The 43rd SINCE 1983
Daegu International Vocal Music Competition Rule and Conditions

1. Application

The 43rd Daegu International Vocal Music Competition is open to all singers regardless of nationality. Male and Female vocal music professionals born between August 27, 1989 to August 26, 2007 are qualified to apply. Applicants must submit an online application form including all documents stated on the competition’s official website (www.daegumusic.com) by the application deadline. Submitted documents can not be changed or returned after the application deadline.

  • 1) Online application form
    - Required info: personal information, type of voice, education, teachers, prizes and repertoire of each round
    - Select the city to participate in the Preliminary round
  • 2) Scanned copy of passport or identity card validating age and nationality
  • 3) Portrait photograph of the participant in JPG or PNG (no less than 1MB)

2. Application period

  • 1) Preliminary round in Europe: April 28, 2025 - June 4, 2025
  • 2) Preliminary round in U.S.A: May 12, 2025 - July 1, 2025
  • 3) Preliminary round in Korea: June 23, 2025 - August 4, 2025

3. Entry fee

Applicants are required to transfer the entry fee to the bank account below during the application period for the selected Preliminary Round. The entry fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.

  • 1) Preliminary round in Europe: EUR 120 (banking fees to be covered by the applicant)
    - Entry fee can be paid on site for the European preliminary round.
  • Bank: IM BANK
  • Bank Branch: 2310, DALGUBEOL-DAERO, SUSEONG-GU, DAEGU, SOUTH KOREA
  • SWIFT CODE: DAEBKR22
  • Account holder: DAEGU MUSIC ASSOCIATION (LEE SANG JIK)
  • Account Number: 532-10-168382-7
  • Account Branch: 3 FLOOR, 164-2, MYEONGDEOK-RO, NAM-GU, DAEGU, SOUTH KOREA
  • 2) Preliminary round in U.S.A: USD 100 (banking fees to be covered by the applicant)
    - Entry fee can be paid on site for the American preliminary round.
  • Bank: IM BANK
  • Bank Branch: 2310, DALGUBEOL-DAERO, SUSEONG-GU, DAEGU, SOUTH KOREA
  • SWIFT CODE: DAEBKR22
  • Account holder: DAEGU MUSIC ASSOCIATION (LEE SANG JIK)
  • Account Number: 532-10-168382-7
  • Account Branch: 3 FLOOR, 164-2, MYEONGDEOK-RO, NAM-GU, DAEGU, SOUTH KOREA
  • 3) Preliminary round in Korea: KRW 150,000 (banking fees to be paid by the applicant)
    - Applicants in the Preliminary round in Korea can only pay via account transfer and on-site cash payment is not possible.
    - Notify the secretary general by email if the name of the depositor is different from the name of the participant..
  • Bank: IM(아이엠)뱅크
  • Account Holder: 사단법인 대구음악협회
  • Account Number: 504-10-623630-8

Payment of the entry fee will be considered the conclusion of a formal agreement between the participant and the competition regarding his/her participation in the Competition under the rules and conditions of the Daegu International Vocal Music Competition.

4. Contact

  • Phone: +82-53-656-7733
  • Email: dgvocalmusic@gmail.com
  • Website: www.daegumusic.com

5. Competition procedures

The 43rd Daegu International Vocal Music Competition will be held in preliminary round, semi-final round and final round.

  • 1) Preliminary round in Europe: June 12 - 13, 2025
    Conservatory of G.Verdi (Verdi Hall), Milan, Italy
  • 2) Preliminary round in U.S.A: July 11, 2025
    National Opera Center (Marc A. Scorca Hall), New York, U.S.A
  • 3) Preliminary round in Korea: August 15 - 16, 2025
    Daegu Concert House (Grand Hall), Daegu, Republic of Korea
  • 4) Semi-final round: August 24. 2025
    Daegu Concert House (Grand Hall), Daegu, Republic of Korea
  • 5) Final round: August 26, 2025
    Daegu Concert House (Grand Hall), Daegu, Republic of Korea
  • Only those who have been eliminated from the European and American rounds can re-enter the Korean round entry.
  • The preliminary and semi-final rounds will be held privately.
  • The final round will be held as a public concert. Korean art songs will be accompanied by piano, while opera arias will be performed with an orchestra.
  • If there is no orchestral score or part score for the final round performance, the final round performance can be changed after consultation with the Daegu Music Association.

The order of the preliminary round will be drawn in the presence of the Chairman of competition and announced on the official website (www.daegumusic.com)

  • 1) Preliminary round in Europe: June 9, 2025
  • 2) Preliminary round in U.S.A: July 7, 2025
  • 3) Preliminary round in Korea: August 11, 2025

The order of performances for the semi-final and final rounds will be individually notified to the participants.

6. Accompanist and Rehearsal

  • · Competition will provide a pianist for the preliminary round in Europe, in U.S.A and the semi-final round. Participants may also bring their own accompanists if desired.
  • · Participants in the preliminary round in Korea must bring their own accompanists.
  • · International participants in the preliminary round in Korea may request the secretary general for assistance in arranging an accompanist.
  • · Final round participants will have one rehearsal session with the pianist(for Korean art song) and the orchestra(for opera aria) before the final performance.

7. Judging

This competition will be conducted in accordance with the Daegu International Vocal Music Competition's judging regulations.

  • · The jury committee will consist of internationally recognized jury members. and all evaluations will be conducted according to the Daegu Music Association's judging regulations.
  • · All decisions made by the Jury committee are final.

8. Interpretation of the rules and conditions

Should any dispute regarding the interpretation of any part of the Ruled and Conditions of the 43rd Daegu International Vocal Music Competition, the Rules and Conditions in the Korean language as well as relevant codes of the Republic of Korea will be the only legal basis. All decisions made by the Daegu Music Association and the Jury Committee are final and are not subject to appeal.

9. Airfare and Accommodation

  • · The travel expenses and per diem incurred from participation in the competition shall be borne by the participant.
  • · Only candidates who advance to the Semi-final round through the preliminary rounds in Europe and U.S.A will receive airfare support of KRW 1,000,000, subject to tax deduction in accordance with Korean tax law.
  • · Accommodation will be provided only for Semi-final and Final rounds candidates who apply in advance.
  • · Foreign nationals requiring a visa in order to enter the Republic of Korea will be provided with the necessary documents. The Visa fees are the participant’s responsibility.

10. Rights

  • · By submitting an application form, participants grant the competition full rights to their portrait and copyright-related materials. These materials may be used for future promotional purpose of the competition, and participants shall not be entitled to any compensation.
  • · If rules change due to circumstance, the Daegu Music Association reserves the right to make changes to the rules, including how it will be done.

Prizes

A total of KRW 58,000,000in cash will be awarded.

Category Award name Prize amount
1° Prize Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Prize KRW 20,000,000
2° Prize Daegu Metropolitan City Mayor's Prize each KRW 7,000,000
Dongil Cultural Scholarship Foundation Chairman's Prize
3° Prize Daegu Foundation for Culture&Arts President's Prize each KRW 4,000,000
The Music Association of Korea Chairman's Prize
Special Prize Art Director's Special Prize KRW 2,000,000
Daegu Music Association President's Prize KRW 1,000,000
Corporate Special Prize (10person) each KRW 1,000,000
Korean art song Special Prize (International participant 1 person, Korean participant 1 person) each KRW 1,000,000
Accompanist Prize KRW 1,000,000
The Daegu Opera House Special Prize
- 2025 Daegu International Opera Festival Main Opera <Le Nozze di Figaro> Debut
- 2026 Daegu Opera House OPERNSTUDIO selection
Seoul Metropolitan Opera Special Prize
- Debut at Seoul Metropolitan Opera
  • There may be no winners depending on the Jury's evaluation.
  • Prize money will be awarded after tax deduction according to the Korean tax law.
  • The First prize winner and the second prize winner must perform as a special performers at the 44th Daegu International Vocal Music Competition to be held in 2026.(The prize money includes airfare, accommodation, and performance fees for a special performance in 2026)

Repertoire

Category Song title and conditions
Preliminary and Semi-final Rounds
(A total of 2 songs)		 2 Arias from Opera or Oratorio
(One will be sung in Italian)
Final Round
(A total of 2 songs)		 1 Korean Art Song
1 Aria from Opera or Oratorio
  • Participants must perform from memory in the original language and key.
  • The repertoire must consist of pieces for performance in Italian, German, French, English and Russian.
  • Preliminary, Semi-final Rounds and Final Round pieces must not overlap, and repertoire submitted on the application cannot be changed.
  • The preliminary and semi-final rounds must include at least one Italian opera aria or oratorio.
  • For the preliminary round, candidates may choose one piece from their submitted repertoire.
  • For the semi-final round, the jury will select one piece for the performance.
  • At the jury's discretion, additional performances may be requested. Candidates must bring all sheet music of their submitted repertoire on the competition day.
  • Foreign participants may inquire the secretary general regarding the repertoire and sheet music for the Korean art song.

DAEGU MUSIC ASSOCIATION