at both the Newcastle Conservatorium and Grammar School, frequent high distinction candidates in AMEB examinations and tertiary graduates of the University of Newcastle and Australian Institute of Music. Michael is also employed as an orchestral mentor by the NSW Department of Education and Training for their productions of Star Struck.

Holding performance master’s degrees in both cello (Newcastle) and oboe (Luebeck), Michael maintains a busy career performing, teaching, researching and administrating. He has performed frequently as guest principal cello in the Darwin Symphony, is a regular collaborator with the Australian National College of Dance, has broadcast for ABC Classic FM Sunday Live and in 2016 became a permanent member of the Sydney Metropolitan Orchestra.

Canadian pianist Annie Wong’s performances have been described as “imaginative and evocative” while audiences are thrilled by her “powerhouse” exuberance. She is equally at home as soloist, chamber musician, and collaborative pianist. Having performed across Canada and the United States, notable venues include Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Koerner Hall, Mazzoleni Hall, the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, and Vancouver Playhouse. Annie was the winner of the Virginia Music Teachers Association Concerto Competition, Shenandoah Conservatory Concerto Competition, Bjorn and Lori Hareid Competition, as well as the Vancouver Women’s Musical Society Scholarship Competition.

Aside from performing, she is an active pedagogue, currently holding the position of Academic Lecturer at the Australian Institute of Music in Sydney as well as Piano Faculty at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada. In the past, she served as Instructor of Piano and Music Theory at Shenandoah University, and Piano Faculty at the Shenandoah Conservatory Arts Academy in the United States. Annie has taught master classes, presented workshops, coached chamber ensembles, and adjudicated competitions, festivals, and auditions. She is a member of the College of Examiners for RCM Examinations across North America.

Annie received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Shenandoah University in Virginia, USA on a full scholarship, studying with esteemed pianist Dr. John O’Conor, and graduating with The Outstanding Performance in Piano Award. She was twice the recipient of the prestigious Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges Award in recognition of her exceptional academic achievements. Prior to that, she received her Master of Music degree along with the Dean’s Award from the Mannes School of Music in New York City as a student of Professor Irina Morozova. Her musical and academic accomplishments were lauded as she was awarded her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada as a student of Professor Jane Coop and Dr. Terence Dawson, graduating at the top of her class. In addition to working with her principal teachers, Annie has performed in master classes for internationally renowned artists such as Alfred Brendel, Richard Goode, Jon Kimura Parker, Antonio Pompa-Baldi, Craig Sheppard, Robin McCabe, Hiromi Okada, Prisca Benoit, Eve Egoyan, and Ieva Jokubaviciute.

Having had the privilege to gain precious musical experiences through such a multifaceted array of settings and roles, Annie instills in her students a lifelong passion for music-making. She is deeply dedicated to the development of artistry in today’s pianists.

Yi Jia graduated PhD in Cello performance at the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig, Germany. She is Cello instructor at the Central Conservatory of Music Middle School. She is also the founder of Yi Jia Lai En Cello Park, cello group for youth in Beijing, China.

Duan Yi Ke si a Pianist and Conductor. He is appointed as the Ass. Professional of Han Jiang Conservatory of Music and Professor of Bei Er Man Music Institution.

Semi-final round:

Chapel Room Sydney Congress Hall
140 Elizabeth Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

Final round:

Salvation Army, Sydney Congress Hall
140 Elizabeth Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

AIMC is open to music instrumentalists of all nationalities. Please see sections below for detailed information on age groups and instruments allowed.

The competition will be held in two categories:

Hitmaker Category – for upcoming talents:

Junior: 8 years & under
9-12 years old
13-18 years old
Senior: 19 – 24 years old

Advanced Category – for young professional musicians:

Junior: 8 years & under
9-12 years old
13-18 years old
Senior: 19 & over

After the preliminary video application round, competition organisers will assign participants to either Hitmaker or Advanced section.

On arrival at the competition venue, a form of a photo ID will be required to verify the age of the participant.

The Hitmaker Section for upcoming talents includes Piano, Strings and Woodwind instruments.

The Advanced Section for young professional musicians includes only Piano and Strings section. Please note there will be no Woodwind section in the 2019 edition of the competition.

All applications should be submitted via www.hitmaker.sg/australia-international-music-competition/

Please include the link to the video recording with your application.

Australia-based participants: 10th of September 2019
International participants: 1st of August 2019

For Australian, Permanent Residents, Employment Pass, Dependant Pass, and S Pass holders:
– Solo: AUD$40/first round, AUD$50/semi-final, AUD$100/final
– 2nd – 5th person group: AUD$40/group/first round, AUD$ 150/group/semi-final, AUD$300/group/final
– 6th – 12th person group: AUD$40/group/first round, AUD$ 250/group/semi-final, AUD$800/group/final
– 13th – 20th person group: AUD$40/group/first round, AUD$ 350/group/semi-final, AUD$1000/group/final

Competition fees are to be paid by bank transfer, PayPal or Credit Card, by the 15th of August for overseas participants, and 15th of September for Australia-based participants.

Bank details:
– Bank Name: Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited (OCBC Bank)
– Bank Code: 7339
– Branch Code: 713
– Swift Code: OCBCSGSGS
– Account name: Hitmaker Global Academy Pte Ltd
– Account Number: 713-098333-001
– Bank Address: OCBC BANK 65 Chulia Street OCBC Centre Singapore 049513

(Organisation will send email to you online payment link after your registration.)

You will receive an email confirmation after your payment has been received.

Upload a video recording of a single complete piece of music of your choice to YouTube or YouKu. Submit the link to your video when lodging your application.

The video should not be edited in any way and should present the body and the face of the performer.

Video recording should be conducted in a quiet environment. Mobile phone recordings are acceptable.

No audio-only recordings will be accepted.

The results of the preliminary round will be announced on the 10th August for international candidates, and 10th of September for Australia-based candidates.

Competitors will be advised about the results of the preliminary section by email, via the competition website and newsletter.

Successful candidates will be required to provide the competition with a high-resolution artistic photo (JPEG) for the program printing purposes.

In any age group, two contrasting pieces (entire pieces or single movement of a larger piece or cycle) from two different musical periods are required.

Please indicate the name of the composer, name of the piece, key signature as well as opus number and movement name where appropriate.

Time limits for each participant are as follows:

Junior: 8 years & under – 3 minutes
Kids: 9-12 years old – 5 minutes
Youth: 13-18 years old – 8 minutes
Open section: 19 years & over – 10 – 12 minutes

Your repertoire may be longer than required, but the jury reserves the right to stop the performance at any time.

International participants will be provided with an opportunity to practice during their stay in Sydney. The duration of such practice time will be dependent on the competition schedule and remains solely as a decision of the competition organisers. Sydney-based participants are required to organize their practising arrangements.

By entering the competition, participants agree to their stage activities to be recorded, photographed and documented and give the competition full rights to publish those media free of charge.

The musical score used during the competition must be an original copy. NO PHOTOCOPIES ARE ALLOWED.

It is the participant’s responsibility to obey copyrights during the competition.

The jury panel for each section of the AIMC will include internationally renowned performers and pedagogues. For the full list of adjudicators, please see our website:

Jury decisions are final and based on artistic integrity and professionalism of its members.

Grand piano will be provided on stage during the competition. All other instruments are the responsibility of participants and will NOT be provided by AIMC.

An official piano accompanist will be provided for international participants only. Sydney-based performers are required to organize their accompanist.

Any section of the competition will run with a minimum of ten participants. Competition organizers reserve the right to merge or cancel any of the sections of the competition if the number of participants is considered insufficient.

Competition organizers reserve right to cancel any section at their discretion. In case of such cancellation, the entry fee will be returned to the participant.

Failure to comply with this Rules and Regulations may result in disqualification from the competition.

Participants enter the competition at their own risk and competition shall not be liable for any injuries (emotional or physical) resulting from the participation.

Competition performances are live events and will be conducted in front of a live audience. Participants shall not request the removal of audience members under any circumstances.

Performing from memory is not required during the competition, but the jury may take it under consideration when awarding prizes.

The competition takes privacy policy seriously. All personal data collected during the competition will be used for the purposes solely related to the competition activities. A competitor may request their data to be updated or deleted at any point. The request will be complied with within 21 days following the request.

Please refer to https://www.internationalmusiccompetition.com.au/prizes/ for information regarding prizes.

Please read carefully the information provided below and note that prizes differ between ‘Hitmaker’ and ‘Advanced’ sections. The decision regarding the participation in either of those sections will be based on the video application process.

‘Hitmaker’ Section

all age categories will receive following prizes:

• Single gold medal with honors for the best participant
• Five gold medals
• Five silver medals
• Ten bronze medals

Please note: above-mentioned prizes will be shared across all participating instruments (piano, strings and woodwind).

‘Advanced’ Section

Junior: 8 years & under

• Single gold medal with honors
• Single gold medal
• Single silver meda
• Single bronze medal

Kids: 9 – 12 years old

• Single gold medal with honors
• Single gold medal
• Single silver medal
• Single bronze medal

Youth: 13 – 18 years

• Single gold medal with honors, and $500AUD
• Single gold medal and $100AUD
• Single silver medal and $50AUD
• Single bronze medal

Senior: 19 & over

• Single gold medal with honors, and $600AUD
• Single gold medal and $150AUD
• Single silver medal and $100AUD
• Single bronze medal

The outcome of the semi-final shall be announced within the day on the 1st October 2019. An email will be sent to the finalist to inform of the candidacy. The list of AIMC finalist will be published on the website upon completion of the Semi-Final round.

Upon receiving the results from AIMC, candidate is required to proceed to make payment through the HGA website to confirm his/her candidacy. A payment link will be provided to assist the payment process.

Shopping cart (Payment) link: https://hitmaker.sg/product/australia-international-music-competition-final-local/

The competition schedule for the finals will be prepared and announced on the official website and sent to all candidates via email. Candidates are reminded to check your emails and the competition’s official website for the next day’s finals held on the 3rd and 4th October 2019.

Link to official website: https://hitmaker.sg/australia-international-music-competition/