California Youth Music Competition
Since 2023
CYMC Special Guest Appearance
Mayor Jennifer Stark will make a special appearance at the conclusion of the 2026 CYMC Finals on August 2, joining our Awards Ceremony to celebrate and present awards to outstanding young musicians.
Mayor Jennifer Stark
Mayor of Claremont, California
Mayor Stark’s participation brings a special level of recognition and encouragement to our young musicians. CYMC is honored to celebrate the achievements of talented students alongside community leadership that values arts, education, and youth development.
California International Music Competition and Festivals
Global Artists. International Dialogue.
CYMC 2026 Online Competition Division
Winners’ Recital : Harvard University
Paine Recital Hall
2026 Online Music Competition
Winner's Recital : (Harvard University)
CYMC 2026 features an exceptional jury panel of distinguished artists and faculty from the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Colburn School, dedicated to delivering an inspiring, world-class competition experience for young musicians.
2026 Online Music Competition
2026 · Harvard UniversityPaine Recital Hall
Results will be announced on July 1, 2026.
The 2026 California International Online Music Competition Division offers selected participants the opportunity to perform at Harvard University and engage in an exclusive masterclass experience at New England Conservatory, presented in collaboration with the Kairos International Music Festival program.
.Harvard.
🏆NEW FOR JUNE | Special Opportunity for ICMPC Laureates
Top 3 Prize Winners of the 2026 International Classical Music Performance Competition (ICMPC) are eligible for direct entry to the CYMC 2026 Live Finals, bypassing the preliminary round.
Eligible ICMPC Top 3 Winners may enter “ICMPC Laureate” in the YouTube Link field when submitting their application. No preliminary video submission is required.
August 1–2, 2026 | Claremont, California
📩 For more questions:
californiayouthmusiccomp@gmail.com
About California Youth Music Competition
CYMC (California Youth Music Competition) has been featured in major media outlets including the LA Times and Music Times, rapidly establishing itself as one of the most influential and forward-moving youth music platforms in Southern California. Designed for serious young musicians with ambition beyond the classroom, CYMC delivers a competition experience that closely reflects the professional classical music world—where artistic excellence, stage presence, and musical identity are held to the highest standards. Participants are evaluated by a distinguished jury panel that includes affiliated musicians and professionals from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, alongside internationally recognized artists and educators, ensuring that every performance is heard, assessed, and elevated within a truly professional artistic environment.
What sets CYMC apart is not only the level of its judging, but the level of its vision. CYMC is built as a bridge—connecting young musicians to real stages, real artists, and real opportunities. In 2026, CYMC expands its national presence through a collaboration in Boston, offering selected laureates of its Online Music Competition the opportunity to be invited to perform at Paine Hall, Harvard University. This is not a symbolic reward—it is a tangible, high-level performance opportunity that places young artists on a stage associated with one of the world’s most prestigious academic and cultural institutions.
For students, CYMC is a transformative experience. It challenges them to perform at a higher level, to think like artists, and to develop the discipline and confidence required for future success in music and beyond. For families, CYMC represents a rare combination of credibility, artistic integrity, and forward-looking opportunity—providing young musicians not only with recognition, but with meaningful experiences that strengthen their artistic profile and long-term trajectory. In an increasingly competitive landscape, CYMC offers something truly valuable: a platform that does not simply reward talent, but actively cultivates it.
By integrating world-class artistic standards, distinguished professional connections, and prestigious performance opportunities, CYMC is not just a competition—it is a launching platform for the next generation of internationally competitive musicians.
