Competitions › Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition
Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition
Next edition
- Edition
- 2027
- Dates
- 2-9 July 2027
- Location
- Melbourne
- Registration deadline
- 30 September 2026 (passed as of lastVerified date)
Source: micmc.au
Overview
The MICMC is a chamber competition for string quartets and piano trios, held in Melbourne and described as held every four years. Custodianship is in transition from Musica Viva Australia to a new team after Creative Victoria funding ended in 2025.
- Organiser
- Musica Viva Australia was custodian; the official site announces a transfer of custodianship to a new team, not named on the page read.
- Instruments
- String quartet, Piano trio
- Category
- Piano chamber music, String quartet, Piano trio & quartet
- Age limits
- Ensemble members must be under 35 (micmc.au, 2027 edition). The 2023 regulations set 36 (ensemble members not exceeding 36 years).
Rules & repertoire
Registration & fee
deadline: 30 September 2026 (per micmc.au for the 2027 edition)
fee: USD 280, non-refundable (2023 regulations);
Rounds & time limits
- Preliminary screening: no time limit
- Round One: maximum 60 minutes
- Round Two: maximum 60 minutes
- Semi-final: maximum 45 minutes
- Final: no time limit
Repertoire
Round One: a complete Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven Op.18 quartet (or Op.1 trio) plus a complete 20th-century work (own choice added within 60 minutes). Round Two: the MICMC commissioned work plus a complete 19th-century Romantic work (Beethoven and Schubert excluded). Semi-final: a complete Beethoven quartet or trio (not Op.18 or Op.1), or a complete Schubert work. Final: one complete work of the ensemble's choice not performed earlier.
Jury & prizes
Jury
- Minimum seven judges plus a non-voting Chairperson for Rounds One, Two, Semi-final and Final (2023 regulations).
Prizes
- 2023 regulations, AUD: Grand Prize AUD 30,000 (winner of either division, plus Australian engagements). String Quartet: 1st 30,000; 2nd 20,000; 3rd 10,000; Best Commissioned Work 4,000; Audience Prize 8,000. Piano Trio: 1st 22,500; 2nd 15,000; 3rd 7,500; Best Commissioned Work 3,000; Audience Prize 6,000. Official site (current) states a prize pool of over $150,000 in cash (currency not specified).
Past editions
- 2023 — Melbourne source
The 2023 regulations list Grand Prize and division prizes.
Summarised from official sources, last checked 10 Nov 2026. Main source