Candidate Criteria
A global competition welcoming accomplished pianists ages 18-35, as of July 31, 2021. Prior entrants (though not finalists) are also welcome to apply.

Application and Competition Rounds
The competition features two rounds. The preliminary round is online; the application opens April 1st, 2021 and the deadline is July 31, 2021.

Preliminary: Online application Requirements

Video Submission

Applicants are required to submit an all-inclusive video recording (via a private YouTube link), containing the following items:

The video length must not exceed 45 minutes; each piece must not exceed 15 minutes.

Choose three pieces from solo piano repertoire that demonstrate your technical mastery, artistic expression, and facility in a broad range of genres. Each piece must be drawn from three of the following five eras: 

• Baroque (i.e., 1600-1750)
• Classical (1750-1800)
• Romantic (1800-1900)
• Modern (1900-1960)
• Contemporary (after 1960)

Spoken Introduction: Talk about the reason why you chose to perform the selected works. Please speak for at least five minutes and no more than 10 minutes. This must be included before one of the three pieces. Applicants who do not include a spoken introduction will not be considered.

Proof of age via a valid driver’s license or birth certificate.

A brief curriculum vitae of no more than 3 pages, providing education, coursework, research activities, performance experience, awards, and another relevant background (no promotional materials, please).

Phone number and email address

Application Fee: $150

For financial assistance, contact Ruth Mannes (ruth@mocawestport.org) the Executive Director MoCA Westport. If you have a need to waive the fee, please explain.

Final Round

Afternoon Master Class with young pianists, appearance on Public Radio, a Solo Evening Performance, and a Gala Awards Presentation, to be held January 13 – 15, 2022 at MoCA Westport and at the Westport Public Library.

In the Afternoon Master Class, each Finalist will be required to demonstrate their coaching skills to a young pianist studying in the Westport area. Fluency in English is required.

Each Finalist will also give a Solo Evening Performance, which will consist of approximately one hour of music with brief spoken introductions to the audience.

Each Finalist’s Solo Evening Performance must also include two contrasting movements drawn from the following solo piano works of the African-American composer Robert Nathaniel Dett (1882-1943): 

• In The Bottoms (1913) 
• Enchantment (1922)
• Tropic Winter (1938)

The remaining music in the Solo Evening Performance will consist of a repertoire entirely of the Finalist’s selection.

All solo evening performances shall take place at MoCA Westport, on its restored Hamburg Steinway “D” concert grand piano, in front of a live audience as well as on streaming video.