[Entry Open] Kansai Music Competition 2026 Hosted by Osaka University of Arts: A Stage to Discover and Nurture Young Talent for the Future Music Scene

Osaka University of Arts (Tsukamoto Gakuin Educational Corporation / Location: Minamikawachi-gun, Osaka Prefecture / President: Kunihiko Tsukamoto) will host the "Kansai Music Competition 2026" with the aim of discovering and nurturing young performers who will lead the future music scene. The competition is open to individuals aged 19 or younger who are enrolled in high school or an equivalent program.

Kansai Music Competition Website URL: https://oua.osaka-geidai.ac.jp/kancon/

This competition will be held across five categories: vocal, piano, string instruments, wind instruments, and percussion instruments. Entries will be accepted from Wednesday, April 1, 2026, to Sunday, May 10, 2026, for individuals aged 19 or younger enrolled in high school or an equivalent program. After video screening, finalists will be announced on the Kansai Music Competition website. The final round will be held at the Osaka University of Arts Performing Arts Theater, where the judging committee will decide the award winners on the same day, followed by an announcement of results and an awards ceremony at the venue.

Those who achieve excellent results in the final round will receive certificates of commendation as well as supplementary prizes such as scholarships or exemption from Osaka University of Arts' first-year tuition fees and admission fees. Both video screening and the final round are free to participate in.

We sincerely look forward to the challenges of all those aspiring to a career in music and wishing to test their talents.

Please refer to the "Kansai Music Competition Website" for details.

Application Guidelines

・Categories: Vocal, Piano, String Instruments, Wind Instruments, Percussion Instruments

・Eligibility: Individuals aged 19 or younger enrolled in high school or an equivalent program.

・Application Period: April 1 (Wednesday), 2026 – May 10 (Sunday), 2026 (must arrive by this date)

*Application acceptance may close earlier if there are many applicants.

・Final Round Date & Time: June 14 (Sunday), 2025 (tentative) starting at 11:00 AM. (Note: Date for final round seems like a typo, should probably be 2026)

・Final Round Venue: Osaka University of Arts Performing Arts Theater

・Participation Fee: Free for both video screening and the final round

・Awards & Commendations: Finalists will receive a certificate of commendation and the following supplementary prizes

(Scholarship or exemption from Osaka University of Arts tuition/admission fees).

[Overall 1st Place] Scholarship of 100,000 yen OR exemption from first-year tuition fees

[Overall 2nd Place] Scholarship of 50,000 yen OR exemption from first-year tuition fees

[Overall 3rd Place] Scholarship of 30,000 yen OR exemption from first-year tuition fees

[Departmental Excellence Award] Scholarship of 10,000 yen OR exemption from admission fees

*First-year tuition fee exemption and admission fee exemption are limited to entrants of Osaka University of Arts.

[Special Prize for Selection] Book voucher (5,000 yen value)

・Judging Method: Video screening will be conducted based on performance video files uploaded to YouTube (unlisted).

Results of the video screening will be announced on the Kansai Music Competition website in late May.

Finalists will be notified separately via email.

The final round will be held at the Osaka University of Arts Performing Arts Theater for those who pass the video screening (open to the public).

The results of the final round will be decided by the judging committee on the same day, and an announcement and awards ceremony will be held at the venue.

・Application Method: Please fill in the required information on the designated application form and attach the URL of your performance video for video screening to apply.

If you do not receive an email from the Kansai Music Competition Office within 2 days after submitting the application form, please contact us by phone.

Kansai Music Competition Website: https://oua.osaka-geidai.ac.jp/kancon/

Judges

・Vocal Department

★ Go Mihara

Kyoya Tashiro

Keiko Nagamatsu

・Piano Department

Yuko Nakamichi

Mari Kumamoto

Hiroyo Imagawa

・String Instrument Department

Keiko Urushihara

Kentaro Otsuki

Yusuke Fujimori

・Wind Instrument Department

Koichi Honda

Yoriko Fushida

Hiroaki Shiomi

・Percussion Instrument Department

Yoshimasa Horiuchi

Yasuo Kotani

Masako Iguchi

★=Department Chief

*Judges are subject to change due to unavoidable circumstances.