Sydney International Piano Competition

Regolamento & repertorio

Iscrizione & quota

• All nationalities. Birth dates 25 July 1991–10 July 2009 inclusive. Apply in Acceptd from 24 July 2026. Regular deadline 15 December 2026 at 11:59 p.m. AEDT (US$225); late deadline 31 December (US$300); final late deadline 8 January 2027 (US$375). All fees are non-refundable and all deadlines are 11:59 p.m. AEDT.
• Upload a 150–500 word biography, current passport copy, current professional colour photographs (at least 300 dpi and 1.8 MB), evidence of musical studies and musical activity over the last five years, and the video. Supply names, emails and phone numbers of at least two established musicians willing to support the application if contacted. The checklist asks for referee details. It does not list letters to upload.
• Submit all live repertoire with the application. Changes after submission are prohibited. The organizer plans to notify all applicants by the end of February 2027 and select 32 competitors plus reserves.

Prove & durate

Video preselection · 20–30 min

• Use solo piano music by at least three composers. Individual movements are allowed; one audition work may recur in the competition. Record within 12 months, in one unedited take or separate unedited takes of the complete selections, with face and hands always visible.
• Show full name, recording place and date for 3–5 seconds at the start. Include a continuous visible frame counter, or a continuous digital counter or clock showing seconds. Disclose any audio-quality postproduction.

Preliminary rounds 1 and 2 · 20 min + 30 min

• All 32 play both. Each recital requires at least two composers; composers must differ between the two rounds. Across either recital include one or more published Australian works totalling at least seven minutes. Transcriptions are allowed. Seek prior approval for individual movements and for reading a highly complex Australian work from the score.

Quarter-final chamber round · 12 players

• Prepare one complete pair from the violin group AND one from the cello group. The competition assigns which group you perform. Do not split the pairs. Violin, with Jack Liebeck: Beethoven Op. 30 No. 2 + Kreisler Caprice viennois; Brahms Op. 108 + Kreisler Liebesleid; Fauré Op. 13 + Kreisler Syncopation; Franck A-major Sonata + Chopin/Sarasate Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2.
• Cello, with Timo-Veikko Valve: Beethoven Op. 5 No. 2 + Webern Two Pieces (1899) No. 1; Brahms Op. 38 + Chopin Op. 65 Largo; Prokofiev Op. 119 + Sibelius Romance Op. 78 No. 2; Rachmaninoff Op. 19 + Scriabin Romance.

Quarter-final solo round · 70 min

• Build a recital with at least two pieces and a theme, give spoken introductions, and include a short encore announced by title. Speech should be in English, with special consideration for non-native speakers. Both speaking and encore count towards the 70 minutes. Do not reuse preliminary-round works.

Semifinal · 6 players · Beethoven concerto with string quintet

• Choose one of Beethoven’s five concertos: Nos. 1–5 (Op. 15, 19, 37, 58 or 73). The string quintet arrangement retains the original solo piano part.

Final · 3 players · one concerto

• With Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Choose Bartók No. 2, Chopin No. 1, Khachaturian Op. 38, Liszt No. 2, any Mozart concerto, Prokofiev No. 2, Rachmaninoff Paganini Rhapsody Op. 43, Ravel G major, Saint-Saëns No. 2, Schumann Op. 54, Tchaikovsky No. 1 or Carl Vine No. 1.

Repertorio

• Memorize all works except chamber music and an Australian work specifically approved for score use. No prepared piano or works previously played in an earlier edition. Repeats are discretionary but time limits are enforced.
• Arrive by 7 July 2027. The rules provide accommodation, a daily allowance and an airfare contribution of two-thirds up to AUD 3,000. The 2027 document displays a 2023 insurance deadline, which should be confirmed with the organizer.

Fonte: Official 2027 rules and repertoire · Acceptd application portal