A vocalist performing on stage at the NTD International Chinese Vocal Competition
Participant Guide

Participant
Guide

Invitation letters and visas, accommodation and travel, check-in and what happens on the day.

Guide · Your New York Guide

From invitation to the stage

This page gathers key dates, venue, check-in, accompaniment, rehearsal, visa, accommodation and travel information. Content is updated as arrangements are confirmed; please rely on the last-updated date shown here and on the individual notices sent to you by the organizer.

Last updated: August 13, 2026

Important  The organizer’s office is not the competition or check-in venue. Please do not go to the office to check in before you have received a formal notice.

Key Dates

Key dates timeline

All times are New York time (America/New_York).

Deadline

Registration & video deadline

July 6, 2027, 23:59 (New York time)

Confirmation

Confirmation / invitation

To be announced.

Repertoire

Final repertoire confirmation

To be announced.

Scores

Accompaniment score deadline

To be announced.

Check-in

Check-in

Date, time and location to be announced.

Live Rounds

Preliminary / Semi-final / Final

Preliminary August 6  Semi-final August 7  Final August 8

Awards Concert

Winners’ concert and awards ceremony

Date and venue to be announced.

Venue

Venue and check-in

  1. Competition venue  The final round is held at a music hall in Manhattan, New York. The exact address is announced in your individual notice.
  2. Check-in  Arrive at the time given in your individual notice, bringing a valid passport or identity document, your application number, and any other materials requested by the organizer.
  3. Late arrival  If unforeseen circumstances may delay you, use the emergency contact in your contestant notice immediately. Whether rescheduling is possible depends on the day’s programme and the organizer’s decision.
  4. Office  129 W. 29th Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001, U.S.A. is the organizer’s office and not a competition venue.
Accompaniment

Piano accompaniment and rehearsal

Organizer’s accompanist

To use the accompanist provided by the organizer, submit clear and complete PDF scores by the stated deadline, marked with the work, key, tempo, cuts and page turns. Accompaniment fees, number and length of rehearsals, and payment methods will be announced once confirmed.

Your own accompanist

If you bring your own pianist, provide their name and contact details by the stated deadline. Their travel, accommodation, transport, insurance and other costs are arranged and paid by the contestant.

Rehearsal  Rehearsal slots are scheduled centrally according to the programme. Arriving late may shorten or forfeit your slot. Please bring a spare printed score.

Changes  Obtain the organizer’s written confirmation before changing your accompaniment choice or repertoire.

Visa

Visas and invitation letters

  1. After receiving formal confirmation of participation, submit the information required for the invitation letter as instructed.
  2. Once verified, the organizer can issue a competition invitation letter as a supporting document for your visa application.
  3. The contestant applies to the U.S. authorities independently, paying fees, booking appointments and providing the required evidence.

Please note  An invitation letter neither guarantees a visa nor replaces a visa application. Allow ample time. Refunds in the event of a visa refusal are handled under the official refund policy.

Original by courier  If you need a physical original, an international courier fee of USD $50 may apply. Please confirm the cost and delivery time before paying.

Costs

Travel, accommodation and who pays

Paid by the contestant

Flights, accommodation, meals, local transport, visa fees, travel and medical insurance, costs for accompanying persons, and all costs relating to your own accompanist.

Information from the organizer

The organizer may suggest areas to stay, partner hotel information or transport tips. Whether discounts or allocations exist is subject to official announcement.

No bookings on your behalf  Unless separately agreed in writing, the organizer does not book or pay for flights, accommodation or local transport.

Insurance  Please confirm that medical care, travel delay, baggage and cancellation risks are adequately covered.

Backstage

Practice rooms, dress and backstage

  1. Practice rooms  Whether practice rooms are available, how to book them, session lengths and available pianos will be announced once confirmed.
  2. Waiting area  Wait in the designated area as directed by staff. Keep quiet, silence your phone, and do not disturb other contestants.
  3. Dress  Prepare stage dress appropriate to formal classical singing — dignified, and allowing free breathing and movement. Changing and storage arrangements will be announced once confirmed.
  4. Stage rehearsal  Whether staging and sound checks are scheduled, and how long each contestant has, will be announced once confirmed.
  5. Photography and recording  On-site recording rules follow the venue’s and organizer’s notices. Contestants and accompanying persons may not livestream backstage or during the competition without permission.
Checklist

Pre-departure checklist

  1. Documents  Passport / ID | visa or entry documents | travel insurance | application number and invitation letter
  2. Repertoire  Final repertoire list | spare printed scores | accompaniment scores | key, tempo and cut markings
  3. Performance  Stage dress and shoes | spare outfit | personal items needed to perform
  4. Itinerary  Flight and hotel confirmations | venue address | transport routes | organizer general and emergency contacts
  5. Digital backups  Secure offline copies of your confirmation, payment receipt, scores and key documents
Contact

Who to contact about logistics

  1. General enquiries  Write to us indicating that your question concerns “travel, venue and visas”. We normally reply within 3–5 working days.
  2. Competition-week emergencies  Invited contestants should use the emergency contact given in their individual notice. The general public phone line cannot guarantee same-day check-in changes.
Contact the logistics desk Register  →