Founded in 1990 by Leonard Bernstein, Pacific Music Festival (PMF) presents its 19th summer in July 2008. Since its foundation, the festival focuses on the education of young musicians selected through worldwide auditions. Applications are now being accepted for Orchestra Course, Composition Course and String Quartet Course. There is no application fee for the audition and the festival covers tuition, travel expense to/from Sapporo and within Japan, shared-room accommodations and meals.

Orchestra Course
The Pacific Music Festival Orchestra (PMFO) will perform under the baton of Fabio Luisi, Jun Märkl, Tadaaki Otaka, Luis Biava and Kentaro Kawase. Additional faculty will include principal/soloist/players of the Vienna Philharmonic, Berliner Philharmoniker and other players from internationally renowned orchestras of the United States and Japan.

Eligibility: Orchestral instrumentalists except harp between the ages of 18 and 29 as of July 1, 2008. There is no harp audition for PMF 2008.
Live Auditions (January 10 to February 26)
ASIA & OCEANIA: Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei, Sydney, Singapore
JAPAN: Sapporo, Osaka, Tokyo
EUROPE: Cologne, Berlin, Vienna, London
NORTH AMERICA: Toronto, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles
Recording is also acceptable with postmarked no later than January 28, 2008.

Composition Course
Young composers of Asian nationality are to work under guidance of Toshio Hosokawa, 2008 Composer-in-Residence for the period between July 7 and July 21, 2008.

Eligibility: Composers of Asian nationality between the ages of 18 and 35 as of July 1, 2008.
One work in full score form, which may be for any combination of standard orchestral instruments, including keyboard, together with a letter of recommendation must be submitted to PMF Organizing Committee with postmarked no later than February 29, 2008. Audio recording of the work can be submitted together.

String Quartet Course
Tokyo String Quartet will provide intensive coaching for the period between July 14 and 28, 2008 which include ensemble coaching, master classes, private lessons and string ensemble sessions. Selected group needs to prepare at least 3 different pieces upon participating the festival.

Eligibility: Existing string quartets, whose individual members are between the ages of 18 and 29 as of July 1, 2008. Group application only.
A recording of two works or movements, no longer than 40 minutes, in contrasting styles from the standard chamber repertoire, biography of the group and curriculum vitae of each member must be submitted to PMF Organizing Committee with postmarked no later than February 29, 2008


For online application and more information, visit the festival official website at
http://www.pmf.or.jp