A Source of Many World-Class Musicians “THE INTERNATIONAL OBOE COMPETITION OF JAPAN in Tokyo” Scheduled for October 2027 Registration Opens on Monday, March 15, 2027

Sony Music Foundation, a public interest incorporated foundation whose core mission includes fostering and supporting young musicians (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Chairperson: Keiko Ishikawa;), will hold the “THE INTERNATIONAL OBOE COMPETITION OF JAPAN in Tokyo”—a highly acclaimed international music competition that brings together outstanding musicians from around the world—in October 2027, marking its return after four years.

Official Title: THE 14th INTERNATIONAL OBOE COMPETITION OF JAPAN 2027 in Tokyo

Official Website: https://oboec.jp/

THE INTERNATIONAL OBOE COMPETITION OF JAPAN in Tokyo

“THE INTERNATIONAL OBOE COMPETITION OF JAPAN in Tokyo” is an international music competition that has been organized by Sony Music Foundation, a public interest incorporated foundation, since 1985. It was established based on a proposal by the foundation’s first chairman, Norio Ohga (former chairman of Sony Corporation), who advocated for the importance of the oboe as an instrument that determines the quality of an orchestra.

The purpose of this competition is to contribute to the development of international musical culture by widely promoting the true value of the oboe, discovering and nurturing outstanding talent, and expanding their opportunities to perform both domestically and internationally.

Today, it is highly regarded as an international music competition that brings together outstanding oboists from around the world and has fostered numerous musicians who are active on the global stage. It is arguably the world’s only international music competition dedicated exclusively to the oboe and has earned a solid reputation internationally.

To date, former participants are among the members of the Orchestre National de Lyon, Orchestra of the Teatro di Bologna, Orchestre De Paris, Brno Philharmonic Orchestra, Lucerne Festival Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, London Symphony Orchestra, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, and others—as principal oboists for those of the world’s leading orchestras.

Please visit the official website (https://oboec.jp/) for details on the competition and how to apply (including required pieces and participation rules).

[Competition Overview]

■Title

THE 14th INTERNATIONAL OBOE COMPETITION OF JAPAN 2027 in Tokyo

■Schedule

Period for application:        March 15 (Mon) - April 14(Wed) 23:59(CET), 2027 [Must arrive by this date]

*Application must include the video for preliminary screening.

*All times are in Central European Time (CET). 

Preliminary screening by Jury (with videos): May -June 2027 (Closed to the public)

◇Results announcement: Around early July

Registration: October 9, 2027 (Sat)

First Round: October 11 (Mon), 12 (Tue), 2027

◇Results announcement: October 12 (Tue)

Second Preliminary Round: October 14 (Thu), 15 (Fri), 2027

◇Results announcement: October 15 (Fri) 

Final Round and Awards Presentation Ceremony: October 18 (Mon), 2027

■Venue

Nerima Culture Center

1-17-37 Nerima, Nerima Ward, Tokyo 176-0001, Japan

https://www.neribun.or.jp/nerima.html

First Round, Second Round: Small Hall

Final Round / Award Presentation Ceremony: Main Hall

■Review Committee

<Jury Chairman>

Hansjörg SCHELLENBERGER (Former Principal Oboist, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Conductor / Oboist)

<Jury members> *In alphabetical order*

Kanami ARAKI (Principal Oboist, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra)

Ken-ichi FURUBE (Specially Appointed Principal Oboist, New Japan Philharmonic / Associate Professor, Tokyo College of Music)

Gordon HUNT (Conductor / Former Principal Oboist, Philharmonia, London Chamber and London Philharmonic Orchestras)

Ramón ORTEGA QUERO (Principal Oboist, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra)

Dwight PARRY (Principal Oboist, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra)

Isao TSUJI (Oboist / Visiting Professor, The Showa University of Music; Senzoku Gakuen College of Music/ Specially Appointed Professor,  Kunitachi College of Music/ Lecturer, Nihon University College of Art)

■Registration Information

1. Eligibility

Anyone born between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2009, is eligible, except for past first-prize winners of this Competition.

2. Period for application

March 15, (Mon) – April 14, (Wed) 23:59, 2027 [Must arrive by this date, Central European Time]

3. Where to Apply

All applications must go through MUVAC, an online application facilitation service. 

“MUVAC” (https://www.muvac.com/).

*Need to sign up for an account prior to application.

*Applications through other methods are not accepted.

■Prizes & Awards

・First Prize: Certificate / cash prize of JPY 1,300,000 / trophy

　[Ohga Award] (Additional Prize): Recipients will be offered performance opportunities in Japan.

・Second Prize: Certificate / cash prize of JPY 700,000 

・Third Prize: Certificate / cash prize of JPY 300,000 

・Honorable Mention: Certificate / cash prize of JPY 100,000 

・Audience Award: Certificate

◇If there are two or more winners for the First, Second, and/or Third Prizes, the Committee will revise the amount of the cash prize at its own discretion.

If no one is deemed qualified, the relevant place will be left vacant.

◇The concert awarded as part of the Ohga Prize shall not be held if agreement cannot be reached with the prize winner regarding the concert arrangements.

◇Other prizes and awards, such as a Special Award, may be offered.

◇The amounts of cash prizes are inclusive of taxes according to the tax laws of Japan.

■Organizer

Sony Music Foundation (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation)

[Foundation Overview]

Name: Sony Music Foundation (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation)

Chairperson: Keiko Ishikawa

Established: 1984

Address: SME Rokubancho Building, 4-5 Rokubancho, Chiyoda-ku,  Tokyo 102-8353

URL: https://www.smf.or.jp/