World Youth and Teenage Singing Competition -Season 1
World Youth and Teenage Singing Competition - Season 1 consists of three core modules: Basic Vocal Performance Skills, which covers pitch accuracy and rhythm control, proficiency in the use of singing techniques (such as breath support, resonance, articulation), as well as cognition of vocal styles (such as the smooth expression of melodies in pop style, the emotional rendering of lyrics in ballad style, the dynamic presentation of rhythms in rock style); Singing Culture and Creation Principles, including the historical origins of singing forms (such as classical opera arias, folk singing works, modern pop songs), singing characteristics in different cultures (such as the high-pitched and bold style of Mongolian folk songs in China, the passionate and rhythmic style of Latin American songs, the elegant and melodious style of European art songs), and the impact of contemporary trends on the evolution of singing styles; Practical Application of Singing, including the thematic interpretation of singing works, improvisational adaptation, and conveying concepts through singing in real-life scenarios (such as conveying the concept of environmental protection or showcasing the integration characteristics of local culture and music culture through singing). The competition sets up a variety of singing competition categories and customizes difficulty levels according to age and experience. The Children's Group focuses on basic skills, while the Youth Group emphasizes creative expression (such as developing a unique singing style), work interpretation, and the ability to solve problems through singing (such as selecting appropriate singing forms and adaptation methods to convey specific emotions or the connotation of song themes).
Registration Fee: Free
Competition Categories:
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Kindergarten Group
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Lower Primary Group
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Higher Primary Group
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Junior Secondary Group
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Senior Secondary Group
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Publice Group
Important dates:
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Application Deadline: December 16, 2025
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Result Announcement Date: January 23, 2026
Award Categories
Individual Awards:
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Special Gold Award (Top 12% of participants in the group)
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Gold Award (Top 12%-25% of participants in the group)
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Silver Award (Top 26%-45% of participants in the group)
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Bronze Award (Top 46%-60% of participants in the group)
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Excellence Award (Top 61%-100% of participants in the group)
Group Awards:
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Outstanding Group Award
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Outstanding Mentor Award
Award winners can request customized awards featuring the participant's name in Chinese or English.
Award Options:
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Electronic Certificate: HKD 200
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Electronic Certificate + Physical Certificate: HKD 290
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Electronic Certificate + Physical Certificate + Medal: HKD 325
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Electronic Certificate + Physical Certificate + Medal + Trophy: HKD 365
The deadline for award applications is two weeks after the announcement of the results.
All awards will be mailed within eight weeks after the application deadline.
Awards and certificates will be sent via SF Express, cash on delivery.
Once the awards are signed for, no replacements will be issued in case of damage or loss.
The organizers are not responsible for failed deliveries due to incorrect information or communication difficulties.
Competition Guidelines:
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Competition Categories
Participants can self-select their competition tier based on age and skill level (e.g., Children’s Group: 6–12 years; Youth Group: 13–18 years).
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Registration & Timing
Registration Deadline: Complete registration and submit your artwork (via digital upload) before [specific deadline, e.g., "11:59 PM UTC on October 31, 2025"].
Confirmation: A registration confirmation email will be sent to your provided address.
Submission Window: You can enter the competition platform and upload your Christmas painting works at any time before the deadline.
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Submission Format & Requirements
Platform: Upload high-definition digital files through the official competition platform (link provided after registration).
Entry Requirements:
Submit original singing performances (including pop songs, folk songs, art songs, musical theater arias, original compositions, etc.). Only basic editing operations such as volume adjustment and clip trimming are allowed; excessive post-production processing (e.g., adding auto-tune beyond correction, mixing in other vocal tracks, modifying original singing pitch) or audio splicing is prohibited, and AI-generated vocal content is not permitted to ensure the originality and authenticity of the performance.
For video works, the resolution shall not be lower than 1080P, and the duration shall be between 2–5 minutes (excluding intro and outro); for vocal recordings, unedited original audio files (in formats such as WAV and FLAC) and high-definition performance videos (in MP4/MOV format) must be provided to ensure clear presentation of singing details (e.g., pitch accuracy, rhythm stability, emotional expression). All files shall be submitted in standard formats (e.g., MP4, MOV, WAV) to avoid issues with playing the works due to format problems.
Works must comply with the presentation standards corresponding to their singing category (e.g., pop songs shall fully display vocal flexibility and stage expression, avoiding indistinct articulation; folk songs shall maintain the original style's characteristics and cultural connotation; art songs shall convey the work's artistic conception clearly; original compositions shall provide lyric and score documents). For collaborative singing performances or theme-based series (e.g., multi-song medleys), a performance explanation document (including theme analysis and arrangement ideas) shall be attached to assist judges in understanding the creative logic.
Singing performances shall be created using professional tools that meet the requirements of the category (e.g., professional microphones and acoustic environments for live singing; high-quality recording software and audio interfaces for studio recordings; stable cameras and tripods for performance videos). When submitting, ensure files are undamaged and can be opened and played normally; live performance videos must be recorded in one take or with minimal necessary cuts, avoiding blurred images or distorted audio, and fully present the singer's vocal details and stage expression; studio recordings must ensure the clarity of the original vocal track to facilitate judges in reviewing the performance quality.
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Jury Evaluation & Integrity Rules
The jury consists of international vocalists, music education experts, professional music producers, and university music department tutors.
Evaluation Criteria:
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Technical Ability (50%): Precision of singing techniques (e.g., accuracy of pitch and rhythm, stability of breath support, clarity of articulation), proficiency in vocal skill use (e.g., control of resonance, mastery of dynamic changes, flexibility of vocal range), and mastery of genre-specific techniques (e.g., smooth transition of pop vocal registers, authentic intonation of folk songs, emotional phrasing of art songs).
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Artistic Expression (30%): Ability to interpret the song theme (e.g., presentation effect of emotions such as warmth, passion, or melancholy), uniqueness of creative conception (e.g., innovation in arrangement adaptation, novelty of vocal style), effectiveness of emotional transmission (e.g., conveying feelings through tone and phrasing, evoking audience resonance through expression), and the compatibility between vocal language and the song theme.
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Performance Effect (20%): Appeal of the work (e.g., vocal charm, stage presence), adaptability of form to content (e.g., matching degree of vocal style to the song genre), completeness of the performance (e.g., fluency of the whole process, consistency of emotional expression), and integrity of the work structure (e.g., logical connection of medley works, coherent expression of single works).
Integrity Policy:
Plagiarism of existing singing works (including direct imitation of others' vocal interpretations, unauthorized use of copyrighted arrangements, or copying of original song melodies) is prohibited. Theft of others' creative ideas, unique vocal techniques, or original lyrics/compositions is not allowed, nor is having others sing on one's behalf or using AI to generate the main vocal content. If a work is verified to involve plagiarism, cheating, or fraud, the participant's qualification will be immediately revoked, and the relevant situation will be publicly announced.
Submissions found plagiarized or fraudulent will be disqualified.
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Competition Rules
Submission Limit: One entry per participant.
Entry Specifications:
Children’s Group: Works shall be consistent with the participants' age-related cognition and singing ability, focusing on basic vocal performances (e.g., simple folk songs, popular children's songs, classic song adaptations), including learning and adapting classic melodies (e.g., simple renditions of well-known children's songs, basic covers of popular tunes), basic singing exercises (e.g., pitch practice, simple rhythm control, clear articulation), and simple original singing works (including theme conception and basic creation, no complex techniques required). The work must have clear lyrics and melody to convey a positive theme.
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Youth Group: Works shall have a certain degree of complexity and creative depth (e.g., complete art song performances, multi-song theme medleys, original music creations), including in-depth interpretation of classic works (e.g., replicating the artistic conception of classical arias, adapting traditional folk songs with new styles), thematic creation (e.g., "Youth Dreams", "Cultural Integration" series), integration of diverse forms (e.g., singing works combining vocal music and instrumental accompaniment, creative performances integrating local culture and music elements), and conceptual works (e.g., exploring social issues such as "environmental protection" and "intergenerational communication" through original lyrics and melodies).
Only standard tools corresponding to the singing category may be used (e.g., microphones, musical instruments, recording software, video cameras). Excessive use of pre-made accompaniment templates (such as unauthorized commercial backing tracks, fixed arrangement templates) or third-party assistance (such as others singing on behalf of the participant, using AI vocal generation software) is prohibited to avoid affecting the originality of the work.
Entry Requirements for the World Youth and Teenage Singing Competition - Season 1 (Online Submission & Jury Evaluation)
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Basic Painting Skills
Focus on technical foundations and painting structure:
Technical Skills: Pitch accuracy, breath support control, articulation clarity, and singing theme-specific techniques (such as the smooth register transition in pop singing, the authentic intonation preservation in folk songs, the emotional phrasing in art songs, and the dynamic control of musical theater arias).
Theme Cognition: Familiarity with singing competition categories (pop, folk, art song, musical theater, original composition) and classic works/styles (such as the emotional expressiveness of pop ballads like Yesterday, the cultural connotation of Chinese folk songs like Jasmine Flower, the elegant melody of European art songs by Schubert, and the dramatic tension of Broadway musical theater pieces).
Painting Literacy: Understanding of professional singing knowledge (such as the principle of vocal range matching for different song genres, the logic of rhythm adaptation and lyric expression), creative forms (such as solo singing, duet, vocal ensemble with instrumental accompaniment), and style recognition (such as matching singing techniques to genres: flexible vocal control in pop, traditional tone retention in folk, and artistic conception transmission in art songs).
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Artistic Expression & Cultural Context
Explore theme interpretation and historical depth:
Category Analysis: Convey song emotions and themes through vocal expression (such as using soft tones and slow rhythm to show tenderness, using powerful voice and fast tempo to convey passion), while connecting to the cultural/historical background of singing works (such as recreating the emotional context of classic pop songs, integrating local dialects into folk singing, and reflecting contemporary social life in original compositions).
Work Interpretation: Convey song emotions and themes through vocal expression (such as using soft tones and slow rhythm to show tenderness, using powerful voice and fast tempo to convey passion), while connecting to the cultural/historical background of singing works (such as recreating the emotional context of classic pop songs, integrating local dialects into folk singing, and reflecting contemporary social life in original compositions).
Modern Adaptation: The integration of traditional and modern elements (such as adapting classic folk songs with electronic music arrangements, combining classical art song melodies with pop singing techniques, and interpreting traditional musical theater works in trendy hip-hop style).
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Practical Creation Application
Emphasize original presentation and creative ability:
Submission Format:
High-definition audio and video files of original singing works (AI-generated vocal content is prohibited; only basic edits such as volume adjustment and clip trimming are allowed, while excessive post-production like auto-tune overcorrection or vocal track splicing is forbidden). The files must fully present performance details, including pitch stability, articulation clarity, and emotional expression. For collaborative singing works or theme-based series (such as multi-song medleys), a performance explanation or theme analysis document should be attached to assist in understanding the creative logic.
Materials: Professional tools and materials that conform to the singing category should be used (such as professional microphones and acoustic environments for live singing, high-quality recording software and audio interfaces for studio recordings, stable cameras and tripods for performance videos). A brief description of the materials must be included when submitting (e.g., "Pop Song Youth Dream: Recorded with a professional condenser microphone, in a soundproof studio"; "Folk Song Hometown River: Performed with a traditional erhu accompaniment, recorded with a portable audio recorder"; "Original Composition Starlight: Created with music production software Logic Pro, paired with a 1080P performance video").
Work Selection:
Children’s Group (8–12 yrs): Small-scale works (such as simple children’s songs, short folk song excerpts, classic pop song covers), including copying and adapting classic melodies (such as singing simplified versions of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, adapting children-friendly versions of folk songs), basic singing exercises (such as pitch practice, simple rhythm control), and simple original singing works (including theme conception and basic creation, no complex techniques required).
Adolescent Group (13–18 yrs): Complex works (such as complete art song performances, multi-song theme medleys, original music creations), including in-depth interpretation of classic singing works (such as replicating the artistic conception of classical arias, adapting traditional folk songs with new styles), thematic singing creation (e.g., "Cultural Integration", "Eco-Protection" series), integration of diverse singing forms (such as singing works combining vocal music and instrumental performance, creative works integrating local culture and modern music elements), and conceptual singing works (e.g., exploring social issues such as "intergenerational communication" and "environmental protection" through original lyrics and melodies).
Improvisation Tasks: Adolescent Group is required to complete a 15-minute quick singing or creative adaptation task based on the designated theme (e.g., "Summer Memories", "City Stories") or designated style (e.g., "Jazz Style", "Traditional Folk Style").
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Judging Criteria & Format
Evaluation Areas:
Technical Ability (50%): Precision of singing techniques, control over tools/materials, and execution of theme-specific techniques (such as accuracy of pitch and rhythm, stability of breath support, adaptation to singing style).
Artistic Expression (30%): Depth of song theme interpretation, uniqueness of creative conception, effectiveness of emotional transmission (such as the effectiveness of the work in showing song atmosphere, the adaptability of the creative concept to the singing type)
Visual Effect (20%): Integrity of performance structure, expressiveness of vocal details, audience appeal (such as vocal charm, stage presence, emotional resonance).
Submission Rules:
One entry per participant; no copied or plagiarized works (including direct imitation of others' vocal interpretations, unauthorized use of copyrighted arrangements).
Blind judging: Judges receive anonymized submissions with no participant identifiers.
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Difficulty & Age Groups
Children’s Group: Focuses on basic skills (such as use of basic singing tools, mastery of simple melodies) and interesting expression (such as conveying joy through singing, creating childlike song scenes).
Adolescent Group: Higher requirements include theme complexity (e.g., exploring cultural integration and social issues through singing works), cross-technical attempts (e.g., combining traditional folk singing and modern pop techniques), and conceptual depth (e.g., conveying abstract concepts such as "friendship and sharing", "cultural inheritance" through vocal language).
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Submission & Results
Deadline: Upload digital submissions via the portal by [e.g., "June 30, 2026"].
Results: Announcement: Participants will be notified via email/social media within two weeks, and the results will be ranked based on the judges' scores. Awards include certificates and opportunities for online performance of singing works.
Exhibition: Outstanding works will be displayed in the online music gallery on the competition's official platform, showcasing the diverse cultures and artistic expressions of youth and children's singing worldwide.
This framework balances technical proficiency and creative storytelling, highlighting the diversity of youth and children's singing globally while promoting the inheritance and innovation of singing techniques across different genres.