The Sixth “Dunhuang Cup” Chinese Instrumental Music Performance Competition —— Application Started

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2025 “Dunhuang Cup” Chinese Instrumental Music Performance Competition Regulations for the North America Division

Promoting Chinese culture, so that the world can understand China.

The “Dunhuang Cup” Chinese Instrumental Music Performance Competition (North America Division) will be held in Vancouver, Canada, in December 2025.Building on the tradition of the erhu competition, this event will, for the first time, include instruments such as pipa and guzheng as official competition categories in the North America Division. This marks a further improvement of the “Dunhuang Cup” competition system in North America, opening a broader stage for the development and dissemination of Chinese traditional music overseas.

The North America Division of the “Dunhuang Cup” will align with international top-level music competition standards, while considering local realities to scientifically organize the event.This will enhance the global recognition of Chinese traditional instruments.The addition of new competition categories not only enriches the content of the event, but also provides a more comprehensive platform for musicians in North America to showcase their talents.

Since its establishment in 2010, the “Dunhuang Cup” series of elite showcases and competitions has attracted an increasing number of professional and amateur learners.With authoritative judging panels, rigorous rules, and diverse academic activities, it has gradually gained recognition from professionals and global enthusiasts of Chinese music.It has become an influential brand in the field of Chinese instrumental music competitions.In recent years, international divisions have also been established in Japan and Singapore, operating independently in accordance with international music competition standards and achieving positive social impact.The inclusion of multiple traditional instruments in the North America Division will further promote the diversified development of Chinese music on the international stage.

I. Event Organizing Institutions
Co-organizers:

China Musical Instrument Association

Organizing Committee of the “Dunhuang Cup” Chinese National Instrumental Music Competition
Shanghai No.1 National Musical Instrument Factory Co., Ltd.
Canada Y.C. Chinese Music Association
American International Performing Arts Friendship Association
Beijing Huaxia Xuanyin Art Communication Center

Organizer of the North America Division:

Canada Y.C. Music Academy

II. Jury Committee of the North America Division
Honorary Chairman of the Jury Committee:
Liu Changfu: Renowned erhu performer and educator, senior erhu tutor and professor at the Central Conservatory of Music, Director of the Advisory Committee of the Erhu Society of the Chinese Musicians Association, Vice President of the Liu Tianhua Research Association of the Chinese Musicians Association, and Honorary President of the Huqin Professional Committee of the Chinese National Orchestral Society.
Chairman of the Jury Committee: Yang Zhongcai: President of Canada Y.C. Music Academy (Vancouver).
Vice Chairmen of the Jury Committee :(in the order of surname strokes)
You Hui: Guzheng Professor at Stanford University (USA), Artistic Director of the Stanford Guzheng Ensemble and the Chinese Music Orchestra.
Li Yang: President of the Montreal Huqin Research Association, Artistic Director of the Montreal National Chamber Orchestra.
Liu Yang: Renowned erhu performer based in North America, Professor and Head of the Strings Department at Canada Y.C. Music Academy.
Liu Guilian: Professor and Head of the Plucked Strings Department at Canada Y.C. Music Academy.
Chen Wenying: Vice President of Canada Y.C. Music Academy, Professor and Leading Scholar of the Guzheng Program.
Chen Jiebin: Renowned erhu performer based in North America, First-Class Performer.
Chen Guochan: President of the Toronto Chinese Music Academy (Canada).
Gao Hong: Pipa performer and composer, Grammy voting member, Artistic Director of the World Music Orchestra and Chinese Music Ensemble at Carleton College (USA).


Secretaries-General of the Jury Committee:
Bai Xue: Concertmaster of the Canada-China National Orchestra.
Nan Feihong: Staff member at the Office of the President, University of Toronto (Canada).


Expert Jury Members: For the sake of fairness, the specific list of expert jury members will not be published at this time.

III. Competition Regulations
Competition Categories:
Solo Categories
1. Bowed Strings
Erhu, Gaohu, Zhonghu, Banhu, Jinghu, and other traditional Chinese bowed instruments.
2. Plucked Strings
Pipa, Guzheng, Yangqin, Ruan, and other traditional Chinese plucked instruments.
3. Wind Instruments
Dizi, Suona, Sheng, Xiao, and other traditional Chinese wind instruments.
Ensemble Categories
String Ensemble
Comprising bowed instruments such as Erhu, Gaohu, Zhonghu, Banhu, Jinghu, etc.
Plucked Strings Ensemble
Comprising plucked instruments such as Pipa, Guzheng, Yangqin, Ruan, etc.
Wind Ensemble
Comprising wind instruments such as Dizi, Suona, Sheng, Xiao, etc.
Eligibility: Learners, enthusiasts, and professional performers of Chinese music who reside outside mainland China.

Registration Period:October 1 – December 12
Preliminary RoundDecember 15
Final Round:December 29
Key Notes:
·All categories will be judged online via video submissions.·The Professional Division includes both preliminary and final rounds.·The Non-professional Division includes only the preliminary round (no final).


Competition Divisions

(Ages are calculated as of June 30th)1. Non-professional Division
Children’s Groups:
Group A: Ages 6–9
Group B: Ages 10–13
Group C: Ages 14–17
Adult Groups:
Group A: Ages 18–35
Group B: Ages 36–64
Group C: Ages 65 and above
2. Professional Division(limited to those not permanently residing in mainland China)
Professional Group A:Ages 14–18
Students of professional music conservatories.
Professional Group B:Ages 19–45
Teachers, students of art institutions, and freelance performers, including foreign national instructors and performers.
3. Ensemble Division
No age restrictions.
Repertoire Guidelines
I. Non-professional Solo Division
One self-chosen piece for the entire competition.
The piece must be fully prepared, performed from memory, and without any form of accompaniment.
II. Professional Division
Four categories: Erhu, Pipa, Guzheng, Zhongruan.
Preliminary Round:One self-chosen piece.
Final Round:Two pieces selected from the prescribed repertoire, one of which must be traditional or folk style, and not overlapping with the preliminary piece.
All pieces must be fully prepared and performed from memory. Preliminary round: no accompaniment allowed. Final round: accompaniment is optional and will not affect scoring.

Prescribed Repertoire

Erhu Division:

a. Regional-Style Works

  • Spring Scenery of Jiangnan (composed by Ma Xilin & Zhu Changyao)
  • Journey through Henan (composed by Song Guosheng)
  • Qinqiang Theme Fantasia (arranged by Zhao Zhenxiao & Lu Rirong)
  • Hometown (composed by Liu Changfu)
  • New Herdsmen on the Grassland (composed by Liu Changfu)
  • Spring Sunshine (composed by Lu Jianmin)
  • Song on the Mountain Ridge (composed by Wang Xu)

b. Traditional Classics

  • Moonlit Night (composed by Liu Tianhua)
  • Listening to the Pines (composed by Hua Yanjun)
  • The River Runs Red (Northeastern folk tune, adapted by Huang Huaihai)
  • Autumn Moon over the Han Palace (ancient piece)

c. Contemporary Masterpieces

  • Erhu Rhapsody No. 5 (composed by Wang Jianmin)
  • Amannisha (composed by Wang Danhong)
  • Ode to Chu (composed by Li Bochan)
  • Original Aspiration (composed by Li Bochan)
  • Spirit of the Snow Mountain (composed by Liu Wenjin)
  • Erhu Concerto No. 2 – Pursuing Dreams in Beijing (composed by Guan Naizhong)

Pipa Division:

a. Regional-Style Works

  • Two Sisters on the Grassland (solo version, composed by Liu Dehai & Wu Zuqiang)
  • Dance of Kucha (composed by Yang Jing)
  • Yi Ethnic Dance (arranged by Wang Huiran)
  • March in Jiangnan (composed by Wang Huiran)
  • Dance of the Mountain (composed by Chen Yin)
  • Melody of the Xianzi (composed by Tang Liangxing)

b. Traditional Classics

  • Wild Geese Descending on the Sandbank
  • Song of the Frontier (including Shen Haochu’s transmitted score Thinking of Spring)
  • Xu Lai (composed by Liu Tianhua)
  • Improved Exercise (composed by Liu Tianhua)
  • Chen Xingyuan Marries into the Fan Kingdom (arr. by Lin Shicheng)
  • Ancient Tune of Yingzhou (performance duration no less than 5 minutes)

c. Contemporary Masterpieces

  • The Six Steeds of Zhao Mausoleum (composed by Liu Dehai)
  • Short Sword and Bronze Armor (composed by Chen Danbu)
  • Late Autumn (composed by Li Bochan)
  • Lament—Inspired by Bai Juyi’s “Song of the Pipa” (composed by Wu Houyuan)
  • Clouds Dream of Flowers (composed by Wang Danhong)
  • Spring Silkworms (composed by Liu Dehai)
  • The Swan (composed by Liu Dehai)

Guzheng Division:

  • Three Variations on Plum Blossoms
  • By the Ili River (composed by Cheng Gongliang)
  • Late Sunshine (composed by Deng Yiqun)
  • Lotus Blossoms in the Rain (composed by Wang Rui)
  • Ode to Guizhou (composed by Xu Xiaolin)
  • The Scholar (composed by Fang Rongqing)
  • Rippling Waves (composed by Tao Yimo)
  • Forest Spring (composed by Ye Xiaogang)
  • Chasing the Sun (composed by Chen Zhe)
  • Soundscape of Yunnan Mountains (composed by Wang Zhongshan)
  • Gazing at Qin Chuan (composed by Jing Jianshu & Wang Zhongshan)
  • Mooring by Maple Bridge at Night (composed by Wang Jianmin)
  • Cang Ge Yin (composed by Chen Zhe)
  • Cloud Garment Lament (composed by Zhou Yuguo)
  • The Hegemon-King of Western Chu (composed by He Zhanhao)
  • Song of Wind and Waves (composed by Deng Yiqun)
  • Morning Mist (composed by Wang Zhongshan)
  • Melody of Sheng and Xiao (composed by Zhuang Yao)
  • Hunt of the Wind (composed by Tao Yimo)
  • The Traveler (composed by Wei Jun)
  • Western Themes Fantasia (composed by Huang Qiuyu & Zhou Wang)

Zhongruan Division:

  • Camel Bells along the Silk Road (composed by Ning Yong)
  • Distant Song (composed by Chen Wenjie)
  • Longing (composed by Lin Jiliang)
  • Grassland Sentiment (composed by Lin Jiliang)
  • Full River Red (composed by Lin Jiliang)
  • Tour of Mount Tai (composed by Lin Jiliang)
  • Under the Grapevine (composed by Lin Jiliang)
  • Night of the Torch Festival (composed by Wu Junsheng)
  • Mountain Resonance II – Stream (composed by Zhou Yuguo)
  • Blooming (performed by Zheng Cuiping, composed by Su Wenqing)
  • Mountain Song (composed by Liu Xing)
  • Improvisation (composed by Liu Xing)
  • Solitary Elegance (composed by Liu Xing)
  • Memories of Yunnan, Movement I (composed by Liu Xing)
  • Memories of Yunnan, Movement III (composed by Liu Xing)
  • The Taste Remains, Movement I (composed by Wen Zhanli)



III. Ensemble Division
Each ensemble must perform one self-chosen piece for the entire competition (no accompaniment).
Each ensemble must consist of 4–16 performers; repertoire and performance style are not restricted.The performance length should be between 3–8 minutes.The piece must include at least two independent parts; unison or single-voice performances are not accepted for this competition.

IV. Competition Method
(1) Registration and Preliminary Round
1.1. For online registration, please follow the WeChat official account: Canada Talent Music Exchange for competition information. From October 1st to December 12th, please visit the official competition website www.canadaecc.cn and pay the preliminary round judging fee along with the application. After completing the registration process, upload your preliminary round video. Each video file should be named with the contestant’s name and category. When filling out the online registration form, please carefully check that your name matches your ID. Only one contestant can be registered per contact phone number. (Preliminary round videos must be submitted by December 12th at the latest.)

1.2. Paper Registration: Print the completed form, email it to canadaecc.office@gmail.com

For registration inquiries, please contact WeChat ID: canadaycmusicacademy

For registration inquiries, please contact WeChat ID:

2. The competition will be conducted entirely through judges reviewing the participants’ video recordings.
Video Requirements

a. The performer should be in a well-lit area, facing the camera directly, with an appropriate distance to ensure clear visibility of the performance.
b. The video file name must use the participant’s name and group.
c. The video must not contain artistic editing, such as image or audio splicing. It must be a live recording with strict audio-video synchronization.
d. The video file format must be MP4, with a resolution of either 1280×720p or 720×576p.
e. Submitted video materials will not be returned.

3. Preliminary review fee: Solo category – CAD $80 per person; Ensemble category – CAD $25 per person.
4. Once the Organizing Committee has received all participant materials and fees, confirmation of successful registration will be sent by email.
5. Around December 15, 2025, the preliminary results will be published on the WeChat public account “Canada Y.C. Music Exchange” and the official event website www.canadaecc.cn.
(2) Final Round
Participants in the Professional Division who advance to the finals must complete the next stage of registration online between December 20 and December 27, following the same procedure as the preliminary round.Contestants who do not advance will not be notified, and submitted materials and review fees will not be refunded.
Final Round Dates:December 29–30, 2025
Final Review Fee: CAD $120 per person

V. Awards
1. Each category will include Gold, Silver, Bronze, Outstanding Performance, and Excellence Awards.
2. The Organizing Committee will present the “Outstanding Instructor Award” to teachers whose students win Gold or Silver prizes, as well as to teachers with multiple students advancing to the finals.
3. Prizes and Bonuses:
Special Jury Award
Erhu Division: The participant with the highest overall score in the Non-professional Division and the participant with the highest overall score in the Professional Division will each receive a premium “Dunhuang” brand instrument.
Other Divisions: Based on the final scores by the jury, two winners will be selected from among the plucked-string and wind-instrument solo categories, as well as the ensemble category, to receive the “Special Jury Award.” Each will be awarded CAD $300.
All winners will receive a beautifully designed award certificate.

VI. Important Notes
1. Once participants register for the competition, it indicates their acceptance of this regulation, and therefore they must comply with all its provisions.
2. The entire registration and participation process is electronic. Award certificates will be printed according to the registration information. When filling out the online registration form, please check carefully to ensure the name matches the identification document. Each contact phone number may only be used to register one participant. Any losses due to errors in the form are the sole responsibility of the applicant.
3. The Organizing Committee reserves the rights to broadcast, televise, use, publish, and distribute the audio and video materials of this competition within the scope of performance rights. Award winners are obliged to participate in charity or outreach performances arranged by the Organizing Committee.
4. Review fees will not be refunded if a participant fails to attend the competition due to personal reasons.
5. Each participant must submit an individual video file; multiple participants may not be recorded in the same video file.
6. In case of cancellation or postponement due to force majeure, the Organizing Committee will announce relevant information on the official website.
Note: The right of final interpretation of this regulation belongs to the Organizing Committee of this event.