Competitions › Knoxville International Piano Festival & Competition
Knoxville International Piano Festival & Competition
Next edition
- Edition
- 2027
- Dates
- 19-21 March 2027
- Location
- Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, Knoxville
- Registration deadline
- 1 February 2027 (late until 1 March 2027)
- Fee
- USD 40-120 by category
Source: music.utk.edu
Overview
Annual piano festival and competition at the University of Tennessee open to pianists from around the world, with solo age categories, an open Artist competition and a piano ensemble competition. Includes masterclasses, recitals and lectures.
- Organiser
- Natalie L. Haslam College of Music, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- Instruments
- Piano, Piano ensemble (duo, four hands, six/eight hands)
- Category
- Solo piano, Piano duo & four hands, Duos
- Age limits
- Young Musician 6-10, Junior Star 11-14, Senior Virtuoso 15-18, Artist 16+ (no upper limit); ensemble no age limit
Rules & repertoire
Registration & fee
- Apply online by 1 February 2027 at 23:59 Eastern time. Late applications accepted through 1 March at 23:59 Eastern with a $20 surcharge. Submit separate applications for solo and ensemble if entering both. Public rules do not list recommendation letters.
- Age on 19 March: Young Musician 6–10 ($40 first category), Junior Star 11–14 ($50), Senior Virtuoso 15–18 ($60), Artist 16+ ($120, no upper limit). Ages 16–18 choose Senior or Artist. The first three groups pay $20 per additional category. Ensembles pay $80. Fees are non-refundable and current UT Knoxville students receive a 50% discount.
Rounds & time limits
Youth solo · one or more repertoire categories
- Choose among Baroque (one or more works), Classical (a piece or movement(s), e.g. Kuhlau, Clementi, Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven), Chopin (one or more pieces), Romantic (other than Chopin), Impressionist/20th–21st century (including Debussy or Ravel), and transcription (including your own). Each category has separate prizes. Limits per category are 6, 8 and 10 minutes for Young Musician, Junior Star and Senior Virtuoso respectively.
Artist · 20 March preliminary and 21 March final
- Free choice in both stages. The preliminary lasts up to 15 minutes and the final up to 25 minutes. The same repertoire can be repeated. Prepared-piano techniques are allowed only in this group and must be noted in the application.
Ensemble · maximum 15 minutes
- At least two pianists on one or two pianos, e.g. duo, four, six or eight hands. Free choice except a concerto played with a second-piano orchestral reduction. No age limit.
Repertoire
- Bring printed scores for every piece. Memory is required except for ensemble or contemporary music normally played from the score. A parent or legal guardian must accompany minors throughout.
Jury & prizes
Jury
Not published on the official pages we could check.Prizes
- Artist: 1st USD 1,500, 2nd USD 800, 3rd USD 500; Best Transcription and Best Chopin USD 300 each
- Senior Virtuoso 1st: USD 100 plus possible UTK scholarship up to USD 10,000
- Piano Ensemble 1st: USD 150
Past editions
Not published on the official pages we could check.Summarised from official sources, last checked 14 Nov 2026. Main source