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Competition Categories

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  1. Category 01 : Young Children (Open) is highly recommended for emerging and developing children’s choirs.

  2. The adjudication panel of this category consist of only 3 jurors.

  3. The minimum number of singers (excluding conductor & accompanist) for category O1: Young Children (Open) is 15 singers, and no maximum limit.

  4. Choirs will be awarded Diploma based on the following:​​

















     

  5. ​The choir which is awarded a GOLD Diploma will be eligible to compete in the category A1: Young Children (Championship) in MCE ICF 2026.

  6. The choir which is awarded a GOLD Diploma with the highest marks will be named Category Winner. The winner will be invited to perform, but NOT eligible to compete in the Grand Prix.

  7. Each choir will receive a medal, an award certificate for the choir, and individual certificate of participation for every participant (according to the registered total number of participants).

A. Categories by age
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*Category A1: Young Children (Championship) is open to children’s choirs that have previously achieved a GOLD AWARD in any international choral festival or competition between 2023 and 2024. The winner of Category A1 will be eligible to compete in the Grand Prix.

B. Categories by numbers, voice type, and genre
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*Choirs in category B3 (Folk and Indigenous Music) are encouraged to perform works from the choir’s home region.

Competition Rules

  1. 23rd Malaysian Choral Eisteddfod – International Choral Festival 2025 welcomes participation of choirs from Malaysia, as well as choirs from around the world.

  2. Choirs can participate in more than one category, but can only choose ONE (1) category from Group A and can choose more than one category from Group B.

  3. Children’s choirs wishing to compete in Category A1: Young Children (Championship) must submit a PDF version of the award certificate showing that the choir has achieved a Gold Award in international choir festivals/competitions between 2023 and 2024.

  4. Children’s choirs choosing to compete in Category A1: Young Children (Championship) are not allowed to compete in Category O1: Young Children (Open), and vice versa.

  5. Organizers will allow participation of up to 10% of the singers, under/above the age limit.

  6. The minimum number of singers allowed (not inclusive of conductor and accompanist) in each Category is 20 singers, there is NO maximum number of singers allowed for each Category. (Except Vocal Ensemble & Pop Vocal Ensemble category)

  7. The conductor of a choir may be allowed to conduct a different choir or choirs in either category of the competition.

  8. The Organizers reserve the right to record performances of choirs during the Competition, as well as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for archive purposes.​

Scores & Song Program

  1. Song program should be submitted to the organizer together with the online registration form.

  2. Song program MUST be approved by the MCE ICF committee. Unapproved program will be informed and needs to be replaced immediately.

  3. Song program cannot be changed once confirmed by the committee. Performance order MUST be finalized before 19th September 2025, and changes during the on-site registration phase are NOT allowed.

  4. Choirs are NOT allowed to repeat their repertoire across the categories. Each song can only be performed once. (Applicable for choirs competing in multiple categories)

  5. Choirs who are performing songs not in English are required to submit a description or translation of the song in English.

  6. Each choir must submit FIVE (5) sets of original scores (partiture) for the Jury. This may be in the form of hard copies of scores or licensed electronic copies obtained from the publisher or composer.

  7. All scores must be received by the committee via post before 22nd October 2025. Failing to do so might affect the evaluation of the performance. Postage address: 114A, Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

  8. The use of unauthorized copies or handwritten copies is not permitted.

  9. Artistic committee must be informed if a choir wished to change the key from what is written on the score.

  10. All submitted scores must be in conventional stave notation.

Instruments

  1. Acoustic Upright or Grand Piano will be provided for all categories.

  2. A maximum of 3 indefinite pitch instruments are allowed in each category.

  3. Organizers will not provide any percussive instruments.

  4. Recorded playbacks or backing tracks are NOT allowed.

  5. No amplifications will be provided for the singers and instrumentalists.

  6. Keyboard rental outside of the competition and provided rehearsal session is not available.

Stage Performance Time

  1. Each choir is allowed a maximum pure singing time of 10 minutes, except category O1: Young Children (Open) & category A1: Young Children (Championship), which has a pure singing time of 8 minutes. This is NOT inclusive of walking on and off the stage.

  2. The timer will begin after the first note of the 1st song and stop after the last note of the 1st song. The timer will then resume at the first note of the 2nd song and stop at the last note of the 2nd song.












     

  3. ​Choirs exceeding the maximum pure singing time will be penalized 1 point for every minute from their total score.

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Evaluation & Judging Criteria

  1. The Competition Jury will consist of a panel of international choral experts, with each category having 5 jurors except for Category O1: Young Children (Open), which will have only 3 jurors.
     

  2. The evaluation of the competition will be based according to the following criteria:​​​​​

















     

  3. All choirs will receive copies of their adjudicated scores.

  4. Choirs which do not receive an Award will receive a Certificate of Participation for their performances.

  5. The Jury may give out Special Awards at their discretion.

  6. All results of the Jury will be considered final and cannot be contested.​

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a. Intonation
b. Sound Quality
c. Fidelity to the score
          i. Authenticity for B3: Folklore
          ii. Interpretation Practice for B5: Pop Vocal Ensemble
d. Overall Artistic Impression

Grand Prix

  1. Each Category Winner [Except O1: Young Children (Open)] and those who received recommendation from the jury and the Artistic Director will be participating in Grand Prix on 9th November 2025 (Sunday).

  2. The competing choirs will be performing TWO (2) songs, both freely chosen. Only ONE (1) song can be reused from the earlier competition rounds.

  3. The maximum singing time is 10 minutes.

  4. Grand Prix winner of the 23rd Malaysian Choral Eisteddfod - International Choir Festival 2025 is qualified to participate in the 5th Asia Choral Grand Prix that will be held in South Korea in the year 2026.

  5. Grand Prix competition will be live-streamed on our YouTube page.

  6. The Grand Prix champions of each of the following festivals will vie for the highest accolade in the Asian Choral Festival Circuit:

    a. Andrea O.Veneracion International Choral Festival (The Philippines)
    b. Bali International Choir Festival (Indonesia)
    c. Malaysian Choral Eisteddfod - International Choir Festival (Malaysia)
    d. Singapore International Choral Festival (Singapore)
    e. Korea International Choir Competition (South Korea)

Registration

a. Registration form that has been filled in completely and correctly
b. Photograph of choir and conductor in high resolution (Minimum of 1MB file size)
c. Receipt of registration fee & selected activities’ payment.

  1. Registration is considered complete when the following documents are received:




     

  2. Choir may refer to the following dates for eligibility of different rates.​




     

  3. Fee Structure​














     

  4. ​All Overseas choirs MUST complete payment for registration upon registration and attached payment receipt in the registration form.

I. Early Bird (16thDecember 2024 – 16th March 2025)
II. Normal Rate (17th March 2025 – 5th July 2025)
III. Registration deadline (5th July 2025)

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Event Package

  1. All overseas choirs are required to take the provided Event Package.

























     

  2. ​Event Package includes the following:






























     

  3. All accommodation provided will be in hotel. No guest house/hostel/budget inns available.

  4. Sight-seeing/excursion are NOT included in the package and have to be booked separately. You may send us an email for further inquiry on this.

  5. Early Bird Event Package Rate are applicable for choirs that registered during the Early Bird Registration Phase only. (refer to pg. 11)

  6. 50% of Event Package payment should be received latest by 11th July 2025, and choir must complete all payment by 31st August 2025. Failing to do so may result in disqualification of participation.

  7. Registration Form can be accessed at the following link: https://form.jotform.com/243312361750448

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*Tourism Tax is included in the Event Package fees.

a. ONE (1) Festival Tag for each participant to have access to watching competition & friendship concerts. *Subject to availability of seats.
b. ONE (1) Rehearsal at festival hotel or festival venue. Duration: 1 hour
*Subject to availability.
c. 5 Representatives for Opening Ceremony, Meet the Jury Session, and Award Ceremony *Subject to availability.
d. 5 complimentary tickets for attending Grand Prix competition. Additional tickets can be purchased via Cloudjoi 2 weeks before the festival.
e. Accommodation 6 days, 5 nights. Twin Sharing Room. Check in available from 2pm onwards and check out before 11am.
f. Transportation (Bus or Van)
- Airport Service on arrival day (Airport -> Festival Hotel)
- Transportation between Festival Hotel & Festival Venue *According to arranged schedule
- Airport Service on departure day (Festival Hotel -> Airport)
g. Meals (Welcome Dinner on 5 Nov + 3 Lunch from 6 to 8 Nov)








h. TONE (1) Choir Liaison Officer (LO) to assist your choir from the arrival day until the departure day.
i. ONE (1) Program Book and Bag for all participants.
j. Official Media Package (Videos + Photos) – available 1 month after festival.


 

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Information

  1. Bank Details








     

  2. Contact​






     

  3. There will be NO REFUNDS for any reason, including force majeure. (Wars, Riots, Revolutions, Natural Disasters, Strikes, Fires and other Disasters declared by the Government).

  • Bank Name: Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank)

  • Bank Address: 2, Lorong Rahim Kajal 14, Taman Tun Dr. Ismail

  • Beneficiary: YCA Ventures Sdn Bhd

  • Account Number: 5142 7144 0101

  • Swift: mbbemyklxxx

* Please Include bank service fee so the organizer can receive the full amount.

  • Mobile/WhatsApp: +6019 – 236 2066

  • Email: mce.malaysia@youngchoral.com

  • Facebook: Malaysian Choral Eisteddfod – MCE

  • Instagram: @mce_malaysia

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