The Tianjin Juilliard Piano Festival 2025 welcomes applications for performing participants, auditors, or as part of the Teacher Training Program.

• Young Artist: ages 16 to 26 (as of August 1, 2025)  

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

Each Young Artist receives four (4) one-hour private lessons, one opportunity to play in a master class, and two opportunities to perform in an Emerging Artist Recital. All Young Artists have the option to compete in the festival’s concerto competition. Select winners will be granted solo opportunities with professional orchestras, including the Asian Youth Orchestra for their 2026 summer tour. New in 2025, Young Artist participants will have the opportunity to read chamber music with the Shanghai Quartet. Young Artists receive a certificate of participation.

Young Artists between the ages of 16-18 years must be accompanied by an adult guardian throughout the festival, or my attend unaccompanied with signed permission from their parent. 

• Junior: ages 8 to 15 (as of August 1, 2025)  

Up to 36 Junior participants are selected through an application process. Each Junior receives four (4) one-hour private lessons, one opportunity to play in a master class, and one performance in an Emerging Artist Recital.  All Junior participants have the unique opportunity to collaborate with the QingXin Ensemble and a conductor, rehearsing one movement of a concerto. Up to six (6) Juniors will be chosen to perform a movement of their concerto in a special concert. Juniors receive a certificate of participation.

All Juniors must be accompanied by an adult guardian throughout the festival who must register as a Guardian Auditor at a special discounted fee. Guardian Auditors have the same benefits as Auditors. Only one Guardian Auditor per Junior may register. Additional parents or guardians must register as Auditors at the full fee. 

• Adjunct Participant: ages 16 to 26 (as of August 1, 2025)  

A limited number of Adjunct Participants are selected through an application process. Adjunct Participants attend the festival for one week, either August 3-10 or August 11-17, and receive two (2) one-hour private lessons, one performance opportunity, and observe all events during their week of participation. Adjunct Participants receive a certificate of participation.

Adjuncts between the ages of 16-18 years must be accompanied by an adult guardian throughout the festival, or my attend unaccompanied with signed permission from their parent. 

• Auditor: ages 8 and above (as of August 1, 2025)  

Auditors are observers to the festival’s many activities and may register for the 1st week (August 3-10), 2nd week (August 11-17), or the full festival (August 3-17). Auditors attend all public events during the week they attend, including all guest artist recitals, master classes, Emerging Artist Recitals, lectures, the concerto competition, and chamber music concert. Auditors may not observe private lessons.  

Auditors under 18 years must be accompanied by an adult guardian who must register as an Auditor.

• Teacher Auditor Program  

New in 2025, the Teacher Auditor program is developed for piano teachers. In addition to observing the festival’s activities (see “Auditor”), Teacher Auditors attend professional development courses and workshops specially curated for professional piano teachers. The Teacher Auditor program is designed as a one-week program with an option to attend for the second week. Teacher Auditors receive a certificate of participation.

The Teacher Auditor program is co-developed with Tianjin Juilliard’s Continuing Education department. 

TEACHING ARTISTS

Michael Berkovsky, Royal Conservatory of Music, Canada

Bernd Goetzke, Hochschule für Music, Theater und Medien Hannover, Germany

Krzysztof Jablonski, School of Music, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen

Yoheved Kaplinsky, The Juilliard School, USA

Katyrzyna Popowa-Zydroń, Academy of Music Gdańsk, Poland, Academy of Music Bydgoszcz, Poland  

Boris Slutsky, Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, USA

Minsoo Sohn, New England Conservatory, USA

Andrew Tyson, The Tianjin Juilliard School, China

Arie Vardi, Hochschule für Music, Theater und Medien Hannover, Germany; Bachmann-Mehta School of Music, Israel

Xiaohan Wang, The Tianjin Juilliard School, China

PERFORMING ARTISTS 

Chen Sa

Shanghai Quartet

QingXin Ensemble; Kin Szeto, conductor

Asian Youth Orchestra; George Li, pianist

YOUNG ARTISTS

Young Artist Concerto Competition

Each Young Artist has the opportunity to participate in the concerto competition. A list of Young Artist concerti can be found here. Up to three (3) winners are chosen for future performances with orchestras, including the Asian Youth Orchestra’s 2026 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 in either of the previous two years are not eligible to compete in the 2025 competition.

Chamber Music Readings

New in 2025, the renowned Shanghai Quartet joins the festival to collaborate with all Young Artists in readings of three significant chamber works. All Young Artists must prepare the following movements for the rehearsal. The Shanghai Quartet will select three (3) pianists for a special performance.

• Mendelssohn, Piano Trio No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 49 (1st movement)
• Mozart, Piano Quartet No. 1 in G Minor, K. 478 (1st movement)
• Dvorak, Piano Quintet No. 1 in A Major, Op. 81 (1st movement) 

Emerging Artist Recitals

There are 12 Emerging Artist Recitals throughout the festival. They are open to the public. Each Young Artist will be scheduled to play in two recitals.  All pieces must be played from memory.  

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

Master Classes

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.   

Private Lessons

Each Young Artist participant will receive four (4) one-hour private lessons. 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. 

JUNIORS

Concerto Rehearsals with Chamber Orchestra

One of the festival's biggest highlights includes an exclusive opportunity for all Juniors to collaborate with a conductor and an orchestra.  Each Junior participant has one rehearsal with the QingXin Ensemble and a conductor, playing one movement of a concerto. A list of Junior concerti can be found here.

Prior to their collaboration with the ensemble, a rehearsal with a second piano will be arranged. Staff pianists are assigned by the festival.

Junior Concerto Competition

Up to twelve (12) Juniors are selected to participate in the Junior concerto competition, and up to six (6) winners are chosen to perform their concerto movement with QingXin Ensemble in a special concert.  

The festival provides accompanists (2nd piano) for rehearsals and the competition.  

Participants who won in either of the previous two years are not eligible to compete in the 2025 competition.

Emerging Artist Recitals

There are 12 Emerging Artist Recitals throughout the festival. They are open to the public. Each Junior will be scheduled to play in one recital. Select Juniors will be chosen to play in the Tianjin Juilliard Outdoor Concert series, held outside on the West Stage. All pieces must be played from memory. The festival committee is responsible for the scheduling of these recitals, and their decision is final.  

Master Classes

Each Junior participant plays in a master class with one of the festival’s artist-faculty. Each master class is two hours long. 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.  

Private Lessons

Each Junior participant will receive four (4) one-hour private lessons. 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. 

ADJUNCT PARTICIPANTS

Private Lessons

Each Adjunct participant will receive two (2) one-hour private lessons. 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.

Emerging Artist Recitals

There are 12 Emerging Artist Recitals throughout the festival. They are open to the public. Each Adjunct Participant will be scheduled to play in one recital. All pieces must be played from memory. The festival committee is responsible for the scheduling of these recitals, and their decision is final.   

LECTURES

The festival will present lectures on various topics. More specific information will be released later.  

PRACTICE FACILITIES  

Scheduled practice time is arranged for each performing participant in practice rooms equipped with Steinway grand pianos. The Tianjin Juilliard School is open from 8 am to midnight throughout the Festival. 

Any questions about the application process can be sent to tjpf.admissions@tianjinjuilliard.edu.cn  

Any questions about the application process can be sent to tjpf.auditors@tianjinjuilliard.edu.cn

Online Application for Young Artist, Junior and Adjunct Participants

The deadline to submit your application is March 1, 2025. To begin, create your Tianjin Juilliard Admissions Account, gather the required application materials, and follow the instructions to complete your application.

Please remember your Tianjin Juilliard Admissions Account username and password as you will need it to log in throughout the entirety of the admissions process. All admissions communication will be conducted through your Account and the email address used for registration.

Application Requirements for Young Artist, Junior, and Adjunct  

All Young Artist, Junior, and Adjunct applicants must submit  

• Videos totaling 15-20 minutes from a performance within the past 6 months, playing two or more contrasting pieces. One of the pieces must be a classical sonata. First movements are allowed if the entire sonata is longer than 15 minutes.
• A full biography (in English, Chinese, or both, no more than 200 words), including schools and teachers (past and present), concerts, achievements, and awards
• Juniors only: One recommendation letter from your current teacher

Young Artist applicants who are not accepted as Young Artists may also ask to be considered as an Adjunct Participant

Junior applicants who are not accepted as Juniors may also ask to be considered as an Auditor

Any questions about the application process can be sent to tjpf.admissions@tianjinjuilliard.edu.cn

Online Application for Auditors

All Auditor applicants must submit an online application and will be admitted on a rolling basis beginning in April 2025. Please note that Auditor applicants younger than 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult guardian who must also apply to be an Auditor.  

Any questions about the auditor application process can be sent to tjpf.auditors@tianjinjuilliard.edu.cn.

• Once the application is successfully submitted, the application fee is non-refundable.
• The tuition does not include travel, housing, and meals which are the responsibility of each participant. A list of local hotels will be shared with accepted participants.
• International students are welcome to apply. Please note, Tianjin Juilliard cannot assist in acquiring visas for Piano Festival participants.