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Competitions

Competitions

The 11th Kobe International Flute Competition

JURY and COLLABORATING ARTISTS
CONTESTANTS
COMPETITION DATES August 29 [Fri] through September 7 [Sun] , 2025
  • First Round　August 29 [Fri] -30 [Sat] , and September 1 [Mon] -2 [Tue]
  • Second Round　September 4 [Thu]
  • Final Round　September 6 [Sat]
  • Awards Ceremony　September 6 [Sat]
  • Exhibition Concert　September 7 [Sun]
VENUE Kobe Bunka Hall, Medium Hall
(4-2-2 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, JAPAN)
ELIGIBILITY The Competition is open to flutists of all nationalities born between 1992 and 2009
(between the ages of 15 to 32 as of December 31, 2024).
APPLICATION PERIOD September 1, 2024 through October 31, 2024 at 5:00 PM JST/GMT+9
APPLICATION METHODS

Applicants must submit following 1) to 5) through the online application service “MUVAC” from the Competition’s website (https://kobe-flute.jp/en/).
Application is considered as final upon submission of all documents 1) to 5) and a confirmation of the payment 6).
Please note that MUVAC requires account registration in advance.
After completing your application, a completion email will be automatically sent from MUVAC.

  1. Application Form
    • Fill out the required information.
  2. Image file of a recent photograph
    • A front facing, upper-body, color photograph, taken within 6 months prior to the application date.
    • he photograph is preferably in JPEG format and at least 1MB in size.
    • The photograph will be used in the official brochure and other promotional materials. It must be free of copyrights restriction.
  3. Proof of Age
    • PDF or JPEG file of an official document (passport recommended) that can prove applicant’s age.
  4. Video Recording for the Preliminary Screening
    • Video recordings of pieces for the Preliminary Screening. The recordings must not be edited or processed in any way.
    • The videos must strictly comply with “2-5.Video Recording Requirements” described in the Rules and Conditions.
    • The videos must be submitted along with the designated certificate signed by a third person.

    Download Certification Form

  5. PDF file of the score of the unaccompanied piece to be performed in the final round
  6. Application Fee JPY 20,000 (inc. tax)

Read “Rules and Conditions” carefully before making an application.
Payment of Application Fee Application fee of JPY 20,000 must be paid online via the MUVAC at the time of application.
*All transaction fees shall be borne by the applicant.
*The application fee is not refundable under any circumstances.
REPERTOIRE Refer to Repertoire page.
STRUCTURE OF THE COMPETITION The Competition consists of three rounds: the First, Second, and Final Rounds. A maximum of 40 contestants who passed the Preliminary Screening (video pre-selection) will participate in the Competition. The order in which contestants perform will be determined by drawing lots for each round. All performances will be open to the public and streamed online.
PRIZES

First prize: 2,000,000 Japanese yen / Certificate of Merit
Second prize: 1,000,000 Japanese yen / Certificate of Merit
Third prize: 500,000 Japanese yen / Certificate of Merit
Forth to sixth prizes: 200,000 Japanese yen / Certificate of Merit

  • Special prizes may be awarded apart from those mentioned above.
  • Additional awards may be given by organizations or individuals who support the objectives of the Competition.
  • The prize money shall be given after any necessary taxes are deducted according to the tax laws of Japan. The applicable tax rate, in principle, is 20.42%.
  • The highest prizewinner may be invited to give solo recitals in Kobe or elsewhere in Japan, and to perform as a soloist with major orchestras in Japan.
JURY

Chairperson
SAKAI Hideaki

Members
Silvia CAREDDU
Michael FAUST
Renate GREISS-ARMIN
Timothy HUTCHINS
Hiroaki KANDA
Andrea LIEBERKNECHT
Andrea OLIVA
PIAO Meixiang

*Yumiko SAKUMA has decided to withdraw from her position as judge due to personal reasons. Hiroaki KANDA will replace her as judge. (Updated on August 7, 2025)

*Felix Renggli has decided to withdraw from his position as judge due to personal reasons. Michael Faust will replace him as judge. (Updated on March 19, 2025)

Contestants

Please see the Contestants page

APPLICATION GUIDELINES Read “Rules and Conditions” carefully before making application.
SPECIAL SPONSORSHIP Ryukakusan Co., Ltd.
Kobe Bunka Mother Port Club

Other corporate sponsorships and individual supporters can be found here
GRANTS
Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, Agency for Cultural Affairs Cultural Arts Promotion Grant 2025 (Functional enhancement promotion project for theaters, music halls, etc.) Japan Arts Council.

Tsutomu Nakauchi Foundation
SUPPORTER Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Hyogo Prefecture, Asia Flutists Federation
Asahi Television Broadcasting Corporation, Japan Broadcasting Corporation Kobe Station, Kiss FM KOBE, Kobe Shimbun, Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS), Radio Kansai, SUN-TV, The Asahi Shimbun Kobe Bureau, The Mainichi Newspapers Kobe Bureau, The Sankei Shimbun Kobe Bureau, The Yomiuri Shimbun
CONTACT Secretariat for the Management Committee of the Kobe International Flute Competition
JURY and COLLABORATING ARTISTS
CONTESTANTS