The 44th Daegu International
Vocal Competition
Rules & Regulations

1. Eligibility

Male and female vocal majors of any nationality, born between August 22, 1990 and August 21, 2008, are eligible to participate. Applicants must submit all required application materials via the official competition website (www.daegumusic.com) within the designated application period. Submitted documents cannot be modified or returned after the application deadline.

  • 1) Application Form
    - The application form must include personal information, voice type, educational background, teachers, awards, and competition repertoire.
    - Applicants must provide a YouTube link to their performance video for the preliminary round.
    <Video Regulations>
    · The video must have been recorded within the past year. (Performance videos involving orchestra collaboration or similar large ensembles are not permitted.)
    · The video must be recorded in one continuous take, “one-take,” using a single stationary camera or mobile phone. (Editing or cuts are not allowed.)
    · The performer’s full body must be clearly visible so the participant’s identity can be verified.
    · The recorded video must be uploaded to YouTube, and the exact URL must be entered in the application form. Videos that are set to private, inaccessible, or unplayable may result in disqualification.

    - Selection of preferred semi-final city
  • 2) Copy of Passport or ID
  • 3) One Upper-Body Profile Photo (high resolution)
    - Minimum 1MB, JPG or PNG format

2. Application Period

  • Preliminary Round (Video Submission): March 11, 2026 (Wed) - April 12, 2026 (Sun) (by 24:00 KST)

3. Application Fee

  • Preliminary Round (Video): EUR 35 (bank charges excluded)
  • Semi-Final Round (for selected participants): EUR 70 (bank charges excluded)

The application fee must be paid via the online payment system linked to the official website after submitting the application form. Accepted payment methods include VISA, MasterCard, and PayPal.
If these payment methods are unavailable, bank transfer is possible using the following account (Application fees are non-refundable) :

  • Bank: IM BANK
  • Bank Address: 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 Address: 3F, 164-2, Myeongdeok-ro, Nam-gu, Daegu, South Korea

* Upon payment of the application fee, participation in the competition is confirmed, and a formal contractual relationship is established between the participant and the Competition Secretariat in accordance with these regulations.

4. Inquiries

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

5. Competition Format

The 44th Daegu International Vocal Music Competition consists of three stages: Preliminary Round (Video), Semi-Final Round, Final Round

  • 1) Preliminary Round (Video Submission): March 11 - April 12, 2026
  • 2) Announcement of Semi-Finalists: April 24, 2026, 17:00 (via official website)
  • 3) Semi-Final Rounds:
    New York: May 22, 2026 - Korean Cultural Center, New York
    Milan: June 18-19, 2026 - Conservatorio di Musica Giuseppe Verdi di Milano
    Daegu: August 14-15, 2026 - Daegu Concert House
  • 4) Final Round: August 21, 2026 - Daegu Concert House, Grand Hall
  • Preliminary rounds are conducted by video evaluation. Semi-final rounds are closed to the public.
  • The final round is a public concert: Korean art songs with piano accompaniment, and Opera arias with orchestra
  • If orchestral scores or parts are unavailable, the repertoire may be changed by mutual agreement between the participant and the Organizing Committee.

Performance Order

Performance order for the semi-final rounds will be determined by lot drawing under the supervision of the Organizing Committee Chair and announced by city on the official website.

  • New York: May 22, 2026 - Korean Cultural Center, New York
  • Milan: June 18-19, 2026 - Conservatorio di Musica Giuseppe Verdi di Milano
  • Daegu: August 14-15, 2026 - Daegu Concert House

* Final round performance order will be announced individually to participants.

6. Accompanists and Rehearsals

  • Official accompanists will be provided for the semi-final and final rounds. Participants may bring their own accompanists if they wish.
  • Rehearsal times and venues will be provided.
  • Finalists will receive:
    One rehearsal with a pianist (Korean art songs)
    One rehearsal with the orchestra (opera arias)

7. Jury

The competition follows the official jury regulations of the Daegu International Vocal Music Competition.

  • The jury consists of distinguished national and international experts.
  • All jury decisions are final and irrevocable.

8. Interpretation of Rules

In case of any dispute or ambiguity regarding these regulations, the Korean version and Korean law shall prevail. All decisions made by the Organizing Committee and Jury are final and not subject to appeal.

9. Travel and Accommodation

  • All travel and accommodation expenses are the responsibility of the participant.
  • Airfare and accommodation shall be provided exclusively to participants who qualify for the Final Round via the Semi-Final Round. (airfare and accommodation directly provided by the Organizing Committee)
  • Foreign participants may request visa-related documents from the Secretariat; all related fees are the participant’s responsibility.

10. Rights

  • By submitting the application, participants grant the competition all portrait and copyright rights related to submitted materials, which may be used for promotional purposes without compensation.
  • In cases of force majeure, the Secretariat reserves the right to modify the rules and competition procedures.

Awards

Category Award name Prize amount
1st Prize Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award KRW 25,000,000
2nd Prize Mayor of Daegu Award
Chairman of Dongil Cultural Scholarship Foundation Award 		KRW 10,000,000
3rd Prize President of Daegu Foundation for Arts & Culture Award
Chairman of the Korea Music Association Award 		KRW 7,000,000
Special Prizes Artistic Director Award KRW 2,000,000
President of Daegu Music Association Award KRW 1,000,000
Corporate Awards
(10 recipients)		 KRW 10,000,000
(KRW 1,000,000 each)
Korean Art Song Award
(1 Korean, 1 foreigner)		 KRW 2,000,000
(KRW 1,000,000 each)
Accompanist Award KRW 1,000,000
Daegu Opera House Special Award Casting for “The 2027 International Opera Festival”
“The 2027 International Opera Festival” Opern Studio
Seoul Metropolitan Opera Special Award Seoul Metropolitan Opera debut

* A total of KRW 58,000,000 will be awarded.

* Awards may be withheld at the jury’s discretion.

* Prize money shall be paid in accordance with the prize payment agreement, after applicable taxes have been withheld in compliance with the tax laws of the Republic of Korea.

* Winners of 1st or 2nd Prize must perform as a special performer at the 45th Daegu International Vocal Music Competition Awards Ceremony held in 2027. (All related travel, accommodation, and performance fees are included in the prize money for the 2027 special awards ceremony.)

Required Repertoire

Category Song title and conditions Venue / Remarks
Preliminary Round
(1 piece)		 One opera or oratorio aria
(Italian opera or oratorio)		 Video Submission
Semi-Final Round
(2 pieces)		 Two opera or oratorio arias
(Works must not be by the same composer or in the same language.) 		U.S.A (New York)
EUROPE (Milan)
ASIA (Daegu)
Final Round
(3 pieces)		 One Korean art song ASIA (Daegu)
Two opera or oratorio arias
(must include one Italian opera aria)
General Repertoire Rules
  • All pieces must be performed from memory, in the original language and key.
  • Languages must be selected from: Italian, German, French, English, Russian.
  • Semi-final and final repertoires must not overlap. Submitted repertoire cannot be changed.
  • For the Final Round, the required repertoire must include at least one Italian opera or oratorio aria.
  • In the Semi-Final Round, contestants must perform the piece(s) requested by the jury from among the repertoire submitted in the application.
  • The jury may request additional pieces. All scores must be brought by the applicants on the competition day.
  • Foreign participants may request assistance regarding Korean art song repertoire and scores.

DAEGU MUSIC ASSOCIATION