21st SUN RIVER PRIZE Students’ New Music Composition Competition
Chengdu, P. R. China, 2026
New Talent · New Idea
New Composition · New Music
â—† Sponsored by
Sichuan Conservatory of Music
â—† Organized by
Composition Department of Sichuan Conservatory of Music
ISCM-Chengdu Section
Southwest China Music Research Center-Research Institute of Compositional Technique
Chinese Traditional Music Innovation and Creation Center
â—† Chairs of the Organizing Committee
WEN Feng
â—† Chairman of the Jury
JIA Guoping
â—† Requirements and Information
The instrumentation for this year’s competition is chamber music. The finalist works will be performed by L’Itinéraire from France at the final concert in Chengdu in late November 2026 and will be evaluated live by the jury.
The required instrumentation is as follows:
Flute doubling Piccolo, Clarinet in B-flat/A, Violin (2), Viola, Cello, Double Bass, and Piano.
Note: Submitted works must not include bass clarinet, prepared piano, or any writing involving inside-the-piano techniques.
The work may be composed for any combination of 1 to 8 players selected from the above instrumentation. The duration of the work should be between 8 and 12 minutes. Works involving electroacoustic music, electronic music, or vocal parts will not be accepted. The use of performers’ voices as part of instrumental sound effects is exempt from this restriction.
â—† Eligibility
1.There are no restrictions on nationality, region, or age. However, applicants must be registered students by the submission deadline. Non-students are not eligible to enter the competition.
2. Submitted works must have been composed within the last three years. There are no stylistic restrictions.
3. Works that have been publicly published or have previously won awards are not eligible.
4. Each applicant may submit only one work and must not enter under a pseudonym or under another person's name.
This is an anonymous competition. The full score must indicate the year of composition. Apart from the title of the work and necessary textual instructions, the full score must not include the applicant’s name or any other non-musical identifying information. Works that violate this rule will not be considered in the judging process.
â—† How to Enter
Applicants must submit the following materials:
1. One full score in PDF format. The score must be submitted as a single PDF file and named in the following format: applicant’s name + title of the work.
2. Electronic copies of personal identification and proof of student status. Proof of student status may include a student ID card, certificate of enrollment, or equivalent official document. Applicants who have been admitted to a new institution but have not yet formally enrolled, or who are temporarily unable to provide a student ID due to graduation or transition between degree programs, may submit an admission letter or an official enrollment/admission certificate issued by the new institution.
3. An electronic document containing personal information, including: name, date of birth, place of origin/nationality, ID or passport number, telephone number, email address, mailing address, name of current institution, title of the work, duration of the work, and year of composition.
4. A short biography in PDF format.
5. A program note or brief description of the work in PDF format.
6. A recording of the work in MP3 format. This is recommended but not required.
Applicants must send all required materials to both official competition email addresses before the deadline:
sunriverprize@qq.com
sunriverprize@outlook.com
â—† Contact
E-mail (preferred): sunriverprize@qq.com
Alternative e-mail: sunriverprize@outlook.com
Organizing Committee Office
Tel: +86-28-8543 0253
â—† Competition Information
https://www.sccm.edu.cn/jx_zqx/show-899.html
â—† Deadline
Entries must be received by the Organizing Committee’s official email accounts before 11:59 p.m. on October 18, 2026, Beijing Time.
â—† Awards and Prizes
1st Prize (1): RMB 15,000, pre-tax, and an electronic certificate.
2nd Prize (2): RMB 10,000 each, pre-tax, and an electronic certificate.
3rd Prize (3): RMB 5,000 each, pre-tax, and an electronic certificate.
Honorable Mentions: electronic certificates.
The jury reserves the right to withhold any prize or adjust the number of awards. The jury’s decision is final.
â—† Additional Regulations
1. The Organizing Committee reserves the right to publish and perform the winning works permanently without payment of any additional publication or performance fees.
2. By entering the competition, applicants agree to abide by all regulations of the competition and confirm that all information and materials submitted are true and accurate. Submitted works must not have previously won any award, must not have been publicly published, and must not be entered under another person’s name. Violation of any of these conditions will result in disqualification. If a prize has already been awarded, the applicant agrees to return all prizes and prize money. Any legal disputes arising from such violations shall be the sole responsibility of the applicant.
3. Applicants are responsible for ensuring the authenticity, accuracy, completeness, and proper formatting of all submitted materials, including but not limited to identification documents, proof of student status, personal information, full score, program note, and anonymity requirements. If missing materials, incorrect information, score-related issues, non-compliance with the competition regulations, or other submission problems affect the judging process, performance, or eligibility of the entry, the applicant shall bear the corresponding consequences. In serious cases, the Organizing Committee reserves the right to disqualify the applicant or revoke any prize awarded.
Get your materials ready: score, audio, bio, and a work page you can share anywhere.