Founded in 1993 by the Japan Chamber Music Foundation, the triennial Osaka International Chamber Music Competition is open to ensembles of all nationalities, whose members are aged up to 35. Held every three years, the 2026 competition will take place from May 17–24 at the Sumitomolife Izumi Hall.
Section I of the competition features the String Quartet, while Section II will focus on the Piano Trio and Piano Quartet. The candidates in each section include:
String Quartet:
Arete Quartet
Dōnum Quartet
Erinys Quartet
Quartet Fugue
Isla String Quartet
Quartet KAIRI
Motus Quartet
Turicum Quartet
Piano Trio and Piano Quartet:
Astatine Trio
Davidoff Trio
Trio E.T.A.
Helix Trio
Trio Incendio
Trio Timia
Euphorie Quartet
Quartetto Werther
Prizes for both sections include ¥2,500,000 for the first-prize winner; ¥1,200,000 for second place; ¥800,000 for third place; and a number of special prizes.
Additionally, the first-prize winners of each section will be invited to perform in the Grand-Prix Concerts tour, where they will give around 10 concerts across Japan.
Kenji Sakai has composed String Quartet No.2 “Floating Perticles” for the String Quartet’s Third Round.
Special awards will also be given to the competitors, including the Britten Pears Arts, Music in PyeongChang, Bordeaux String Quartet Festival, String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam, “Ambassador Ensemble of the 12th Osaka International Chamber Music Competition,” and the MK Memorial Special Support Award.
Chaired by Tsuyoshi TSUTSUMI, the 2026 jury will comprise Martin BEAVER,Weigang LI, Kazuki SAWA, Monika HENSCHEL, Mai MOTOBUCHI, Alasdair TAIT, Vincent COQ, Eckart HEILIGERS, and Shigeo NERIKI.
AloJapan.com