The 4th International K-A Cappella Festival
Music belongs to Everybody
Organized by
Korean Kodály Society, Korea International Choral Association
Hosted by
Resona Studio, Modni Institute of Arts Education, Seoul Kodály Singers
Sponsored by
This festival is organized by the Korean Kodály Society. Resona Studio serves as a co-host, exclusively handling 'online promotion, system development, and international participant management.' Resona Studio is committed to providing seamless online registration and global communication support for all participants. Please note that on-site operations on the festival day—including program management, judging, and awards—are planned and executed in accordance with the regulations and guidelines of the Korean Kodály Society, the organizing institution.
This event has ended.
Registration, Q&A, and status lookup for this event are no longer available. This page remains as an archive of the completed event.
Competition Categories
Festival Categories
Showcase your a cappella skills in three categories
Classical
Classical
Perform classical a cappella repertoire such as Renaissance madrigals and contemporary choral works.
- A cappella (unaccompanied) required
- 2 ceiling-mounted condenser microphones
Popular Music (K-POP)
Popular Music
Arrange and perform popular music from around the world (Pop, Rock, Disney, etc.) as a cappella. (Jazz excluded)
- Microphones allowed in Main/Final rounds (up to 8)
Church Music
Church Music
Perform sacred music with a Christian message, including Hymns, CCM, Gospel, and Motet.
- A cappella (unaccompanied) required
- 2 ceiling-mounted condenser microphones
Competition Structure
Festival Format
The festival proceeds in 3 stages: Preliminary (Video) → Main Round (On-site) → Final Round
Preliminary
Preliminary - Video
Teams are selected for the main round through video evaluation
Deadline: April 30, 2026
- One-take recording required
- Maximum 1 microphone
- Audio post-processing (mixing) strictly prohibited
- Maximum 6 minutes
Main Round
Main Stage
Category competitions held; top 2–3 teams per category advance to the final
12:30 – 15:30
- 1 song of choice (within 6 minutes including entry/exit)
- May perform the same or a different song from the preliminary
- Top 2–3 teams per category advance to the final
Final Round
Final Round - Stage
Final competition to determine the Grand Prize and category rankings
16:00 – 16:40
- 6–9 teams that passed the main round participate
- May repeat the main round song or perform a new song
- Same instrument/microphone setup as the main round must be maintained
Festival Day Schedule
09:30 – 11:30
On-site Rehearsal
Classical/Church Music: 3 min, K-POP: 5 min (mic check and stage walkthrough)
12:00 – 12:20
Opening Ceremony & Group Photo
12:30 – 15:30
Main Round
All category competitions → Top 2–3 teams selected per category
15:30 – 16:00
Break
16:00 – 16:40
Final Round
6–9 finalist teams compete → Grand Prize and rankings determined
16:40 – 17:00
Awards Ceremony
Awards
Awards
Grand Prize
1 team
Full scholarship for 1 semester at the Kodály Institute of the Liszt Academy, Hungary
Approx. 3,500 EUR / 5,425,000 KRW / 4,200 USD
Overall 1st place
Includes plaque / Scholarship awarded to 1 person
Category 1st Place (Gold)
1 team per category
2,000,000 KRW
Approx. 1,300 EUR / 1,400 USD
Highest scoring team in each category
Includes plaque
Category 2nd Place (Silver)
1 team per category
1,000,000 KRW
Approx. 650 EUR / 700 USD
Second highest scoring team in each category
Includes plaque
* Prize amounts are before taxes. Tax obligations are the responsibility of the winners.
Judging Criteria
Judging Criteria
Main Round Scoring
| Criteria | Score |
|---|---|
Pitch & Rhythm Accurate intonation and rhythmic precision | 30 |
Musical Expression Dynamics, phrasing, and artistic completeness | 30 |
Stage Presence Stage entry/exit, eye contact | 20 |
Blending & Ensemble Harmonic balance, tonal blend, overall vocal quality | 20 |
Final Round Scoring (Same for All Categories)
| Criteria | Score |
|---|---|
Pitch & Rhythm Accurate intonation and rhythmic precision | 40 |
Musical Expression Dynamics, phrasing, and artistic completeness | 40 |
Stage Presence Stage entry/exit, eye contact | 20 |