Rules and
Regulations
CCCTIMF In-Person RCM, In-Person Special Syllabus & OMFA Provincial Qualifying Syllabus
(Last updated : 2025-03-20)
1.General
1.1 The festival proceedings shall be under the sole management of the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto (the “CCC”) and the CCC Toronto International Music Festival Committee (the “Festival Committee”).
1.2 All matters not covered in these rules shall be referred to the Festival Committee, whose decisions on such matters shall be final and binding.
2.Eligibility
2.1 The CCC Toronto International Music Festival (the “CCCTIMF”) is open to participants regardless of their residence or nationality.
2.2 All competitors must be an amateur which shall be defined as any person whose principal means of livelihood is not obtained from the performance or teaching of music in the particular category in which they are competing. Participants classified as professional, including those signed to a major record label or any of its affiliates/subsidiaries, are not eligible to compete.
2.3 No age limits will be imposed except where indicated. Age is determined as of December 31st, 2025. CCCTIMF reserves the right to ask for proof of age.
2.4 Adjudicators of CCCTIMF are not allowed to register their students in their adjudicated classes if they are having, or have had during the preceding FOUR years, a familial, teaching, or professional relationship with the students.
2.5 Refer to the pertinent syllabus for class-specific eligibility and requirements.
3.Registration
3.1 CCCTIMF reserves the right to accept or reject any registration in its sole discretion.
3.2 Participants can register for classes based on, namely the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) syllabus, the In-Person Special syllabus, and OMFA Provincial Qualifying syllabus.
3.3 Registration is ONLY accepted online, via the CCCTIMF festival website (www.ccctimf.org).
3.4 All participants are required to provide their teacher’s name and contact email at the time of registration.This information is essential for communication of any necessary clarifications related to the participant’s registration.
3.5 All participants must provide their age at the time of registration (as of December 31st of the current year). CCCTIMF reserves the right to request proof of age if needed.
3.6 Participants may enter as many different classes as they wish but may only enter once in each class.
3.7 The same repertoire can be used in multiple classes, e.g. the same Bach repertoire can be used as one of the pieces in both the Young Artist class and the Bach class.
3.8 Participants may enter only one age level per In-Person Special Syllabus class. When classes specify an age range, participants must register strictly within the appropriate age category according to their age.
4.Fees and Deadline
4.1 A completed online registration form, payment and all required documents must be received by CCCTIMF by September 14, 2025, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).
4.2 Late registrations are accepted for up to one week after the deadline, subject to a $20 CAD late fee per day.
4.3 All fees must be paid upon registration through the CCCTIMF festival website using a credit card or through PayPal.
4.4 All fees are non-refundable.
4.5 Class fee varies and is listed for each class in the 2025 syllabi.
5.Repertoire
5.1 For CCCTIMF In-person RCM syllabus, the festival will only accept repertoire from the current official RCM Syllabi. Unlike the RCM rules, CCCTIMF does not allow popular selections to be used in etude classes; and does not allow “Repertoire Substitution” and “Teacher’s Choice” for the respective grades as mentioned in the RCM syllabus.
5.2 Contestants may not enter or perform their own compositions in the CCCTIMF Canadian/Indigenous Composer class or Chinese Composer class.
5.3 Participants must perform the piece(s) as stated on their entry form.
5.4 It is of utmost importance to state the timing for each repertoire performance correctly on the registration form. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to ensure correct class codes and timings are entered on the registration form. No changes of classes or repertoire are allowed after the application is submitted.
5.5 Participants must bring the original music scores to CCCTIMF for the adjudicators. CCCTIMF abides by the copyright law of Canada, and any participant who does not will be disqualified.
5.6 Festival pieces are to be performed without repeats (with the exception of Da Capo). If participants have a compelling reason to play the repeats, they may do so with prior approval from the CCCTIMF Artistic Committee.
5.7 Festival pieces must be performed from memory, except for violin sonata classes. Any work performed with sheet music will receive comments only and will not be eligible for prizes.
5.8 No changes of repertoire are allowed after the application is submitted.
6.OMFA Provincial Level Nomination
6.1 Winners from each OMFA Provincial Qualifying class may be nominated for the 2026 OMFA Provincial Competition based on an adjudicator’s recommendation.
6.2 Participants registered in OMFA Provincial Qualifying classes must also enter at least two additional non-OMFA Provincial Qualifying classes to be eligible for OMFA Provincial nomination. The same repertoire may be used in these additional classes.
6.3 Non-OMFA Provincial Qualifying classes refer exclusively to CCCTIMF In-person RCM and In-person Special Syllabus classes. Online classes are not eligible toward OMFA nomination requirements.
6.4 For all in-person OMFA Provincial Qualifying classes ; you need to make sure that the repertoire you are performing is listed in the RCM syllabus. Please check the OMFA Provincial website (www.omfa.ca).
6.5 For age-specific OMFA Provincial Qualifying classes, participants must ensure they meet the age requirements for the 2026 OMFA Provincial Competition. Please refer to the OMFA website (www.omfa.ca) for detailed eligibility criteria.
6.6 All CCCTIMF online classes are not eligible for the OMFA Provincial level Nominations.
6.7 It is the participant’s responsibility to be familiar with the Provincial Festival rules & repertoire requirements. CCCTIMF assumes no responsibility for an entrant meeting or failing to meet these requirements. For information, please refer to the OMFA Provincial website (www.omfa.ca).
7.Adjudication Standards
7.1 Adjudicators’ decisions are final and in their sole discretion. Each participant is judged based on the highest artistic standards of musicianship, interpretation, technical proficiency, and stage presentation.
7.2 The adjudicator reserves the right not to award any or all prizes.
7.3 Parents, teachers, or participants may not approach the adjudicator in person, via email or social media at any time; this may result in disqualification of the participant.
7.4 CCCTIMF reserves the right to substitute or appoint additional adjudicators at any time at its sole discretion.
7.5 The adjudicator may, at his/her discretion, interrupt a performance when his/her assessment has been finalized.
7.6 Other than members of the Festival Committee, no participants, parents, or members of the public may converse with the adjudicators during the festival.
8.Festival Procedures
8.1 The festival schedule will not be changed to accommodate piano accompanists. Neither special scheduling requests nor any changes will be considered.
8.2 Participants and piano accompanists (if applicable) must arrive at least 15 minutes prior to their scheduled class.
8.3 Participants must dress formally/semi-formally.
8.4 Participants who arrive after the last performance of the class will not be allowed to perform.
8.5 No rehearsal at the competition venue is allowed.
8.6 Participants must provide their own piano accompanist for all violin classes, excluding the unaccompanied pieces.
8.7 Works with orchestral accompaniment must be played on a second piano.
8.8 Any concerns must be submitted in writing and emailed to the Festival Committee within 24 hours of the performance.
8.9 Participants are allowed to record their own performances for archival purposes. It is forbidden to take photographs, audio and/or video recording of another participant’s performance.
8.10 All cell phones and pagers must be turned off during sessions. No food/drink is permitted in the performance hall.
8.11 To ensure an optimal performance environment, any unnecessary sounds, including but not limited to camera shutter clicks, electronic device notifications, or any other disturbances that may affect performers or adjudication, are strictly prohibited. TIMF staff reserve the right to request audience members causing such disruptions to exit the theatre hall.
9.Evaluation and Results
Except the Masterclass
9.1 Each participant will receive a Comment sheet(s) with mark(s) as assigned.
9.2 A minimum mark of 85% and above is required for First-place medallion, a minimum mark of 83% and above is required for Second-place medallion; and a minimum mark of 80% is required for Third-place medallion.
9.3 The festival results will be published on www.ccctimf.org.
10.Awards
10.1 Certificates for First, Second and Third places will be issued after the completion of each class.
10.2 All other participants will receive certificates of appreciation after the completion of each class.
10.3 First-place winners in each class will receive trophies, while second- and third-place winners will receive medals.
10.4 To qualify for a Signature Trophy, participants must enter and perform in at least three (3) CCCTIMF classes, including at least one class from the In-person Special Syllabus, and meet all other trophy award requirements. OMFA Provincial Qualifying classes do not count toward this requirement. For full details, please refer to the Trophies and Awards section on the CCCTIMF website (www.ccctimf.org/awards/).
10.5 Scholarships will be awarded to selected Signature Trophy winners and First Prize winners of Young Artist classes, provided they achieve 1st place with a minimum score of 90.
10.6 Past CCC Music Festival/ CCCTIMF grand trophy winners within 3 years are not eligible for the festival’s grand trophy again.
11.Cathedral
Bluffs Symphony
Orchestra Soloist
Opportunity
11.1 The CCCTIMF Grand Trophy winner(s) and the Concerto class winners of the festival may have an opportunity to be invited to perform as a soloist with the Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra with Maestro Martin MacDonald in a future concert (www.cathedralbluffs.com). No additional registration is required for consideration.
11.2 All online classes and OMFA Provincial Qualifying Concerto class will not be considered for this opportunity.
11.3 Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra’s Music Director may select one or more soloist(s) from the winner pool for a concert soloist engagement.
11.4 The selection criteria may not be based on the marks of the winners but on other criteria such as the suitability of the repertoire for the Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra’s concert programming.
11.5 If no soloists are selected from the current festival, the CCCTIMF Festival Committee may recommend previous festival winners for the concerto performance engagement for the Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra’s consideration in their concert season.
11.6 Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra Music Director’s decision is considered final.
12.Gala Concert
and Awards Ceremony
12.1 Signature trophy winners and selected first prize winners will be invited to perform in the Gala Concert and Awards Ceremony at the P.C. Ho Theatre in Toronto, Canada. The P.C. Ho Theatre is a 626-seat state-of-the-art concert hall and the crown jewel of Toronto (https://www.cccgt.org/book-an-event/p-c-ho-theatre/).
12.2 Winners not invited to perform in the Gala Concert and Awards Ceremony may be invited to perform at the subsequent “Rising Star” concerts and other CCC community events in Toronto, Canada.
12.3 Invited performers are required to perform their winning piece. Any substitute piece requires prior approval from the Artistic Committee.
12.4 All first-, second-, and third-place winners from each class will receive one complimentary ticket to the Gala Concert and Awards Ceremony. Additional tickets can be purchased from the festival.
12.5 Scholarships will only be awarded to recipients who attend the Gala Concert and Awards Ceremony. Award winners who are unable to attend may pick up their trophies and medals in person at the CCC within 90 days following the Gala Concert and Awards Ceremony. Alternatively, winners may request delivery of their awards via courier, with any associated shipping fees payable by the recipient in addition.
13.Cancellation
13.1 In case of any unforeseeable events, the Festival Committee reserves the right to postpone, cancel, or change the schedule of the festival.
13.2 Festival classes with less than three participants may be combined or cancelled at the discretion of the CCCTIMF Artistic Committee.
14.Authorization,
Waiver and Release
14.1 By participating in the CCCTIMF, the participant provides authorization for CCC and CCCTIMF to use any audio, video, or any other multimedia recordings submitted to the Festival Committee for participation in the festival by or on behalf of the participant, in whatever form or manner, and any recordings of the participant’s music performance made by CCCTIMF during the festival, in private or public sessions (“the Work”) to promote and publicize the festival and any future festivals, to perform the Work during or after the festival, and to reproduce, exhibit, display, broadcast, distribute and create derivative work of the Work for any non-commercial purposes, including education, promoting CCC and CCCTIMF and fundraising for CCC.
14.2 The participant also provides authorization for CCCTIMF to photograph, film and/or record the participant during or in connection with the festival and/or any CCC and CCCTIMF public events and consent to the use of the participant’s name, likeness, images, and recordings (the “name and photographic images”) in any and all CCC and CCCTIMF publications, information and educational materials, and social media and web materials for the purpose of promoting CCC and CCCTIMF.
14.3 The participant further waives all moral rights in the Work in favor of CCC and releases CCC and CCC’s employees, volunteers, directors, officers, advisors, sponsors, CCCTIMF-appointed adjudicators, and their respective assigns and successors from any and all claims that may arise in connection with the use of the Work and/or the name and photographic images, including any claims of defamation, invasion of privacy, or copyright.
15. Miscellanea
15.1 CCC is a registered Canadian not-for-profit organization. Donations over $20 CAD will receive a Canadian income tax receipt (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=FPGEWNEYJCMZC).
15.2 CCCTIMF’s main concert venue is the P.C. Ho Theatre located at 5183 Sheppard Ave E, Toronto, ON Canada M1B 5Z5 (https://www.cccgt.org/book-an-event/p-c-ho-theatre/).
15.3 All travel, accommodation, and related expenses are the sole responsibility of the participant for attending the festival or the Gala Concert and Awards Ceremony.
