The 2nd CAE Skylark Music Showcase · Strings (Violin · Viola · Cello) Brochure (2027 · Guangzhou)

Organizer：CAE云雀音乐美育展演组委会

I. Introduction

Instruments: Violin (VN), Viola (VA), Cello (VC). Double Bass has no separate group this edition; a group will be opened and announced if six or more entries are received.

The programme combines an Online Showcase with a National Live Showcase in Guangzhou on 28–30 January 2027.

Every participant who completes their presentation receives an Arts Showcase Participation Certificate and personalized expert feedback.

II. Dates and Venue

III. Groups and Repertoire Requirements

Eligibility, age limits, time limits, repertoire requirements for every group are gathered in this section; before entering, a participant need only read the paragraph for their own group.

Age calculation: ages are reckoned as of 1 January 2027, i.e. age = 2027 − year of birth (not calculated to the exact birthday). The year of birth is verified against the participant's identity document at registration.

All time limits are maxima; please plan your programme accordingly.

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1. Amateur Age Groups (业余年龄组)

For participants of all ages who are not enrolled in a music major. The age bands are identical for Violin, Viola and Cello; each instrument has its own groups.

At registration the full group name is "instrument + letter group + age", for example Violin Group D, age 8 (小提琴D组（8岁）).

Participants in the amateur groups are encouraged to include one Chinese work. National Live Showcase repertoire is free choice, with the same time limits as above.

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2. Pre-College Professional Division (少年专业组), affiliated secondary schools

For students enrolled in music performance programmes at secondary schools affiliated with professional music conservatories (including those who have advanced from an affiliated primary school) and at arts secondary schools.

Middle School Group (初中组)Register:小提琴中提琴大提琴 Students of the middle-school section of a conservatory-affiliated school or an arts secondary school · time limit 10 minutes

One work from each of the following two categories must be performed:

1. One movement from Bach's works for unaccompanied strings (violin/viola: Sonatas and Partitas; cello: Cello Suites), or one technical étude (violin: Kreutzer, Rode or Dont; viola: Campagnoli, or viola editions of Kreutzer; cello: Duport or Popper)
2. The first movement of a concerto (with cadenza), or one piece from the Romantic period or later

High School Group (高中组)Register:小提琴中提琴大提琴 Students of the high-school section of a conservatory-affiliated school or an arts secondary school · time limit 12 minutes

All three of the following must be performed:

1. Two movements from Bach's works for unaccompanied strings, one of which must be a slow movement
2. One complete movement of a concerto (piano accompaniment required)
3. One virtuoso showpiece, or one work composed after 1950

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3. University Division (高校组), teacher-training institutions

Register:小提琴中提琴大提琴

recommended 12 minutes

Eligibility: undergraduate and postgraduate students currently enrolled, as well as graduates, in music programmes (music performance, music education, instrumental performance) at teacher-training universities and comprehensive universities. This division is reserved for participants on teacher-training and education tracks and performs in separate sessions from conservatory participants. Graduates who do not work as performers or as professional teachers may enter this division; those already employed as teachers should enter the Teachers' Group.

Repertoire: two or more works of the participant's choice from different periods, any style or genre. Participants are encouraged to include one Chinese work.

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4. Teachers' Group (教师组)

Register:小提琴中提琴大提琴

recommended 12 minutes

Eligibility: music teachers currently employed at primary and secondary schools, music shops, private training institutions and schools of all kinds (excluding serving members of professional orchestras and serving faculty of professional conservatories, who should enter the Concert Artist Group). There is no age limit. Participants in the Teachers' Group may choose to move up to the Concert Artist Group, but may not enter the Amateur Age Groups.

Repertoire: two or more works of the participant's choice from different periods, any style or genre. Participants are encouraged to include one Chinese work.

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5. Concert Artist Group (演奏家组)

Register:小提琴中提琴大提琴

Eligibility: open regardless of background, qualification or occupation — conservatory undergraduates and postgraduates, professional orchestral players, professional soloists, professional teachers, students and graduates of overseas institutions, and any participant of comparable standard. Minimum age 16 (born 2011 or earlier); no upper age limit. There is no amateur-status restriction, but once entered in this group a participant may not enter any other group in the same edition.

Time limit 20 minutes. The requirements are the same for the Online Showcase and the National Live Showcase. All three of the following must be performed:

1. Two movements from Bach's works for unaccompanied strings (violin: the slow movement and fugue of a sonata, or two dance movements from a partita; viola likewise; cello: the prelude and one dance movement of a suite)
2. One complete movement of a concerto (piano accompaniment required; orchestral recordings are not accepted)
3. One virtuoso showpiece or one work composed after 1950

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6. String Ensemble Division (弦乐重奏组), supplementary

Instrumentation: one player per part (string ensembles and chamber combinations with piano are both accepted); no conductor. Groups with two or more players per part should enter the Massed Ensemble Division.

The average age of members is verified by the Organizing Committee at registration.

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7. String Massed Ensemble Division (弦乐齐奏组), supplementary

Instrumentation: more than 8 players. Several players may share a part, and a conductor is permitted. Single-instrument groups and mixed groups of all three string instruments are both accepted.

The average age of members is verified by the Organizing Committee at registration.

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Group assignment and verification

1. Mandatory assignment (no free choice)

• Students enrolled in music performance programmes at conservatory-affiliated primary and secondary schools and at arts secondary schools must enter the Pre-College Professional Division and may not enter the Amateur Age Groups.
• Students and graduates of music programmes at teacher-training universities and comprehensive universities must enter the University Division and may not enter the Amateur Age Groups.
• Music teachers currently employed at primary and secondary schools, music shops and private training institutions must enter the Teachers' Group and may not enter the Amateur Age Groups.
• Conservatory students at undergraduate level or above, serving members of professional orchestras, professional soloists and serving conservatory faculty must enter the Concert Artist Group.

2. Moving between groups

• Amateur participants may choose to move up to the Pre-College Professional Division or the Concert Artist Group; participants with professional status may not move down to the amateur groups.
• A participant may move up to the next age group; participants may not move down to a lower age group.
• A participant may enter several groups, but may not repeat repertoire between them.

3. Verification

Submit a student card, proof of enrolment or proof of employment for the relevant group. Contact staff to correct inaccurate information.

Accompaniment

• Backing tracks, MIDI accompaniment and orchestral recordings are not accepted under any circumstances.
• Participants in the amateur groups may choose to perform unaccompanied.
• In the Pre-College Professional Division, University Division, Teachers' Group and Concert Artist Group, concerto and sonata movements require piano accompaniment; works originally written for unaccompanied strings are exempt.
• For the on-site rounds, participants arrange their own piano accompanist. The Organizing Committee can provide a list of collaborative pianists.

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IV. Registration and Video Requirements

1. Registration, payment and video-link submission are all completed through cae.feuxfollets.top.
2. The performance video must be recorded in a single continuous take. Editing and splicing are not permitted, and no post-production pitch correction or noise reduction may be applied.
3. The video must be recorded in landscape orientation, showing the performer's upper body, both hands and the instrument in full, with good lighting and sound recorded in the room.
4. No spoken announcement is required; repertoire details are entered on the registration form and in the video description.
5. Upload the video to Bilibili: title "Group + Name + 2027CAE线上展演", category "Music — Performance" (音乐 — 演奏), tag "2027CAE云雀音乐线上展演弦乐组", description "Composer + Repertoire + Duration". Set the visibility to "Public" or "Unlisted but shareable" and submit the link. Please make sure the submitted link can be accessed.
6. Full repertoire details must be entered at registration: composer, title of the work, opus number and movement. Repertoire may not be changed after the registration deadline.