Young Artist: ages 16 to 26 (as of August 1, 2026) 

Up to 12 Young Artist participants are selected through an application process, attend the piano festival tuition-free, and receive a stipend for international travel.

Young Artists under 18 years may attend the festival without a guardian with signed permission.

Young Artists may attend the festival for a maximum of three years. 

Each Young Artist has the opportunity to participate in the concerto competition. Up to three (3) winners are chosen for future performances with orchestras, including the Asian Youth Orchestra's 2027 Asian tour. Other engagements to be announced. 

Prior to the competition, each Young Artist will have two rehearsals with a second piano. Staff pianists are assigned by the festival. 

Participants who won the Young Artist concerto competition in 2025 are not eligible to compete in the 2026 competition. 

Young Artist Concerto Competition Repertoire: 

Mozart:

Piano Concerto No. 25 in C major, K. 503

Piano Concerto No. 26 in D major, K. 537

Piano Concerto No. 27 in B-flat major, K. 595

Beethoven:

Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15

Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73

Mendelssohn: 

Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25

Chopin:

Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11

Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21

Schumann: 

Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54

Liszt:

Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, S. 124

Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major, S. 125

Tchaikovsky:

Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23

Rachmaninov: 

Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18

Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43

Prokofiev:

Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 16

Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26

The ability to collaborate with other musicians is an essential skill for every pianist.  Young Artists have the opportunity to work with the MILA string quartet in readings of significant chamber works. Up to three (3) Young Artists will be chosen for a special performance. 

Young Artists may choose one of the following pieces: 

Trio

Tchaikovsky Piano Trio in A minor, Op. 50

1. Pezzo elegiaco. Moderato assai

Shostakovich Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor, Op. 67

   IV. Allegretto - Adagio

Quartet

Brahms Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25

1. Allegro

Faure Piano Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 15

1. Allegro molto moderato

    II. Scherzo: Allegro vivo

    III. Adagio

    IV. Allegro molto

Quintet

Franck Piano Quintet in F minor, CFF 121; FWV 7

1. Molto moderato quasi lento

Brahms Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34

1. Allegro non troppo

Each Young Artist performs twice on the festival’s Emerging Artist Recitals. All pieces must be played from memory.  

The festival committee is responsible for the scheduling of these recitals, and their decision is final.    

Each Young Artist plays in a master class with one of the festival’s artist-faculty.  All pieces must be played from memory. The master classes are open to the public.   

The festival committee is responsible for the allocation of these master classes, and their decision is final.  

Each Young Artist participant receives four (4) one-hour private lessons with the festival’s artist-faculty. Free repertoire. 

The festival committee is responsible for the allocation of these lessons, and their decision is final.   

Additional lessons: Participants may request additional lessons with any guest artist of their choice. The lesson fee is 3000 RMB per hour. These requests must be communicated to the festival committee in writing via email. Please note that although the festival will try its best to honor these requests, no guarantee can be made.