Application procedure

The 2nd Giuditta Pasta Memorial 

Kumamoto Reconstruction International Opera Competition

Application procedure

1. Application eligibility

1. Contestants of any nationality may apply.

2. Contestants must be 20 or older as of October 30th, 2023, all voice types may apply.

3. Contestants with vocal music trainings are encouraged to apply, though contestants with any education background, performance history or affiliations are eligible.

4. Winner of the 1st Giuditta Pasta Memorial Competition (2022) may not apply.

5. Finalists of the 1st Giuditta Pasta Memorial Competition (2022), or finalists from any of the competitions below within the past 5 years (2018 April or later) may choose to be exempted from the 1st round and advance directly to the 2nd round if desired.
   <The Music Competition of Japan, Japan-Italy Vocal Competition, Takarazuka Vega Music Competition, Tokyo Music Competition>
   * Please indicate on the application form if the contestant wishes to be exempted from the 1st round.

2. Application period

July 1st, 2023 (Sat.) ~ Sept. 15th, 2023 (Fri.)

3. Application procedure

Please fill out the designated application and send all of the requested documents below by mail to the following mailing address:
Japan-Italy International Cultural Exchange Association, ASCI competition organizing committee
572-1 Hetami, Kamimashiki district, Mifune, Kumamoto, JAPAN 861-3206

　※ Applicants outside of Japan may send the application forms as PDF files by email
　　<office@ascicon.com>

1. Application form (please use the designated template):
   - Music portfolio (performance & competition history, mentors etc.)
   - Photo of the applicant (5 cm x 6 cm, monochrome or color, taken within 1 year)
   *Application form may be downloaded from the competition website.

2. Copy of document that verifies the contestant’s date of birth (passport, driver’s license, healthcare insurance, etc.)

3. Registration fee 25,000 yen.
   Please make the transfer to the account in D) under the contestant’s name (handling fees may apply)
   Please be aware that once paid, the registration fee cannot be refunded under any circumstances, including withdrawal from the competition.

4. Transfer account: Higo Bank, Mifune Branch, 1546477, Nichii Kokusai Bunka Kouryu Kyoukai 

4. Adjudication dates and venues

1. Adjudications are divided into the 1st round, the 2nd round and the final round.
   *[1-5] 2nd round schedules for contestants who wish to be exempted from the 1st round will be adjusted after the 1st round is finished.

2. Adjudication dates and venues are listed below. All adjudications are open to the public.

Preliminary dress rehearsal  Oct. 25, 2023 (Wed.)   Mifune Culture Center Hall

1st round.    Oct. 26, 2023 (Thu.)  Mifune Culture Center Hall

                        Oct. 27, 2023 (Fri.)    Mifune Culture Center Hall

2nd round    Oct. 28, 2023 (Sat.)   Mifune Culture Center Hall

Final dress rehearsal   Oct. 29, 2023 (Sun.)   Mifune Culture Center Hall

Final round (open concert)   Oct. 30, 2023 (Mon.)   Kumamoto Prefectural Theater  Concert Hall

5. Pieces to be judged

1st round: one aria of choice from any opera (within 8 minutes)

2nd round: one aria of choice from an Italian opera (within 8 minutes)
*Composer must be Italian, must not repeat the same piece performed in the 1st round.

Final round: one opera aria (within 10 minutes)

*Contestant will submit two arias of choice (at least one must be written by an Italian composer). Adjudicators will appoint one of the two pieces to be performed for the final round after the 2nd round is finished. Must not repeat the same pieces performed in the 1st and 2nd rounds.

• Pieces must be performed in their original languages with lyrics memorized, and in their original keys in principle (transpositions commonly done among performers for specific pieces are acceptable).

• Contestants should state the 4 pieces to be performed for the 1st, 2nd and final rounds in the application form.

• Pieces may be shortened where appropriate to ensure they can be finished with the given time limits.

• Pieces must be approved by the adjudicators beforehand. If a piece is deemed not suitable, the contestant will be contacted by the organizing committee within 10 days after receiving the application to request for a resubmission.

• Performances that exceed the given time limits may result in penalties.

6. Results announcements

1. 1st round: results will be posted at the venue after adjudication on Oct. 27 (Fri.)

2. 2nd round: results will be posted at the venue after adjudication on Oct. 28 (Sat.)

3. Final round: award ceremony will start on stage after adjudication on Oct. 30 (Mon.)

7. Prizes and awards

1. 1st ~ 3rd place winners will be announced, all other contestants who advanced to the final round are considered finalists.

2. Award recipient placements may be vacant pending on circumstances.

3. 1st place: 700,000 yen, certificate of merit, trophy
   *Eligible to compete in Concorso Internazionale di Canto Lirico Giuditta Pasta (final) in Saronno, Italy.
   *Include financial support of up to 200,000 yen for travelling to compete in Concorso Internazionale di Canto Lirico Giuditta Pasta.
   2nd place: 300,000 yen, certificate of merit, trophy
   3rd place: 100,000 yen, certificate of merit, trophy
   finalists: 30,000 yen (4th place etc.)
   Special awards:
   a) Giuditta Pasta Memorial Opera Special Award
   b) Outstanding Young Vocalist Award
   c) Kumamoto Future Award
   d) Enterprise Special Award
   * a) Eligible to compete in Concorso Internazionale di Canto Lirico Giuditta Pasta (semi-final) in Saronno, Italy.
   * c) Eligible to compete in Concorso Internazionale di Canto Lirico Giuditta Pasta in Saronno, Italy.

8. Piano accompanists

1. All pieces to be adjudicated must be accompanied by piano, contestants may bring their own accompanists of choice.

2. If accompanists are not available, contestants may request for an official accompanist provided by the organizing committee. Contestants may not appoint specific accompanists.
   * An accompanist fee of 12,000 yen will be charged per official accompanist request, please pay the accompanist fee together with the registration fee when applying.
   * Please send copies of the accompany piano scores (2 for the 1st and 2nd rounds, 2 for the final round), with notations of cuts and other modifications where applicable, by mail to the organization committee (only when official accompanists are requested).
   * Attendance to the dress rehearsal with the accompanist at the designated time on Oct. 25 (Wed.) is mandatory (please contact the organizing committee beforehand if the contestant wishes to be exempted from 1st round)
   * Please be aware that once paid, the accompanist fee cannot be refunded under any circumstances, including withdrawal from the competition.

9. Travel and accommodation

1. Contestants are responsible for all associated costs including travel, accommodation and the accompanists’ honoraria, etc.

2. Financial aids will be provided to finalists for the accommodation starting from the end of the 2nd round to the end of the final round (3 nights) for up to 5,000 yen per night, provided that they stay in the designated hotel. Discounts will be available when using the designated taxi service to travel to the venue.
   * Designated hotel: The Legato Inn MIFUNE (Tel: 096-202-7708)
   * Designated taxi service: Mifune Taxis (Tel: 0120-450-125, reservations are required)

10. Adjudicators

DEGUCHI Masako (Japan, head adjudicator): councilor, Japan-Italy Music Association; soprano opera singer.

Maurizio MORETTA (Italy): art director, Giuditta Pasta Memorial International Opera Competition; art   director, Festival Como Città della Musica; art director, Festival Varenna.

Dong-Hwan LEE (Korea): Professor, Yeungnam University; baritone opera singer; guest soloist, Deutsche Oper Berlin

ICHIHARA Taro (Japan):  head adjudicator, Japan-Italy Vocal Competition; tenor opera singer.

HORIUCHI Yasuo (Japan): professor, Musashino Academia Musicae; member, Fujiwara Opera

HAGIYA Yukiko (Japan): music critic

SAKUMA Shinichi (Japan): chairman, Japan-Italy International Cultural Exchange Association;representative, Kumamoto City Opera Association; member, Tokyo Nikikai Opera Foundation.

* Official accompanists:

YAGI Tomoko: pianist, Tokyo Nikikai Opera Foundation; lecturer, Tokyo College of Music.

HAYASHIHARA Yuri: pianist, Giuditta Pasta Memorial Kumamoto Reconstruction International Opera Competition.