Competitions › Montreal International Music Competition (Concours musical international de Montreal)

Montreal International Music Competition (Concours musical international de Montreal)

Montreal, Canada

Next edition

Edition: 2027
Dates: 24 April to 5 May 2027 (Piano 2027)
Location: Montreal

Overview

The Montreal competition runs one discipline per year on a rotating schedule (Violin 2026 was held 27 May to 4 June 2026). Candidates submit an application with a non-refundable fee, photos, references, repertoire list and three audition videos, then compete in a first round and semi-final with piano, followed by Mozart and Grand finals with orchestra.

Organiser: Concours musical international de Montreal (CMIM), 305 Mont-Royal Ave E, Montreal
Instruments: Voice, Violin, Piano (disciplines alternate annually: Piano 2027, Voice 2028, Violin 2029 upcoming)
Category: Solo piano, Solo violin, Opera & general voice
Rotating: Piano 2027, Voice 2028, Violin 2029
Next edition: Piano
Voice: next in 2028 · Violin: next in 2029
Age limits: Violin 2026: born between 1995 and 2009 inclusive. Other categories not verified.

Rules & repertoire

Registration & fee

deadline: 31 October 2025
fee: CAD 200, non-refundable (Violin 2026)
howToApply: Online via Muvac.com: form, fee, two photos, two references, repertoire list and three audition videos (Paganini caprice, Bach fugue, Beethoven sonata slow movement, excluding No. 9).

Rounds & time limits

First Round: program of 25 to 30 minutes (with piano)
Semifinal: program of 50 to 55 minutes (with piano)
Mozart Final: with orchestra
Grand Final: with orchestra; Closing Award Ceremony 4 June 2026

Repertoire

First Round: at least three works from three periods (a Baroque work, a virtuosic work from a listed composer, a work of choice). Semifinal: at least three works, including a complete sonata by a listed composer, a work of choice and a work by a Canadian composer. Mozart Final: one of four Mozart violin concertos (K.207, K.211, K.216, K.218). Grand Final: a major concerto from Appendix 2 list.

Jury & prizes

Jury

Violin 2026 jury chaired by Canadian violinist Lucie Robert; other members were to be announced in September 2025.

Prizes

Violin 2026 (CAD): more than 150,000 in prizes, awards and grants. First prize 70,000 (30,000 cash + 40,000 grant); second 25,000 (15,000 + 10,000 grant); third 20,000 (10,000 + 10,000 grant); audience choice award 5,000; Andre-Bourbeau Award 5,000; best Canadian work 2,500; unranked finalist grants 3,000 each.

Past editions

2026 — Montreal (27 May to 4 June 2026) source
Violin: First Prize Koshiro Takeuchi (grand cash prize CAD 30,000 plus Joseph-Rouleau Career Development Grant CAD 40,000, per competitor page).

Summarised from official sources, last checked 10 Nov 2026. Main source