[Entries Now 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 Foundation / 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 in five categories: Vocal, Piano, Strings, Wind Instruments, and Percussion. Entries will be accepted from April 1 (Wednesday) to May 10 (Sunday), 2026, for individuals aged 19 or younger who are enrolled in high school or an equivalent program. After a video screening, finalists will be announced on the Kansai Music Competition website. The final round will take place at the Osaka University of Arts Art Theater, where the judging committee will decide the winners on the same day, followed by an announcement of results and an awards ceremony at the venue.

Winners who achieve excellent results in the final round will receive a certificate of commendation in addition to supplementary prizes such as scholarships or exemption from first-year tuition fees and admission fees for Osaka University of Arts. Participation in both the video screening and the final round is free of charge.

We sincerely await the challenges of all those who aspire to a career in music and wish to test their talents.

For more details, please check the "Kansai Music Competition Website."

■ Application Guidelines

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

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

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

　　　　　　*Applications may close early if there are a large number of applicants.

・Final Round Date: June 14 (Sunday), 2026, starting at 11:00 (tentative)

・Final Round Venue: Osaka University of Arts Art Theater

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

・Awards and 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

　　　　　　【Category Excellence Award】Scholarship of 10,000 yen or exemption from admission fees

　　　　　　*First-year tuition fee exemption and admission fee exemption are limited to those who enroll in Osaka University of Arts.

　　　　　　【Special Prize for Selected Entrants】Book card (worth 5,000 yen)

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

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

　　　　　　Those who pass the video screening will be notified separately by email.

　　　　　　The final round will be held at the Osaka University of Arts Art Theater for those who passed 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 out the required information in the designated application form and attach the URL of your performance video for the video screening to apply.

　　　　　　If you do not receive an email from the Kansai Music Competition Secretariat 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

★Tsuyoshi Mihara

Kyoya Tashiro

Keiko Nagamatsu

・Piano Department

Yuko Nakamichi

Mari Kumamoto

Hiroyo Imagawa

・Strings Department

★Keiko Urushihara

Kentaro Otsuki

Yusuke Fujimori

・Wind Instruments Department

★Koichi Honda

Yoriko Fushida

Hiroaki Shiomi

・Percussion Department

★Yoshimasa Horiuchi

Yasuo Kotani

Masako Iguchi

★ = Department Chief

*Judges may be subject to change due to unavoidable circumstances.