8th Apex International Music Competition
Updated: Oct 5
Applications Now Open
The Global Musicians and Arts Association (GMAA) and Pioneer Arts and Humanities Association (PAHA) are excited to announce that the 8th Apex International Music Competition (AIMC) is now open for applications.
AIMC features a Live Audition + Live Concert format. Contestants who are unable to attend an in-person audition may participate through a YouTube video submission.
We invite young musicians from around the world to fulfill their music dreams, express the best of themselves, and share their talents with the public.
Introduction to Apex Competition
Fulfill Your Music Dream, Express the best of yourself.
Apex International Music Competition (AIMC) is organized by Pioneer Arts and Humanities Association, a Non-profit Organization to promote youth arts, music and humanities events in the United States. AIMC is also co-organized by Global Musicians and Arts Association and Vera's Music School. Our goal is to provide an international music platform for all nationalities who love music and want to demonstrate their talents to the public.
Since it was founded in 2019, Pioneer Arts and Humanities Association and Global Musicians and Arts Associations have successfully hosted Six competitions. AIMC is regarded by many parents and teachers as one of the most valuable music competitions in Tri-state areas. Close to 3,500 young musicians have attended our previous competitions in three branches including North America, China, and Europe. Over 1,500 winners have performed in our winners’ concerts in Merkin Concert Hall and Carnegie Hall. Apex Competition winners have been recognized by many US Top 20 colleges as one of the notable awards for admission considerations.
We are proud of our achievements and remain committed to creating additional performance, recognition, and educational opportunities for young musicians.
Competition Process and Requirements
1. Eligibility & Repertoire Requirements
Eligibility: AIMC is open for young musicians that perform piano, other instruments, voice, chorus, and composition. Age 5 - 30 of all nationalities are welcome.
Audition Repertoire:
Piano & Instrument (including Solo, Duet and Trio):
One piece less than 12 minutes from the baroque, classical, romantic, modern, and contemporary. musical eras.
Voice (including Solo, Duet and Trio):
One piece less than 8 minutes from all seven voice styles (soprano, contralto, tenor, Etc.). Pop music and jazz music are also welcome.
Composition:
One piece less than 8 minutes of any style that is written for piano or a piano in an ensemble. The composition manuscript shall be submitted in PDF format to us by email prior to the audition.
Choir (10 Singers or more):
One piece less than 6 minutes from all seven voice styles (soprano, contralto, tenor, Etc.). Pop music and jazz music are also welcome.
New in 2027! Chamber (5 Instrumentalists or more):
One piece less than 12 minutes from the baroque, classical, romantic, modern, and contemporary. musical eras.
The competition is divided into 5 different age groups:
Group Y: Age 5-7
Group J: Age 8-11
Group I: Age 12-14
Group T: Age 15-18
Group P: College or professional Level (18+)
There are no age groups for Choir and Chamber Competitions.
All contestants must perform their audition repertoire from memory..
2. Application
Please submit the completed application form through one of the following methods:
Option 1 — Mail
Download the AIMC application form from the official website, complete it, and mail it to the AIMC main office.
Option 2 — Email
Complete the application form in DOC or PDF format and email it to globalmusicians8@gmail.com
Option 3 — Online Application (Recommended for single entry)
Complete the online application form through: www.gimaaa.com
Application Fees
Category | Fee |
Solo | $100 |
Duet | $80 per member |
Group of 3 or more | $70 per member |
Choir/Ensemble with more than 10 members | $50 per person |
The application fee shall be submitted along with the application form by either a check or Zelle. *Application fee is non-refundable.
Check/Mail
Global Musicians & Arts Association
18 Cottonwood LnWarren, NJ 07059
Zelle
Send payment to:
Account name: Global Musicians & Arts Association
Application Deadline
February 21, 2027
3. Audition
Live Audition Location:
New Jersey Location:
3/20/2027 & 3/21/2027
Arts Building at Raritan Valley Community College (Instrument and Voice on 3/20/27, Instrument on 3/21/27 only)
118 Lamington Rd, Branchburg, NJ 08876
3/21/2027
Vera's Music School (Instrument only)
258 King George Rd Floor 2, Warren, NJ 07059
New York City Location:
3/13/2027
Glow Cultural Center (Instrument & Voice)
133-29 41st Ave floor 1, Flushing, NY 11355
3/14/2027
Opera America (Instrument only)
330 7th Ave 8th Floor, New York, NY 10001
South Korean Location
March 2027 (YouTube Only)
After AIMC receives an applicant's completed application and payment, the audition schedule will be emailed to the applicant at the email address provided on the application. Specific audition times and additional details will be sent no later than seven days before the scheduled live audition.
Judge Evaluation Forms will be included with the audition email. Contestants must:
Print the evaluation forms.
Complete the required information.
Bring two copies of the evaluation forms to the live audition.
Beginning in 2026, AIMC introduced a new group-based audition format at its New Jersey and New York locations. Contestants will be divided into small groups of approximately 6–10 contestants. Each group will enter the audition room together at its scheduled time. Contestants will then perform one at a time in a group setting designed to create a stage-performance environment.
Contestants must remain in the audition room until their entire group has completed the audition.
Family members and teachers are welcome to attend and support contestants.
Photography is not permitted during the audition. Personal video recording is permitted..
Contestants who cannot attend a live audition may participate by submitting a YouTube video of their performance.
The YouTube link must be emailed to:
Please indicate on the application form that you are participating through a virtual audition.
Video Requirements
The recording:
Must be continuous.
May not be altered, edited, or rearranged.
Must have been recorded within three months prior to the audition date.
May not be the same video used for another competition.
The email containing the YouTube link must include:
Performer’s name
Title of the composition
Composer’s name
YouTube Submission Deadline
March 14, 2027
4. Audition Results and Judging Criteria
Both the Live Audition and YouTube recordings will be evaluated by the Apex Judge Committee, which includes the college professors, music teachers or local famous musicians. Judges will score each contestant’s audition performance based on the following categories:
For Instrument and Voice: Technical, Performance and Music Interpretation
For Composition: Music Content, Creativity and Knowledge of Instrument
Each Category is worth 10 points and the highest score for each contestant is 30 points. The award ranking will be determined based on the audition scores with consideration of the contestant’s age group. If there are two judges at your audition location, the higher score of the two will be used to determine the rankings. The following awards will be determined by the judge committee and will be marked on the contestant’s evaluation form:
Grand Award
First Place Plus
First Place
Second Place
Third Place
Cash Prizes for Top Winners.
In addition to Award Certificates, Apex Competitions provide a total of $10,000 Cash Prizes to more than 50 winners (including groups) each year.
Ranking
Cash prize ranking is determined based on the contestant's average scores in the audition with the consideration of the contestant's age.
General Eligibility
A winner must physically attend the winner's concert to receive the cash prizes. A winner who does not attend the winners' concert (for any reasons) is not eligible to receive the cash prizes.
Cash prizes are earned based on achievement and are not automatically awarded simply because a prize category exists. A prize will not be awarded if no contestant meets the eligibility requirements for that prize. In such cases, the prize will remain vacant, and the cash award will not be automatically transferred to another contestant or lower award category.
Ties
In the event of a tie, the Competition Committee will review the applicable scores and competition criteria and will make the final determination regarding ranking and prize allocation.
Number of Awards
The number of winners listed for each category represents the anticipated number of awards. The Competition Committee reserves the right to adjust the number of recipients based on audition results.
Final Authority
All decisions regarding award eligibility, ranking, prize allocation, and special awards are subject to the final approval of the APEX International Music Competition Committee.
2027 Cash Prize Rankings:
I. SOLO, DUET & TRIO DIVISIONS
💎 Diamond Prize — $1,000
One Winner
Eligibility:
Awarded to the Grand Award Winner with the highest audition score overall, regardless of age group.
🏆 Platinum Prize — $500
2–3 Winners
Eligibility:
Awarded to Selected Grand Award Winners who achieve the highest audition score within their respective age groups.
Note: Not every age-group leader will receive a Platinum Prize. Platinum Prize Winners are not eligible for the Gold Prize for the same audition.
🥇 Gold Prize — $200–$250
Approximately 8–12 Winners
Eligibility:
Awarded to selected Grand Award Winners who achieve the top three highest audition scores within their respective age groups, excluding Platinum Prize Winners.
🥈 Silver Prize — $100–$150
Approximately 10–12 Winners
Eligibility:
Awarded to selected high scoring:
Grand Award Winners
1st Place Plus Award Winners
🥉 Bronze Prize — $50–$75
Approximately 12–15 Winners
Eligibility:
Awarded to selected high scoring:
Grand Award Winners
1st Place Plus Award Winners
II. GROUP DIVISIONS (Choir and Chamber)
🥇 Gold Prize — $2,000
One Group Only
Eligibility:
Awarded to the Grand Award Winners who achieve the highest audition scores.
🥈 Silver Prize — $1000
One Group Only
Eligibility:
Awarded to the Grand Award Winners who achieve the second highest audition scores
🥉 Bronze Prize — $500
Approximately 2 - 3 Groups
Eligibility:
Awarded to selected high scoring:
Grand Award Winners
1st Place Plus Award Winners
III. ADDITIONAL CASH AWARDS
In addition to the major ranking-based cash prizes, APEX may present additional cash awards recognizing exceptional achievement and participation.
Winners' Concert Performance Awards
Selected performers appearing in the APEX Winners' Concert may receive additional cash awards in recognition of outstanding concert performances.
5-Year Winner's Award
Special cash awards may be presented to eligible musicians who have achieved five years of recognition as APEX competition winners, honoring their continued musical excellence and commitment to the competition.
NEW in 2027! Selected 4-year Winner's Award may receive cash prize in the winners' concert.
6. Winners’ Concert
Selected grand award winners, first place plus winners, first place winners and second place winners will be eligible to perform in Apex Competition’s Winners Concerts, which will be held in Merking Concert Hall, Carnegie Hall and other venues between May to July.
Concert for Grand Award Winners and Selected First Place Plus Winners
Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, (1pm on June 6, 2027)
Concert fee: Solo- $700, Duet: $500 per person, Group of 3 or more: $400 per person, Call or email us for Group Choir Fee.
Complimentary Concert Photos included (No Video Recording)
Concert for Grand Award Winners and 1st Place Plus Winners
Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, 7:30pm on May 16, 2027
Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, 1pm on May 23, 2027
Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, 7:30pm on June 13, 2027
Concert fee: Solo- $330, Duet: $230 per person, Group of 3 or more: $200 per person, Call or email us for Group Choir Fee.
Complimentary Concert Photos included (No Video Recording)
Concert for 1st Place and 2nd Place Winners
Merkin Concert Hall: 2pm on May 22, 2027,
Merkin Concert Hall: 7pm on May 22, 2027,
Merkin Concert Hall: 2pm on May 29, 2027,
Merkin Concert Hall: 7pm on May 29, 2027
Concert fee: Solo- $285, Duet & Group of 3 or more: $195 per person. Call or email us for Group Choir Fee.
Complimentary Concert Photos and Archive Video recordings included
Information for Other Venues Coming Soon.
The concert fee shall be submitted by check or Zelle two weeks prior to the concert date.
The winner can select a repertoire that is different from what's performed in the audition with the music teacher's written permission. Final concert repertoire shall be one piece less than 6 minutes with no exceptions. An overtime charge will be applied to the concert fee if the winner selects a piece longer than 6 minutes.
Important! For contestants that are eligible to receive awards and are current residents in the NJ/NYC areas, the winners’ concert is part of the competition. In order to receive paper certification and any awards shown in the section below, the eligible winner participants shall physically perform in the winners’ concerts and may not leave the concert until its conclusion. Eligible contestants who do not participate in the concert may be considered withdrawn from the competition and may not receive awards.
For Contestants from other states or overseas, the winners’ concert is optional and a digital copy of the certificate will be emailed to each winner upon request. Paper copies of the certificate and trophies can be ordered for winners out of tri-states (Shipping & Handling fee must apply). More information regarding the winners’ concert will be sent out to eligible winners through emails prior to the concert.
For 3rd place winners, a digital certificate (PDF) will be emailed to each winner. Paper copies of the certificate and trophies can be ordered for an extra fee.
7. Winner Awards
Selected winners will receive special awards from Apex Competition Committee which include:
Customized winner’s certificates by AIMC (See Section 6 for conditions)
Customized teacher’s certificate
Customized trophies included for winners attending winners' concerts.
Special Certificates for 3, 4 & 5-year consecutive winners.
Cash Prizes, Special trophy and College Recommendation letter (Upon Request) for 5-year consecutive winners.
Five levels of cash prizes up to $1,000 (Solo) and $2,000 (Group) for selected grand and 1st place plus winners. (See Section 5 for More Information).
Publicity promotions by Global Musicians and Arts Association
Performance Award & Prizes to selected winners attending winners’ concerts.
All awards will be distributed at the winners’ concert only.
Registration and Zelle Account Email：
Main Office Address:
Global Musicians & Arts Association
18 Cottonwood Ln
Warren, NJ 07059
201-349-7912
2027 AIMC — Important Dates at a Glance
Date | Event | |
February 21, 2027 | Application Deadline (Both Live and YouTube) | |
March 13, 2027 | NY Live Audition — Flushing | |
March 14, 2027 | NYC Live Audition — Location TBD / YouTube Submission Deadline | |
March 20–21, 2027 | NJ Live Auditions — Raritan Valley Community College | |
March 21, 2027 | NJ Live Audition — Vera's Music School | |
March 2027 | South Korea Audition — TBD | |
May–July 2027 | Winners' Concerts | |
May 16, 2027 | Weill Recital Hall — 7:30 PM | |
May 22, 2027 | Merkin Concert Hall — 2:00 PM / 7:00 PM | |
May 23, 2027 | Weill Recital Hall — 1:00 PM | |
May 29, 2027 | Merkin Concert Hall — 2:00 PM / 7:00 PM | |
June 13, 2027 | Weill Recital Hall — 7:30 PM | |
June 6, 2027 | Zankel Hall — 1:00 pm |
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