Music Festivals and Competitions

Benefits of joining music festivals

There are numerous compelling reasons to participate in competitions and festivals. They provide us with a clear goal to strive towards and an environment in which we can gauge the level of our excellence and see the fruits of our hard work. Witnessing high-level performances from our peers can also serve as a source of self-motivation and inspire us to set higher goals for ourselves. There is a wide range of opportunities available throughout the year to participate in these events.

Why Local Competitions Matter

Local competitions serve as valuable practice opportunities to improve skills, rather than merely collecting medals. Some competitions may lack professional vision or integrity, as they are often launched for personal or business benefits. By focusing on well-structured, credible events, we ensure meaningful growth and recognition for both of them.

When selecting a competition, it’s essential to assess its quality and purpose. A good local competition is defined by:

  • The opportunity to receive hands-on feedback or a brief lesson from the adjudicator.
  • The reputation and credentials of the adjudicator.
  • High standards for award distribution, recognizing only a limited number of top performers.
  • The competition’s history and credibility.
  • Policies ensuring that organizers do not allow their immediate students to compete.
  • The value and opportunities associated with the awards (e.g., cash prizes or significant recognition).
  • The dedication and extra effort that the competition requires from teachers to participate and support their students.

At the national/international level, these criteria apply as well, with the exception of receiving lessons or feedback directly from adjudicators. We have organized them in several tiers based on their history and reputation.

INTERNATIONAL CHOPIN PIANO COMPETITION (Warsaw, Poland)
Founded: 1927Frequency: Every 5 yearsTop Prize: €40,000
Next Competition:Deadline:Ages:
VAN CLIBURN INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION (Fort Worth, Texas, USA)
Founded: 1962Frequency: Every 3 yearsTop Prize:
Next Competition: May 21-June 7, 2025Deadline: October 16, 2024Ages:18-30
QUEEN ELISABETH INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION (Brussels, Belgium)
Founded: 1937Frequency: Every 4 yearsTop Prize: €25,000
Next Competition: May 5-31, 2025Deadline: November 27, 2024Ages: 18-30
TCHAIKOVSKY INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION (Moscow & St. Petersburg, Russia)
Founded: 1958Frequency: Every 4 yearsTop Prize: up to $130,000
Next Competition: 2027Deadline:Ages: 19-32
LEEDS INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION (Leeds, West Yorkshire, England)
Founded: 1963Frequency: Every 3 yearsTop Prize: £30,000
Next Competition: September 11-21, 2024Deadline: October 31, 2023Ages:
ARTHUR RUBINSTEIN INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION (Tel Aviv, Israel)
Founded: 1974Frequency: Every 3 yearsTop Prize: $40,000
Next Competition: 2026Deadline:Ages: 18-32
FERRUCCIO BUSONI INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION (Bolzano, Italy)
Founded: 1949Frequency: Every 2 yearsTop Prize: €30,000
Next Competition: November 20-30, 2024, August 27-September 7, 2025Deadline: May 15, 2024Ages: 17-31
HAMAMATSU INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION
Founded: 1991Frequency: Every 3 yearsTop Prize: ¥4,000,000
Next Competition: November 8-25, 2024Deadline: March 31, 2024Ages: up to 33
SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION
Founded: 1977Frequency:Top Prize: $50,000
Next Competition:Deadline:Ages: 18-32
HONENS INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION (Calgary, Canada)
Founded:Frequency: Every 3 yearsTop Prize: $100,000
Next Competition: October 16-24, 2024Deadline: October 30, 2024Ages:
QUARTERFINALS
2 to 4 March 2025 in Berlin
17 to 19 March 2025 in New York
SEMIFINALS & FINALS
16 to 24 October 2025 in Calgary
INTERNATIONAL PADEREWSKI PIANO COMPETITION (Bydgoszcz, Poland)
Founded: 1961Frequency:Top Prize: €30,000
Next Competition:Deadline:Ages: 16-32
INTERNATIONAL BEETHOVEN PIANO COMPETITION (Vienna, Austria)
Founded: 1961Frequency: Every 4 yearsTop Prize: €30,000
Next Competition: May 16-24, 2025Deadline: November 1, 2024Ages: up to 30
LISZT UTRECHT INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION (Utrecht, Netherlands)
Founded: 1986Frequency:Top Prize: €25,000
Next Competition:Deadline: September 1, 2024Ages:
CLIBURN INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR PIANO COMPETITION & FESTIVAL
Founded:Frequency:Top Prize:
Next Competition: June, 2027Deadline:Ages: 13-17
GINA BACHAUER INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS PIANO COMPETITION (Salt Lake City, Utah, USA)
Founded: 1976Frequency: Every 4 yearsTop Prize: $50,000
Next Competition: June 16-29, 2024Deadline:Ages: 19–32
GRIEG INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION
Founded: 2012Frequency: Top Prize: €30,000
Next Competition: Deadline:Ages:
HILTON HEAD INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION
Founded: 1996Frequency:Top Prize: $20,000
Next Competition: March 10-17, 2025Deadline: September 30, 2024Ages: 18-30
ARTHUR FRASER INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION
Founded: 2003Frequency:Top Prize: $5,000
Next Competition: June 9-15, 2024Deadline: March 15, 2024Ages: 13-18
COOPER COMPETITION AT OBERLIN
Founded: 2010Frequency:Top Prize: $20,000
Next Competition: Deadline:Ages: 13-18
DALLAS INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION
Founded:Frequency:Top Prize: $2,500
Next Competition: June 12-18, 2024Deadline: April 15, 2024Ages: 18-35
GINA BAUCHER INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR & YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETITION
Founded:Frequency:Top Prize: $10,000
Next Competition: Deadline:Ages: 11-18
GEORGE GERSHWIN INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION (New York City, USA)
Founded:Frequency:Top Prize:
Next Competition: Deadline:Ages:
MANHATTAN INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION (New York City, USA)
Founded:Frequency:Top Prize:
Next Competition: Deadline:Ages:
NEW ORLEANS INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION
Founded:Frequency:Top Prize:
Next Competition: Deadline:Ages:
NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION (New York City, USA)
Founded:Frequency:Top Prize: $20,000
Next Competition: Deadline:Ages:
NEW YORK PIANO FESTIVAL & COMPETITION (New York City, USA)
Founded:Frequency:Top Prize:
Next Competition: Deadline:Ages:
NTD INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION
Founded: 2008Frequency:Top Prize: $10,000
Next Competition: Deadline: July 15, 2024Ages: 17-35
PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION (Palm Springs, CA, USA)
Founded:Frequency:Top Prize: $10,000
Next Competition: April 11-21, 2025Deadline:Ages: 13-17
ROMA INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION (Rome, Italy)
Founded:Frequency:Top Prize:
Next Competition: Deadline:Ages:
RUBATO INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION (Oxford, AL, USA)
Founded:Frequency:Top Prize:
Next Competition: Deadline:Ages:
SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION
Founded:Frequency: Top Prize: $200+
Next Competition: August 4-13, 2024Deadline: May 15, 2024Ages: 4-18
SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION (Seattle, WA, USA)
Founded: 2008Frequency: Every 2 yearsTop Prize: $3,000
Next Competition:Deadline: January–May 2026Ages: Any
SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL YOUNG PIANIST COMPETITION
Founded:Frequency:Top Prize:
Next Competition:Deadline: Ages:
WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION
Founded: 1950Frequency:Top Prize: $10,000
Next Competition: May 25-26, 2024Deadline: February 15, 2024Ages: 18-30
CANADIAN MUSIC COMPETITION
Founded:Frequency:Top Prize:
Next Competition: Deadline:Ages:
NATIONAL CHOPIN COMPETITION
Founded:Frequency:Top Prize:
Next Competition: Deadline:Ages:
SINGAPORE NATIONAL PIANO & VIOLIN COMPETITION
Founded:Frequency:Top Prize: $5,000
Next Competition: Deadline:Ages:

Class Rank 1

Seattle Young Artist’s Music Festival (Seattle, WA, USA)
Founded: 1970Frequency: YearlyTop Prize: Concerto Playoff
Competition: March 24-28, 2025Deadline:Ages: gr 5-12
Hands-on feedback or lesson opportunity with the adjudicator.Yes
The reputation and credentials of the adjudicator.High
Maintains high standards through limited, carefully controlled award distribution.Yes
Degree of organizer intervention and board-affiliated participation influencing authenticity.Minimal
Requires additional teacher commitment and support.Yes
Performing Arts Festival of the Eastside (Bellevue, WA, USA)
Founded: 1986Frequency: YearlyTop Prize: Concerto Playoff
Competition: April 22-26, 2025Deadline:Ages:
Hands-on feedback or lesson opportunity with the adjudicator.Yes
The reputation and credentials of the adjudicator.HighMAX EXAMPLE:
In the 2024 Performing Arts Festival of the Eastside, the Piano Solo for Grades 7-8, Class PS.7-8.C had the maximum number of winners, with a total of 7 winners, comprising:
1 First Place
1 Second Place
5 Honorable Mentions
Maintains high standards through limited, carefully controlled award distribution.Yes
Degree of organizer intervention and board-affiliated participation influencing authenticity.Minimal
Requires additional teacher commitment and support.Yes

Class Rank 2

Russian Chamber Music Festival (Mercer Island, WA, USA)
Founded: 2008Frequency: YearlyTop Prize: Winner’s Concert
Competition: Deadline:Ages:
Hands-on feedback or lesson opportunity with the adjudicator.No
The reputation and credentials of the adjudicator.Moderate
Maintains high standards through limited, carefully controlled award distribution.NoMAX EXAMPLE:
In the 2024 Russian Chamber Music Foundation competition, the Piano Division for age 8 had a total of 19 winners, comprising:
3 Gold Medalists
4 Silver Medalists
2 Bronze Medalists
10 Honorable Mentions
Degree of organizer intervention and board-affiliated participation influencing authenticity.Excessive
Requires additional teacher commitment and support.No
Chopin Northwest Competition (Bellevue, WA, USA)
Founded:Frequency:Top Prize:
Competition: Deadline:Ages:
Hands-on feedback or lesson opportunity with the adjudicator.No
The reputation and credentials of the adjudicator.Moderate
Maintains high standards through limited, carefully controlled award distribution.NoMAX EXAMPLE:
n the 2025 Chopin Northwest Festival, the 10-Year-Old Division had a total of 16 winners, comprising:​
Gold Medals: 3 recipients​
Silver Medals: 5 recipients​
Bronze Medals: 6 recipients​
Grand Prix Gold Winners: 2 recipients​
Degree of organizer intervention and board-affiliated participation influencing authenticity.Excessive
Requires additional teacher commitment and support.No
Seattle NW Festivals (Bellevue, WA, USA)
Founded:Frequency:Top Prize:
Competition: Deadline:Ages:
Hands-on feedback or lesson opportunity with the adjudicator.No
The reputation and credentials of the adjudicator.Moderate
Maintains high standards through limited, carefully controlled award distribution.No
Degree of organizer intervention and board-affiliated participation influencing authenticity.Moderate
Requires additional teacher commitment and support.No

EMTA Ribbon Festival

MTNA Adjudications

CWU Everett Sonatina/Sonata Festival

*Information on this page is subject to change without notice.