A poster of the third International Digital Music Festival of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. [Photo/thepaper.cn]

The third International Digital Music Festival, established and organized by the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, is set to kick off in July, aiming to cultivate more top-notch talent in the field of music, according to the school's official website.

The "YIN CHUANG Cup" Global Game Music Composition Competition is a significant part of the music festival. The competition has launched its registration channels, and invites qualified musicians from around the world to submit their works. Game music has been rapidly developing with the emergence of e-sports and online games. High-quality music not only enriches the gaming experience for players, but also promotes innovation in the music composition industry.

The competition is divided into two categories, namely professional and institutional. The institutional category, a new addition to this year’s competition, has been set up to showcase the skills of young talent. While serving as a stage for professional musicians, the professional category also encourages more students to participate to advance the innovative development of the game music industry.

The total monetary award for the game music composition competition has reached 405,000 yuan ($55,664.82).

To elevate its influence nationally as well as professionality, the game music composition competition invites a number of people to form the judging panel. This includes experts from Berklee College of Music in the United States, professors from music schools, international and domestic composers as well as industry elites. The diversity of their background and rich experience will ensure the competition's fairness and authority.

Since the competition was first held in 2021, it has received works from thousands of participants from more than 20 countries. This makes it a benchmark event in China's game music industry.

"By hosting the International Digital Music Festival, we explore new paths to further develop the digital music industry and set up a new platform for communication and exchange," said Liao Changyong, president of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. "More and more professionals, renowned enterprises, and students are paying attention and participating to the competition, which shows the growth of digital music."

An Dong, art director of the International Digital Music Festival, stated that it is rare to see a global game music composition competition. Although more composers are entering the industry, it still lacks top-notch talent. He hopes that through the festival's international competition, more young talent can be discovered.

Cai Jinhan, music director of miHoYo, also stressed the lack of talent in the game music field. He hopes that by blending industrial practices and educational excellence, the event will give more opportunities to creators that are passionate about gaming music.

Source: "shcm1927" WeChat account