The 27th St. Cecilia International Music Competition 2026

Links to Application Form
Solo Class [Online] [Mail]
Ensemble Class [Online] [Mail]
Group [Online] [Mail]

Competition Guidelines
Guidelines for Choosing Music
Download the Listing
of Competition

Adjudicators:

Mr. Matthews Tyson, the Director of the St. Cecilia School of Music, acts as the Chairman of Adjudicators. 

Matthews Tyson
FAIM L.Mus.TCL; ATCL; FAGM; Hon TCL; F.Perf. ASMC; 
Hon SCSM; Hon FNMSM MIMT
Director and Founder, St. Cecilia School of Music and St. Cecilia Examinations 
Director of the Australian Society of Musicology and Composition

The other Adjudicators will be selected from the examiners and professors of the school and assigned by the Chairman of Adjudicators, the examiners in the following list may be selected for being adjudicators:

Stephen J. Elton (Tasmania) L.Mus. A Dip.Mus. LTCL, Emma Ayres (Victoria) Grad Dip. Royal Northern College of Music Professional Perf. Dip. RNCM (Manchester) Post. Grad Dip. VCA (Melb), Adam Jasinski (New Zealand) M.Mus (Warsaw) BA (Hons), Svetlana Kalinnikova (N. Zealand) B. Mus. M.Mus CBC, Michelle Portelli (Vic) B.Mus.  B.Teaching, Julie Adams (NSW) DSCM A.Mus.A ARCM LRAM, Rossitza Djangozova (NSW) B.Mus.Perf (Bulgaria) M.Mus. (UNSW), Dr. Paul Paviour (NSW), OAM (NSW) M.Mus. B.Mus (Lond) FRCO FLCM FTCL FRSA LRAM LGSM ARCM, Janet Gibbs (Vic) Mus.B. FRCO FTCL LRSM ARCM: LTCL. Elizabeth Newton (Vic) B.Mus (Melb) L.Mus.A Dip.Ed, Greg Derry (NSW) B.Mus.Ed. LTCL Dip.Mus.Ed., Chi Onn Foo (Asia) B.Mus. (Adel) FTCL LTCL FLCM, Jean Keen (NSW) A.Mus.A ATCL L.Mus.A, Carolyn Rait (NZ) BA ATCL TTC Dip.SCSM(Teach)(Hons), Erica Collis Oates (Tas) LTCL, Craig Stenton LTCL ATCL A.Mus.TCL Dip.Teach.Estelle Dragun (WA) A.Mus.A Director Music PLC, Fiona Lester (WA) B.Mus (UWA), Jenny Blake (WA) B.Ed.  DipSCSM, Elizabeth Bouman (NZ) LTCL DipSCSM (Teach)(Hons) Jonathan Day (Qld) A.Mus.A. Dip. Mus.


Judging Criteria

Adjudication will be based on the overall performance of the Contestants, including:
♦ Technique – tone colour quality, notes accuracy, rhythm accuracy, ease of play, fluency, control, etc.
♦ Style and interpretation – stylistic understanding, character, use of tempo, presentation with imagination, conviction, etc.
♦ Musicianship – dynamics, phrasing, articulation, musical sense, performance flair, effective communication, etc.
♦ Presentation – appropriate performance dress, stagecraft, etc.
The decision of the Adjudicator(s) on all artistic matters shall be final.

Assessment:
1. Contestants will be given a mark sheet after attending the Competition.

2. Prizes: In each group, only one Champion, one First runner-up, and one Second runner-up will be awarded.

3. Outstanding Music Teaching Award: This award is presented to schools, music institutions, studios, and teachers in recognition of their contributions to music education. Eligible recipients must meet the following requirements:

4. The Adjudicator(s) and the Organization reserve the right to adjust the award arrangements in accordance with the number of contestants and the overall standard in each Class, without prior notice.

5. Competition certificates are free of charge. Certificates will be mailed to the Contestant’s correspondence address approximately 4 to 10 weeks after the conclusion of all Competition classes.