Application & Rules 

The Atlanta Piano Competition was created to give young pianists a meaningful platform to perform, grow, and share their music with a live audience.In an age when many competitions have moved toward recorded or virtual submissions, we believe there is something uniquely valuable about the traditional experience of performing live on stage—walking onto the stage, sharing music with an audience, and experiencing the excitement and challenge of a real performance. Our competition embraces this tradition while creating a welcoming and inspiring environment for young musicians to develop as performers and artists.Beyond the competition itself, we hope to build a vibrant music community in Atlanta—one that brings together young musicians, teachers, families, and distinguished artists through shared musical experiences.

Preliminary RoundFebruary 20, 2027Steinway Piano Galleries of Atlanta5950 North Point Pkwy, Alpharetta, GA 30022Application deadline: January 15, 2027Application fee: $75 Register before November 15 to receive the Early Bird Discount $5 off each application with code GA5OFFFinal RoundApril 3, 2027La Luce Theatre450 Old Peachtree Rd NW,Suwanee, GA 30024Application Deadline for selected finalists: March 10Final Round Fee: $65All application fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

The competition is open to pre-college pianists residing in the United States. Applicants must be pre-college students 18 years of age or younger. Participants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. First Prize winners are not eligible to compete in the same division in the following year. Participants are responsible for their own travel, accommodation, and visa arrangements, if applicable. The competition does not provide visa sponsorship and is not responsible for travel or immigration-related matters that may affect participation.

Contestants will compete only within their designated age category. Age eligibility will be determined based on the contestant’s age as of February 1, 2027.DivisionAgeMaximum Performance TimePrimary9 and under6 minutesYouth10–127 minutesJunior13–158 minutesSenior16–1810 minutes

Contestants will be assigned a scheduled performance time for the Preliminary Round and will perform live at the designated venue. Each performance will be professionally recorded and later reviewed by the jury for adjudication purposes. The Preliminary Round is closed to the public. Only the contestant and the recording team will be permitted in the performance space.Results will be announced approximately two weeks following the competition via email and publication on the official website. Preliminary round electronic adjudication sheets and certificates will be emailed to the teacher of the contestant.Contestants may perform free-choice solo piano repertoire and may select one or more works that best represent their artistic and technical abilities.The total performance must remain within the designated time limit for the contestant’s age category. Performances exceeding the allotted time may be interrupted at the discretion of the jury. Please refer to the Preliminary & Final Round Repertoire Regulations below.Preliminary Round certificates may receive one of the following designations:Distinguished Performance Award (Finalist)Outstanding Performance AwardExcellent Performance AwardParticipation AwardContestants receiving the Distinguished Performance Award will advance to the Final Round.Atlanta Piano Competition reserves the right to invite one or more alternate finalists should a selected finalist decline participation. Alternate finalists will receive official notification via email.

Finalists selected from the Preliminary Round will perform live at La Luce Theatre on April 3, 2027. The Final Round is open to the public. Finalists must perform the same repertoire submitted and approved in the Preliminary Round. No repertoire changes will be permitted after submission of the application. Performances exceeding the allotted time may be interrupted at the discretion of the jury. Please refer to the Preliminary & Final Round Repertoire Regulations below.All finalists are expected to attend the Awards Ceremony on the evening of the competition day, during which winners will be announced.

Each contestant will receive a certificate, adjudication rating and written jury evaluation for both the Preliminary Round and Final Round.INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OPPORTUNITYCantando International Music Festival Scholarship In partnership with the Cantando International Music Festival, the Atlanta Piano Competition is pleased to offer four $1,000 festival scholarships to first-prize winners across its four age divisions for summer study in Berlin, Germany, in 2027.In addition, the winners of the 2027 Atlanta Piano Competition will receive cash and non-cash awards as follows:Primary (Age 9 and under)1st Prize — $100 + Gold Medal + Diploma2nd Prize — $50 + Silver Medal + Diploma3rd Prize — Bronze Medal + DiplomaYouth (Age 10–12)1st Prize — $150 + Gold Medal + Diploma2nd Prize — $100 + Silver Medal + Diploma3rd Prize — $50 + Bronze Medal + DiplomaJunior (Age 13–15)1st Prize — $200 + Gold Medal + Diploma2nd Prize — $150 + Silver Medal + Diploma3rd Prize — $100 + Bronze Medal + DiplomaSenior (Age 16–18)1st Prize — $250 + Gold Medal + Diploma2nd Prize — $200 + Silver Medal + Diploma3rd Prize — $150 + Bronze Medal + DiplomaAll finalists and winners will be invited to perform at the Atlanta Piano Competition concerts and may be considered for future artistic engagements, including concerts, fundraising events, and other performance opportunities.

Repertoire RequirementsContestants may perform repertoire of their own choice within the assigned time limits. Timing begins with the first note performed and concludes when physical contact with the piano ends.Only original compositions for solo piano are permitted. Arrangements, simplifications, and abridgments are not permitted. Transcriptions are not permitted, with the exception of those established as part of the standard solo piano repertoire (e.g. Liszt, Busoni, etc). Please contact APC info@atlantapianocompetition.org with questions related to acceptable repertoire.All repertoire must be performed from memory. Final Round repertoire must be identical to the repertoire submitted and approved in the Preliminary Round. No repertoire substitutions or changes will be permitted.All contestants must possess and bring at least one original, legally obtained score for each work performed in both the Preliminary and Final Rounds. Photocopies of copyrighted music are not permitted for this competition. Digitally purchased sheet music is permitted provided that the music was legally obtained—participants will need to show proof of purchase.Prepared piano, electronic enhancement, and amplification are not permitted.Works involving extended techniques inside the piano are not permitted.Chamber music, concerti, two-piano repertoire, and four-hand works are not admissible.Programs exceeding time limits may be stopped at the jury’s discretion.Repeats are not required unless specifically indicated in the score (e.g., D.C.). Otherwise, all repeats are at the contestant’s discretion.

Both rounds will be adjudicated by a distinguished panel of internationally trained artists, performers, and pedagogues. Jurors must abstain from evaluating contestants who are currently their students or who have studied with them within the past five years. All jury decisions are final and are not subject to review or appeal.

Submission of an application constitutes full acceptance of all competition rules, policies, and decisions of the Atlanta Piano Competition.Read Terms & Policies for more information.