Major Piano Competitions
This page lists piano competitions that have occurred in the past few years. Some of the competitions listed here may not occur every year or may not occur again. Please check with each organization for current details. If you are interested in any of the competitions, please e-mail or call them for more information.
Arthur D. Montzka Young Artists
Normal Deadline: November 1
ages: 18 and younger (within 75 mile radius of DeKalb, IL)
website: www.kishorchestra.org
e-mail contact: telephone: 815-748-7071
address: Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra
first prize: $350 and performance
Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) Youth Auditions
Restrictions: Pianists in 2006; Woodwinds, brass, and percussion in 2007, Strings in 2008
Normal Deadline: November 15 for application.
Audition Date: March 8
ages: no older than a junior in high school website: www.cso.org/youth auditions
e-mail contact: ecrd@cso.org telephone: 312-294-3410 or 800-223-7114
address:
Walgreens Concerto Competition, Midwest Young Artists
Normal Application Deadline: application deadline is December 1, 2006
Contest: the competition is December 29, 2006 (junior division, grade 8 and under) and December 30 (senior division, grades 9 through 12)
ages: 0-17 website: www.mya.org
e-mail contact: mya@mya.org telephone: 847-926-9898
address: 878 Lyster Road, Highwood, IL 60040
first prize: $300.00 and 2 or more performances
West Suburban Symphony Youth Concerto Competition
Application deadline: January 13
Performance: April 9
ages: website:
e-mail contact: info@westsubsymphony.org telephone: 630-887-SING
address: P.O. Box 565, Hinsdale, IL 60522
first prize
KVSO (Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra) Piano Concerto Competition
Normal Deadline: February 1 for first tapes (all movements required)
ages: 17 through 35 website:
e-mail contact: musicman10@ameritech.net telephone: 815-933-3119
address: Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra
first prize: $1000 and performance with orchestra
Annual Roberta Savler Piano contest (CAMTA)
Normal application deadline: February 18
Contest Date: April 1
ages: high school seniors and younger website: www.savler.org
e-mail contact: telephone:
address:
first prize: trophy, performance in an Honors Recital
requirements; see list of required pieces. Teachers MUST work at the contest.
SVSO (Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra) Young Artist Competition
Normal Deadline: March 21, 2006 for application.
Audition April 22, 2006 at Northwestern IL University in Chicago.
ages: 16 to 22 website: www.skokievalleysymphony.org
e-mail contact: skokievalleysymphony@nscpas.org telephone:
address: Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra
first prize:
Grace Welsh Piano Competition
Normal Deadline: April 1
Contest: May 14-18
ages: 17 through 24 website:
e-mail contact: gquillman@corecomm.net telephone: 630-323-1299
address: 156 Burlington Avenue, Clarendon Hills, IL 60514-1203
first prize: $5000.00
Requirements: one Baroque work, one major Romantic work, one Impressionist work,
one work written since 1900, one complete classical sonata
St. Charles Art and Music Festival (International Piano Competition)
Normal Application Deadline: June 1
Contest: July
ages: website: www.norrisculturalarts.com
e-mail contact: telephone: 630-584-7200 ext. 14
address:
first prize: $5000.00
Most Promising Student Pianist Competition
Normal Deadline:
Performance Date: May 7 & 8
ages: 0-18 website: www.arsviva.org
e-mail contact: SEMarcus@aol.com telephone: 630-325-9999
address: 120 Burr Ridge Parkway, Burr Ridge, IL 60521
first prize:
Stravinsky Awards International Piano Competition
Normal Deadline: biennial competition in Champaign, IL
ages: 4 to 23 website: none
e-mail contact: telephone:
address: 1003 W. Church Street, Champaign, IL 61821
first prize:
SYSO (Suburban Youth Symphony Orchestra) Youth Opportunity Concerto
Normal Deadline:
ages: 0 to 20 website:
e-mail contact: info@syso.net telephone: 708-799-4826
address: Suburban Youth Opportunity Concerto Competition
PO Box 1411; Homewood, IL 60430-1411
first prize:
Center for Musical Arts Piano Competition
Normal Deadline: (last listed for 2003)
ages: website: CMAMusic@aol.com
e-mail contact: telephone: 847-215-0222
address:
Danville Symphony Orchestra (DSO) Youth Concerto Competition
Normal Deadline:
Contest: March 3
ages: website: www.danvillesymphony.org
e-mail contact: dso@soltec.net telephone: 217-443-5300
address: Danville Symphony Orchestra, 2917 North Vermillion Street, Danville, IL 61832
first prize:
KGS (Knox Galesburg Symphony) Young Pianists Competition
Current Deadline: April 8, 2006
ages: 5 to 14 website: www.deptorg.knox.edu
e-mail contact: pstrick1@knox.edu telephone: 309-341-7268
address: Knox Galesburg Symphony
first prize: Recital on May 7 at Knox College (distance makes this prohibitive)
DSO (DuPage Symphony Orchestra) Young Artist Auditions
Restrictions: Entrants must be a resident of DuPage County
Normal Deadline: January 15
ages:
website: www.dupagesymphony.org/docs/youngArtist.pdf
e-mail contact: LOHatWC@aol.com telephone: 630-231-8078
address: DuPage Symphony Orchestra
PSO (Peoria Symphony Orchestra) Youth Artists Concerto Competition
Restrictions: Entrants must live within 50 miles of Peoria
Normal Deadline: April 8
ages:
website: www.peoriasymphony.org/psoguild/youth_concerts/competition
e-mail contact: execdir@peoriasymphony.org
telephone: 309-637-2787
address: Peoria Symphony Orchestra
first prize: