​Mission
The Oriens Music Competition inspires the next generation to perform music with East Asian influences, forging connections across communities and transforming local appreciation into a global cultural perspective. 

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Dates

February 8, 2027 (11:59 PM Central Time): Registration and video submission deadline

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February 12, 2027: Finalists announced via email and on www.Facebook.com/TrioOriens

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March 7, 2027: Final round and award ceremony at the  Cullen Hall, University of Thomas

​Address: 3800 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX 77006

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Winner Awards

First Place: $500

Second Place: $300

Third Place: $200

All prize winners also receive a certificate of achievement.

 

Guidelines

1.  Division:

Junior Division: Participants born on or after September 1, 2013

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Senior Division: Participants born from September 1, 2007 to August 31, 2013

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2. Repertoire Requirements:

Each contestant must perform two pieces:

 

One from the mandatory selection (see below)

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One from the classical genre (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, or 20th Century) that best reflects your level

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The total length of the performance is limited to 10 minutes. A piano accompanist is required for all pieces, if applicable.

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Mandatory selection: please choose one from below-

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Ching-Ru Shih: Farming Song (耕農歌) from Famous Cello Works (大提琴名曲集) vol.5

John Williams: 1. "Sayuri’s Theme" from Three Pieces from Memoirs of a Geisha

Bright Sheng: I. "Seasons" from Seven Tunes Heard in China

​Olive Chen: Jasmine Flower Variations

​Zhou Long: 1. "Lan Hua Hua" from A Set of Chinese Folk Song for solo cello

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3. Additional Guidelines

Your repertoire must be the same for both the preliminary and final rounds. 

Performances exceeding the time limit will be interrupted during the final round

Please email triooriens@gmail.com for approval if you are unsure that your chosen piece is acceptable before registration. 

 

4. Video Recording Requirements

(NEW) Your video recordings may be used in the final round if contestants cannot compete in person.

(NEW) Recordings must be in a concert setting and manner. Recording venues could be a church, recital hall, recording studio, or living room, with at least three audience members. Performers need to be in proper attire and stage manner, including taking bows. Please see example below:

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(NEW) Finalists are preferred to compete in person (highly encouraged). Otherwise, the submitted recordings will be used for judges in the final round.

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Please submit two public YouTube links, one for each music selection.

The video recordings must be unedited, continuous in one take, and the audio must be from the same take.

Performers may take a brief pause between movements, even if the score is marked attacca.

Use of an external microphone is allowed.

The cellist and pianist must be visible together, in the same space, throughout the recording.

The upper body of the soloist needs to be fully included in the video.

Please use a stationary camera position without any panning or zooming.

No school names or logos should be visible.

Resolution: minimum 1280x720 (720p) in horizontal format.

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Please upload your videos to YouTube and include the links during registration. Please ensure the video title starts with "Oriens 2027 Cello Competition," followed by the contestant's full name, the composer's last name, the work, and the movement.

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For example:
2027 Oriens Cello Competition, Ashley York, J.S. Bach Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, Mvt 1: Prelude

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File retention: Please keep your original videos; they may be requested later.

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Please email TrioOriens@gmail.com for questions or concerns.