2026 ICA Young Artist Competition Guide | Specialized Class & Preparation Roadmap
- Izumi Fujiyama
- Nov 1
- 3 min read
Challenge the Young Artist Competition — International Clarinet Association
ClarinetFest 2026 is planned for Incheon, South Korea. Travel from Japan is shorter and less costly than to the U.S. or Europe, making this an ideal first international challenge. FUJIYAMA CLARINET STUDIO offers a focused coaching track that supports both the musical work and the practical logistics.
The Young Artist Competition finalists perform at ClarinetFest in the summer of 2026 in Incheon, South Korea.
Official details from the International Clarinet Association
Key facts
Eligibility: Competitors must not have reached their 27th birthday by June 30, 2026.
Application deadline: April 1, 2026 (local time).
Preliminary round rules
Fee: USD $50. All applicants must be ICA members in good standing.
Provide proof of age such as a driver’s license, passport, or birth certificate. From Japan, a passport is recommended. Confirm alternatives if needed.
The teacher (if any) and the applicant must sign a statement certifying that the video recordings are the applicant’s own unedited performances.
Recording instructions: Provide high‑quality video recordings containing all required repertoire in the order listed in the announcement. For each work, record a separate unedited video. To ensure fairness, ICA will extract audio files from submitted videos for judging.
Preliminary repertoire
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Concerto in A Major, K. 622 – III. Rondo: Allegro (any edition) Piano required
Choose one of the following:
a) Béla Kovács: Hommage á R. Strauss
b) Béla Kovács: Hommage á Z. Kodaly
c) Béla Kovács: Hommage á A. Khachaturian
At ClarinetFest venue:
Semifinal
Isang Yun: Piri (1971) for solo oboe or clarinet – Teil I
Carl Maria von Weber: Grand Duo Concertant – Movements 2 and 3 (any edition)
Final
Amanda Harberg: Clarinet Sonata (all movements)
Music : You can order from CAMCO
Judging
Preliminary judging is by recording. Notification of semifinalists will be sent by May 1, 2025. Semifinals and finals will be held at ClarinetFest2026. Each semifinalist will have ClarinetFest2026 registration fees waived. Travel and other costs are the competitor’s responsibility. All visa and travel arrangements must be handled by the competitor.
Prizes
First Prize – USD $5,000; the winner will be offered a performance opportunity at ClarinetFest 2027.
Second Prize – USD $2,000
Third Prize – USD $1,000
Special Coaching at Fujiyama Clarinet Studio
ClarinetFest2026
ClarinetFest2026 will be in Korea, very close to us in Japan. I encourage everyone to seize this opportunity and try an international clarinet competition! We are opening a dedicated ICA-focused coaching program at Fujiyama Clarinet Studio, based in Yanai, Yamaguchi, Japan. If you plan to enter, please get in touch. Even if you don’t enter the competition, you are still welcome to set a period to work on the repertoire intensively for your personal achievement.
How to apply for the Special Coaching
To ensure sufficient preparation time, make sure apply earliest possible. If you already study with a teacher, please obtain their approval first.
Support we provide
Sheet music order
Lessons in-person or online
Video review and advice
English communication with organizers, application submission, result follow-up for those who need English assistance
Supervised recording session available
Administrative support for travel arrangements
Suggested Timeline
Oct–Nov: Application, score acquisition, begin lessons
March: Recording
April: Submit application and recording
May: Results
July: Travel to ClarinetFest
ClarinetFest 2026, Inchoen, South Korea
Please check their official site for more upcoming event for the ClarinetFest 2026!
For those who prefer a personal challenge without entering the competition
Participation in the competition is not required. You can also enroll as a “time‑boxed challenge,” such as:
Goal setting: choose a 4–12 week period and define repertoire or orchestral excerpts
Plan design: weekly milestones, practice menus, recording cadence
Practical support: lessons, video feedback, technique and tempo planning
Performance alternative: internal recording submission day or a small studio recital
Retrospective: checklist and evaluation sheets to compare before and after and visualize progress
The goal is not only “results” such as prizes, but the cycle of planning → execution → reflection. Advance steadily at your own pace.
First, feel free to book an online consultation.