Description

🎹 Concordia Keyboard Day: Piano Competition 2026 🎹

 

Introduction

For over a decade, Concordia Keyboard Day has supported and celebrated the musical achievements of young pianists across Southern California. We are pleased to announce the 2026 Piano Competition, offering young musicians a supportive performance platform, constructive evaluations, and exciting performance opportunities.

All competition participants will receive written adjudication evaluations and a commemorative medal or trophy to recognize their hard work and dedication.

Key Dates & Schedule

• Application Period: Now – November 10, 2026

• Competition Date: Sunday, December 6, 2026

• Winners' Concert: Saturday, December 12, 2026 (Zhang Orchestra Hall)

Division results will be announced on-site approximately 10–15 minutes after the conclusion of each division.

Competition Guidelines & Rules

General Performance Guidelines

• Adjudication: Professional adjudicators provide written evaluations and scores for every participant.

• Time Limits: Performance time limits will be strictly enforced. Judges reserve the right to stop a performance once the time limit is reached, with no scoring penalty incurred.

   

Category Details

1. Qualified Category (Solo)

Designed for developing pianists performing standard progressive classical literature.

• Repertoire: Perform one (1) solo classical composition (original work or standard pedagogical arrangement) from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, or Contemporary periods.

• Memorization: Required.

• Level Benchmark: Please refer to the Recommended Repertoire Levels below for suggested skill benchmarks by division.

2. Open Category (Solo)

Designed for advanced competitive pianists seeking higher repertoire demands.

• Repertoire: Perform one (1) advanced solo classical work from any standard historical period (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, or Contemporary).

• Memorization: Required.

• Level & Selection: Pieces should be more advanced than the examples listed in the Qualified Category for your age group. There is no set music list—performers are free to choose their own advanced piece.

3. Piano Ensemble Category (Duet / Trio)

Designed for collaborative piano performance (one piano, 4 hands or 6 hands).

• Repertoire: Perform one (1) ensemble composition written or arranged for piano ensemble in classical style (4 hands or 6 hands on one piano).

• Memorization: Not required. Sheet music may be used.

• Age Division Placement: The ensemble's division is determined by the age of the older performer.

   

Divisions & Time Limits

Piano Solo Divisions (Qualified & Open Categories)

Piano Ensemble Divisions (One Piano, 4 Hands / 6 Hands)

 

Awards & Recognition

• 1st Place Winners: Division Trophy, Performance invitation at the Winners' Concert in Zhang Orchestra Hall (Saturday, December 12, 2026)

  $300 Scholarship toward the Concordia Summer Piano Festival (Summer 2027).

• 2nd Place Winners: Silver Placement Medal

  $200 Scholarship toward the Concordia Summer Piano Festival (Summer 2027).

• 3rd Place Winners: Bronze Placement Medal

  $100 Scholarship toward the Concordia Summer Piano Festival (Summer 2027).

* Every participant can earn an award based on the judges' scores and decisions.

Qualified Category: Recommended Repertoire Levels

(Note: These titles represent suggested difficulty benchmarks, not mandatory program selections. Competitors in the Qualified Category may choose any single classical work matching their division's standard.)

 

• Division 1 (Age 6 & under): Keith Snell Prep Level; Faber Preparatory Literature; Hal Leonard Showcase Book 1; Gillock Solo Repertoire Book 1; Celebration Series Prep A/B.

• Division 2 (Age 7 & under): Celebration Series Level 1; Faber Piano Literature Book 1; Keith Snell Level 1; Hal Leonard Showcase Book 2.

• Division 3 (Age 8 & under): Celebration Series Level 2; Bastien Level 1; Masterwork Classics Level 2; J.S. Bach Notebook for Anna Magdalena; Kabalevsky Op. 39; Tchaikovsky Op. 39.

• Division 4 (Age 9 & under): Celebration Series Level 3; Bastien Level 2; Masterwork Classics Level 3; Burgmüller Op. 100; Keith Snell Level 3.

• Division 5 (Age 10 & under): Celebration Series Levels 3–4; Masterwork Classics Levels 3–4; Burgmüller Op. 100; J.S. Bach Two-Part Inventions.

• Division 6 (Age 11 & under): Celebration Series Levels 4–5; Masterwork Classics Levels 4–5; Essential Keyboard Repertoire Vol. 2; Burgmüller Op. 100.

• Division 7 (Age 12 & under): Celebration Series Levels 4–5; Masterwork Classics Levels 4–5; Essential Keyboard Repertoire Vol. 3; J.S. Bach Short Preludes and Fugues.

• Division 8 (Age 13 & under): J.S. Bach Two-Part Inventions; Kuhlau Sonatinas Opp. 20 & 55; Debussy Children’s Corner; Alfred Encore Book 3.

• Division 9 (Age 14 & under): Celebration Series Level 6; J.S. Bach Inventions & Sinfonias; Keith Snell Levels 6–7; standard Sonatina Album; Chopin Posthumous Waltzes.

• Division 10 (Age 15 & under): Celebration Series Levels 7–8; Alfred Encore Books 3–4; Keith Snell Level 8.

• Division 11 (Age 16 & under): Celebration Series Levels 7–8; Alfred Encore Books 3–4; Keith Snell Levels 8–9.

• Division 12 (Age 17 & under): Celebration Series Levels 7–8; Alfred Encore Books 3–4; Keith Snell Levels 8–9.

• Division 13 (Age 18 & up): Celebration Series Levels 8–9; Alfred Encore Books 4–5; Keith Snell Levels 8–9.

 

 

 

Venue Details

Borland-Manske Center Charlie and Ling Zhang Orchestra Hall

1530 Concordia West
Irvine, California 92612

Concordia University Irvine