ICHC 2027 is the 2nd International Chromatic Harmonica Competition in Hong Kong, organised by Kings Harmonica Quintet Limited to promote chromatic harmonica music and to recognize performers with outstanding musicianship from around the world.

Stage 1 is held off‑site by video submission, while Stages 2 to 4 are held on‑site in Hong Kong SAR from 30 March 2027 to 4 April 2027.

The competition is open to all qualified chromatic harmonica players; however, contestants under 18 must obtain written consent from a parent or legal guardian to travel to Hong Kong for the on‑site stages.

Applications must be completed and submitted by 30 April 2026, together with the Stage 1 video, required documents, and a non‑refundable application fee of HK$500, with all bank charges borne by the applicant.

Applicants must submit the online application form, the Stage 1 performance video, softcopies of the original music scores used in Stage 1, and proof of payment of the application fee; applications may be rejected if the required scores are missing or invalid.

There are four stages: Stage 1 is a preliminary off‑site video round, Stage 2 is an on‑site quarter‑final with solo performances with and without piano, Stage 3 is an on‑site semi‑final with a string ensemble, and Stage 4 is an on‑site final with a concerto performance with orchestra.

Twenty‑four contestants are admitted from Stage 1 to Stage 2, up to eight proceed from Stage 2 to Stage 3, and up to four advance from Stage 3 to Stage 4, with lists announced at the venue and on the official website.

The total performance duration in Stage 1 must be at least 14 minutes and no longer than 16 minutes of actual music playing; preparation before the first note, pauses between pieces, and the short pause after the final piece are not counted, though contestants are strongly encouraged to keep all pauses as short as practical.

Contestants must perform a solo programme with live piano accompaniment totaling 14–16 minutes, choosing either their own pieces, works from Repertoire List B, or a combination, provided the total playing time stays within the specified limits.

No; unaccompanied pieces are not accepted in Stage 1, and contestants must submit a solo performance with live piano accompaniment.

If a contestant performs more than one piece in Stage 1, each piece must be recorded in a single take. The submitted video may only include combining individual takes; no other post-editing is allowed.

The camera must be steady throughout; it should show the full body of the contestant and the pianist from head to feet, the video must be at least 720p at 30 fps, file size must not exceed 2 GB, personal identifiers (other than the video title) must not appear, and volume control or audio editing is not allowed.

No; contestants should submit the video without bows, greetings, added effects, or extra text, and the intervals before and after the performance should be as short as possible.

The recording must be an authentic live performance of the contestant made after 24 October 2025; older recordings are not accepted.

If questions arise about authenticity, the contestant may be required to submit a written explanation as part of a declaration, and any falsification may result in disqualification.

Yes; contestants are not restricted from reusing repertoire from Stage 1 in later stages, but within Stages 2 to 4, the same piece may not be repeated across those stages unless specifically approved by the organiser.

Contestants must inform the organiser of their choices from Repertoire Lists A and B for Stage 2, from List C for Stage 3 and from List D for Stage 4 by 30 November 2026, and late submissions will not be accepted.

In Stage 2, contestants perform a programme of about 23–25 minutes, including one set piece (about 6–8 minutes) designated by the organiser, one piece from Repertoire List A, and at least one piece from Repertoire List B, with some flexibility to include more List B works within the time limit.

In Stage 3, contestants perform a work chosen from Repertoire List C with a string ensemble appointed by the organiser, with a total duration of about 25 minutes, and will be assigned rehearsal time before the competition.

In Stage 4, contestants perform a concerto with a professional orchestra appointed by the organiser, including a set piece and a work chosen from Repertoire D, with order of rehearsal and performance determined by drawing lots.

Overseas contestants who qualify for Stage 2 are eligible for a subsidy from the organiser to cover part of their air travel and accommodation expenses in Hong Kong SAR for up to 11 nights.

Contestants are expected to arrive at least two days before their first on‑site competition day, i.e., on or before 28 March 2027 for Stage 2.

Yes; the organiser will provide professional piano accompanists free of charge for the on‑site stages, and contestants will be given a standard number of rehearsal sessions while still being free to bring their own accompanist if they wish.

Performances are evaluated by an international jury, and any juror who is a relative or regular teacher of a contestant will abstain from judging that contestant; all jury decisions are final and cannot be appealed.

Results for each on‑site stage are announced at the venue immediately after the jury's deliberation and are also posted on the official ICHC website; Stage 1 results and the list of 24 qualifiers for Stage 2 are announced on the website in July 2026 and notified individually.

An appreciation prize of HK$1,000 may be awarded to contestants who achieve a good performance in Stage 1, as determined by the Jury. Also, a certificate signed by the Jury will be awarded to all contestants in Stage 1 to 4.

By applying and submitting a video, contestants and video owners grant the organiser the right to store and publicly transmit the videos without limitation or charge, and submitted materials will not be returned.

Personal data collected in the application process will be used solely for organising and administering the competition and may be retained as necessary for this purpose, in line with the organiser's data policies.

The organiser reserves the right to alter the competition schedule, repertoire lists, or other aspects of the event in justified circumstances, with such changes announced in due course on official channels.