Music Sharing

International Community Engagement Program (ICEP)

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM (ICEP) 2024 Japan Application Guidelines for Internship: ICEP Japan Coordinator

This position of MUSIC SHARING ICEP JAPAN COORDINATOR would suit those interested in entering the field of humanitarian aid, international relations, cultural exchange programs, or arts administration. Recent graduates in music or the arts, or those who are fluent in Japanese and English are highly encouraged to apply.

Application Overview:

MUSIC SHARING has provided free musical experiences and performances in schools, hospitals, and other institutions for nearly three decades. MUSIC SHARING’s International Community Engagement Program (ICEP) is a cultural exchange, outreach and training program that brings musical presentations to a different Asian country each year in December, followed by similar programming in various locations in Japan during the following June. The ICEP musicians comprise MUSIC SHARING founder, violinist Midori, and three other musicians. MUSIC SHARING is currently accepting applications for an Intern-Coordinator to prepare, guide and catalog ICEP’s activities in Japan in June 2024.

Duties of Intern-Coordinator:
Pre-Tour: Starting April 15, 2024

Location: remote

・Help to fine-tune ICEP tour schedule
・Send checklists and communicate pertinent information to ICEP participants
・Assist in creating presentation materials
・Other duties as assigned by supervisor*

During ICEP Tour: June 4 to 22, 2024

Location: Japan, in-person

・Travel to each presentation/destination site with the ICEP musicians
・On-site liaise with destination facilities and the ICEP musicians
・“Stage” and logistical set-up upon arrival at site
・Interact with the local media (radio, television, newspapers, magazines), as necessary ? Keep track of tour accounting (receipts and reimbursements)
・Assist at two Reporting Concerts
・Other duties as assigned by supervisor*

Post-tour: Until July 10, 2024

Location: remote

・Organize photos and other archival materials taken during the tour
・Submit final tour accounting
・Write reports in Japanese and/or English
・Other duties as assigned by supervisor*
*ICEP Intern Coordinator is supervised by, and reports directly to, the MUSIC SHARING Founder, Tour Leader, and violinist, Midori (Goto).

Eligibility and Ideal Skills:

・Individuals between the ages of 22 and 30 as of July 1, 2024, are eligible to apply.
・Individual applicants must have no health, philosophical, or nationality issues that would prevent them from visiting and communicating with various social institutions (schools, nursing homes, hospitals correctional facilities, etc.) in Japan.1
・Individuals must be able to be physically in Japan during the tour period.
・Individuals must accept, comply, and follow the rules and regulations established by MUSIC SHARING International Community Engagement Program.
・Fluency in Japanese (oral and business writing) and English (oral and basic communication writing)
・High computer literacy
・Discretion (ability to keep information confidential) Additionally, affinity towards the performing arts and strong organizational and social skills would be a great advantage.

Note:

This program differs from a typical concert tour. The schedule will be intense with little or no personal flexibility. It also offers unusual and invaluable opportunities to experience first-hand the power of music, to visit customarily restricted institutions, and to observe cultural attributes from a unique perspective. There can be no allowances for changes in the schedule for personal reasons during the activity period, and ICEP participants may not be accompanied by family members or friends.

Compensation and Expenses:

・There is no application fee.
・Minimal compensation may be offered by MUSIC SHARING.
・Expenses (international air travel, domestic transportation, accommodation) deemed necessary for participation in ICEP activities are generally covered by MUSIC SHARING.

How to Apply:

Please submit the following via email to [email protected]:

・Name, address, email address
・Copy of Government-Issued ID such as National Health Card (Non-Japanese must submit a copy of passport.)
・Biography or CV
・Letter of intent

Note: Applicants’ information and attached documents will not be used for other purposes.

Application Deadline:

February 1, 2024 or until filled

Application Process:

Based on the submitted materials along with the application, the applicant may be invited for an interview, which will be conducted in English. If advanced to the next (final) stage, the interview will be conducted in Japanese. Writing samples in both languages may be requested. The result will be communicated to applicants via email. Please note that MUSIC SHARING will not respond to inquiries related to the results of the application process.

Audition Final Results for ICEP

We congratulate all instrumentalists who applied and participated in the vigorous audition process.

Final Results:

Violin: Ellinor D’Melon
alternates: Nathan Meltzer, Yue Qian

Viola: Hiroki Kasai
no alternate

Cello: Alejandro Gomez-Pareja
alternate: Luca Giovannini

First round judges were Will Frampton (ICEP Bangladesh, Myanmar, Japan), Michael Katz (ICEP Nepal, Myanmar, Japan), and Arata Yumi (ICEP Japan). We are grateful for their continued involvement in ICEP in a different role!

2023 Laos & 2024 Japan

Guidelines for Quartet Member Applicants

 

Application Overview

■ Positions
1 Violinist, 1 Violist, 1 Cellist, plus alternates

■ ICEP Activity Period
Quartet members are required to participate in the entire schedule, as follows:

Period	Location	Activities
Dec.15 to 30, 2023 (projected dates)	Laos	Assembly, rehearsal (Rehearsal may also be outside of Laos)
		Various events, performances and presentations to include those at educational institutions and other facilities for children, the disabled and the aged for the purpose of promoting global friendship and cultural exchange
June 6 to 22, 2024 (projected dates)	Japan	Assembly, rehearsal (Rehearsal may also be outside of Japan)
		Various events, performances and presentations to include those at schools, hospitals and other facilities for a diverse population Public performances for the purpose of reporting to the community engagement activities in Laos
		End of Japan period - Dismissal

■ Eligibility

• Young musicians between 20 and 29 years old, as of December 1, 2023, with a strong interest in community engagement activities.
• Applicants must have no health, philosophical or nationality issues that would prevent them from performing in Laos and Japan.
• Ability to communicate in English.
• Musicians who have successfully auditioned and participated in two previous ICEP cycles are not eligible to apply.
• Applicants are expected to comply with the rules and regulations recommended or required by local authorities and hosting institutions and so communicated by the MUSIC SHARING ICEP Committee related to the COVID-19 epidemic.
• Participants traveling to Japan for ICEP activities will, as a general rule, be required to show official proof of full vaccination (a primary COVID-19 vaccine series and specifically bivalent booster). Participants may be required during the tour period to undergo testing at the discretion of the MUSIC SHARING ICEP Committee.

■ Compensation
There is no honorarium for performances. However, the following expenses will be covered by MUSIC SHARING:

• Transportation Expenses
  • simple round trip between current residence and Laos (in December)
  • simple round trip between current residence and Japan (in June)
  • internal travel related to program activities within Laos and Japan
    * Certain conditions apply.
• Single-entry visa application fee for entry into Laos and Japan
• Accommodation during ICEP activities Note: Accommodation will be arranged by MUSIC SHARING.
• Living support to be utilized toward meal expenses
• Travel insurance between current residence and Laos (in December), and between current residence and Japan (in June). Participants are responsible for obtaining the necessary travel insurance, which will be reimbursed, in full or in part, by MUSIC SHARING.
• Reimbursement, in part or in full, for testing required to enter Laos or Japan, plus returning to their return destination(s).

■ Expenses to be Covered by Participant

• Obtaining or renewing passport
• Musical instrument insurance
• Immunization, as necessary
Participants are required to obtain necessary immunization to enter Laos and Japan, after consulting their own doctors. Required immunization costs specific only to Laos will be compensated by MUSIC SHARING.
• Personal communication costs (i.e. telephone, internet)
• Room service and cleaning costs during the activity period
• All other personal expenses
• MUSIC SHARING bears no responsibility for lost, stolen or forgotten items belonging to participants during the activity period.

■ Application Process
The online application can be completed at
http://www.musicsharing.jp/activity/icep/icep2023/

The first stage is based on the online application and recordings. Recordings should be made after January 1, 2022, and must be uploaded to YouTube with privacy setting "unlisted" or "public" by the deadline.

The second stage of the audition includes a video interview.

The final selection will be made based on all submitted materials.

Please provide your e-mail address and phone numbers at which you expect to be reachable during the first and second selection periods (June 2023) in the event that the committee has further questions.

■ Result
The result of the application process will be sent to the applicants via e-mail by July 1, 2023.

■ Other Notes

• Applicants must reply to e-mail correspondences promptly.
• MUSIC SHARING will not respond to inquiries related to the audition results.
• MUSIC SHARING reserves the right to change the destination country in the event of a natural disaster, change in political conditions, or for any other reason.
• This program is different from a usual concert tour. Please assume that the schedule will be intense with little or no flexibility, and that it requires extensive travel because of unpredictable weather and traffic conditions.
• There can be no allowances for changes in the schedule for personal reasons during the activity period.
• Participants may not be accompanied by family members or friends.
• MUSIC SHARING holds unlimited rights to the following, for use in connection with its PR activities:
• Recording, filming and videotaping;
• Transmission and broadcast of the recorded materials;
• Copying and dissemination of the materials

Application Procedure

■ Submission of Materials
Please follow the online application instructions for submitting necessary materials.

Applicant Information
Application	Please use the online application found at: http://www.musicsharing.jp/activity/icep/icep2023/
Attachments
1) Two letters of recommendation	Letters from established musicians (i.e. current or previous teachers); no specific format is required. Letters may be sent directly via e-mail from the recommender to [email protected] by the deadline.
2) Proof of age	i.e. Copy of passport or driver’s license
3) Biography or CV	Approximately 1 page
4) Letter of intent	1 page (A4 size or U.S. letter size)
5) Essay	1 page (A4 size or U.S. letter size) Topic: “Music in the post-COVID era” e.g.) “How COVID-19 has changed your relationship with music and meaning and role of music in post-pandemic society”
Audio-visual recordings Audio-visual recording should be made after January 1, 2022. Please upload to YouTube with the privacy setting “unlisted” or “public.” Do not set as “private.” Edited recordings are not accepted for the audition. No region code. At least one of the categories must be in a video format. Entire submission in a video format is strongly recommended.
1) Solo	Two contrasting movements from one of J.S. Bach’s unaccompanied works
2) String ensemble	Two contrasting movements from a standard string trio, string quartet, string quintet, or string sextet; piano trio, piano quartet, or piano quintet. If applicable, the applicant must be playing the first, not second, part. Or The first movement from one of the works listed below, played alone, without other parts, and no repeats; for violinists, please play only the first violin part: Mozart’s String Quartet in E-flat major, K.428 Beethoven’s String Quartet in C minor, Op.18. No.4
3) Piece of your choice	Piece of your choice or its portion (not to exceed 10 minutes)
4) Rationale	A short spoken statement of the rationale behind the piece of your choice.

• * Please contact the office (see details below) if you are unable to upload your material to YouTube.
• * The applicant’s information, attached documents and recordings will be used solely for the purpose of this audition.

■ Application Deadline
The completed application form with appropriate attachments and activated links for the upload must be received by MUSIC SHARING no later than 5:00 pm (Japan time) on Wednesday, May 31, 2023.  Please include the URL of the download site in your application form.

■ Contact Information
Non Profit Organization MUSIC SHARING
Room 601, 2-5-18 Koji-machi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0083 JAPAN
Email: [email protected]