Shanghai International Musician Competition

25/03/2025

We are pleased to share a special message from maestro Christoph Eschenbach, a phenomenal conductor and pianist, offering their regards to all the participants of the Shanghai International Musician Competition.

Please submit your application on time to be considered for this exciting opportunity. The application period ends on the March 31st.

We look forward to the talent and dedication that will be showcased throughout the competition.

Stay tuned for more updates.

Pianist: François-Frédéric Guy
Orchestra: Orchestre de Chambre de Paris

14/03/2025

04/03/2025

Piano Street interviews Ralf Gothóni.

Do piano competitions offer a good, fair, and attractive basis for a complete pianist and musician? In today’s scene, many competition organizers have started including additional elements for judging with a focus on preparing the competitor for a real, multifaceted musical life that reaches beyond prize money and temporary fame.
Ralf Gothóni, the creator of a new kind of piano competition in Shanghai, shares his insights with us.

Do piano competitions offer a good, fair, and attractive basis for a complete pianist and musician? In today’s scene, many competition organizers have started including additional elements for judging with a focus on preparing the competitor for a real, multifaceted musical life that reaches beyon...

13/02/2025

One Pianist, Four Skills - The first holistic competition

The Shanghai International Musician Competition challenges pianists to go beyond solo performance. Here, versatility is key.

•⁠ ⁠Piano Solo – Mastery of the instrument at its core.
•⁠ ⁠Lied – Symbiosis between
text & music
•⁠ ⁠Chamber Music – The art of collaboration, precision, and dialogue.
•⁠ ⁠Conducting from the Keyboard – Leading and interpretation of music beyond the boundaries of the instrument

This is not just a competition; it’s a the search and the learning for a new kind of musician. Are you ready to challenge yourself?

Application deadline: 31 March 2025

For more information, visit:
www.shanghaimusiciancompetition.com

07/02/2025

Applications are now open to all pianists born before 2010, regardless of gender or nationality.

HOW TO APPLY:

⬩Submit the application form
⬩Send CV, recommendation letter, and a photo via email
⬩Pay the application fee of EUR 50 via bank transfer

IMPORTANT DATES:

⬩31 March 2025: Application deadline
⬩15 May 2025: Preselection results announced

REQUIRED SKILLS:

⬩ Solo Performance
⬩ Chamber Music
⬩ Lied
⬩ Conducting from the Keyboard

COMPETITION STAGES:

⬩Spring 2025: Preselection – Application submissions

⬩August 2025: Online Video Round – Recorded solo performances

⬩November 2025: Live Rounds (Chamber Music, Lied, Final) – Shanghai

PRIZES:

⬩First Prize: €21,000
⬩Second Prize: €16,000
⬩Third Prize: €14,000
⬩Fourth Prize: €10,000
⬩Fifth Prize: €8,000
⬩Sixth Prize: €8,000

For more information, visit: www.shanghaimusiciancompetition.com

07/02/2025

24/01/2025

Dear Pianists,

We are pleased to announce a completely new kind of competition in the classical music world!

The First SHANGHAI INTERNATIONAL MUSICIAN COMPETITION 2025 is a holistic competition for pianists, encompassing four different categories:
solo performance, chamber music, Lied, and conducting from the keyboard.

The competition is open to everyone over the age of 15.

As the first of its kind, this competition aims to identify pianists who embody the complete set of skills as musicians, who combine technical excellence with artistic depth and interpretive insight. Two distinguished international juries are seeking pianists who not only demonstrate exceptional technical skill but also possess the ability to convey profound musical expression across these four categories.

The SHANGHAI INTERNATIONAL MUSICIAN COMPETITION is the result of a collaboration between Shanghai and Savonlinna, two cities with rich mutual musical traditions.

The competition will proceed in following stages:

SPRING 2025: Preselection - submission of applications.

AUGUST 2025: Online Video Round - Submission of recorded performances.

NOVEMBER 2025:Three Rounds in Shanghai - The selected contestants will be performing in Shanghai.

📅 Registration opens on 24 January 2025!

🌐 Visit www.shanghaimusiciancompetition.com for more details.

THE FIRST SHANGHAI INTERNATIONAL MUSICIAN COMPETITION for Pianists in Cooperation with the Savonlinna Music Academy