Knoxville International Piano Festival & Competition

There are four age groups for the Solo Piano Competition: 

1. Young Musician (ages 6 to 10)

2. Junior Star (ages 11–14)

3. Senior Virtuoso (ages 15–18)

4. Artist (ages 18–30)

• Within Young Musician (ages 6–10), Junior Star (ages 11–14), and Senior Virtuoso (ages 15–18), contestants may choose to enter one or more of the following categories, each of which is a separate competition with prizewinners. Maximum performance times for each category are listed below. 

Baroque Category—Contestants perform one or more pieces by a Baroque composer. 

Young Musician – 6 minutes max.

Junior Star – 8 minutes max. 

Senior Virtuoso – 10 minutes max.

Classical Category—Contestants perform a composition or movement(s) by a composer from the classical era, including but not limited to: Scarlatti, Kuhlau, Clementi, Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, and Beethoven.

Young Musician – 6 minutes max.

Junior Star – 8 minutes max. 

Senior Virtuoso – 10 minutes max.

Chopin Category—Contestants perform one or more pieces by Chopin.

Young Musician – 6 minutes max.

Junior Star – 8 minutes max. 

Senior Virtuoso – 10 minutes max.

Romantic/Contemporary Category—Contestants perform music by one or more composers from the Romantic era through the 20^th century (except Chopin and Latin American Composers). Students may program their own composition as long as they provide a score for the judges. 

Young Musician – 6 minutes max.

Junior Star – 8 minutes max. 

Senior Virtuoso – 10 minutes max.

Latin American Composers Category—Contestants perform music by one or more Latin American composers.

Young Musician – 6 minutes max.

Junior Star – 8 minutes max. 

Senior Virtuoso – 10 minutes max.

• The Artist Competition consists of two rounds: a 15-minute Preliminary Round on

Saturday February 28th and a 25-minute Final Round on Sunday March 1st. The judges will select a limited number of Finalists to perform in the Final Round. Repertoire is free-choice and participants may repeat repertoire between rounds.

• Ages will be calculated as of the start of the competition on February 27, 2026. In the exceptional cases of an 18-year-old attending high-school (or equivalent), or a 17-year-old attending college, they may choose whether to enter the Senior Virtuoso or Artist group.

• Application fees for the Solo Piano Competitions are as follows: 

1. Young Musician (ages 6–10) — $40 for the first category, $20 for each additional category

2. Junior Star (ages 11–14) — $50 for the first category, $20 for each additional category

3. Senior Virtuoso (ages 15–18) — $60 for the first category, $20 for each additional category4. Artist (ages 18–30) — $110

• Contestants may enter the Piano Ensemble Competition as any piano ensemble of two or more pianists performing on one or two pianos, such as two-piano duo, four-hand duet, piano six-hand on one piano, eight-hand on one or two pianos.  

• The repertoire is free-choice. Solo concerto with orchestra reduction on a second piano is not allowed.
• There is no age limit for the Ensemble Competition.
• Time limit is 15 minutes
• Application fee for the Piano Ensemble Competition is $80

• Applications: Completed applications and entry fees must be received no later than January 31st, 2026 at 11:59 P.M. EST. All applications must be submitted through the online portal.

• Applicants have the choice to participate in the Solo Piano Competition, the Ensemble Piano Competition, or both. The Solo and Ensemble competitions require separate applications. 

• The application fees are non-refundable and include free entry for participants and their

families to all concerts, lectures, and masterclasses of the Festival and Competition.

• All decisions of the judges are final.

• Every participant must bring a printed copy of each piece in their program for the judges to consult during the performance. Original copies are encouraged; photocopies are allowed.

• All repertoire must be performed from memory, except for the following exceptions:
  • Piano Ensemble contestants
  • Repertoire composed in the late 20^th or 21^st century

• Contestants may be stopped by the judges if their performance time exceeds the time limit for their age group. Performance stopped by the judges will not affect the competition result. 

• Prepared piano technique including, but not limited to, plucking and touching the strings, is permitted only for the Artist competition, and will need to be performed on a designated piano. Please indicate in your application if a piece requires a prepared piano. 

• Participants agree to the use of their photographic image in social media and website content related to the competition unless otherwise expressed.

• All participants will receive written comments from the judges.

1. Young Musician (ages 6-10) – Prizes awarded for each competition category

1^st Prize – $60 Cash Prize and Certificate

2^nd and 3^rd Prizes – Certificates 

Honorable Mentions – Certificate

2. Junior Star (ages 11-14) – Prizes awarded for each competition category

1st Prize – $80 Cash Prize and Certificate

2nd and 3rd Prizes – Certificate

Honorable Mentions – Certificate

3. Senior Virtuoso (ages 15-18) – Prizes awarded for each competition category

1st Prize – $100 Cash Prize and Certificate

2nd and 3rd Prizes – Certificate

Honorable Mentions – Certificate

Scholarships valued at $10,000 to attend the University of Tennessee Knoxville School of Music in Piano Performance

4. Artist (ages 18-30)

1st Prize – $1,500 Cash Prize and Certificate

2nd Prize – $750 Cash Prize and Certificate

3rd Prize – $400 Cash Prize and Certificate

Honorable Mentions – Certificate

Special Prize – $250 awarded to the best performance of a work by a Latin        American Composer

Special Prize – $250 awarded to the best performance of a work by Chopin

Scholarships valued at $10,000 to attend the University of Tennessee Knoxville School of Music in Piano Performance

1st Prize – $150 Cash Prize and Certificate

2nd and 3rd Prizes – Certificate

Honorable Mentions – Certificate