The Competition is open to pianists participating in the 2025 Cremona International Music Academy. While students of the Academy are eligible and welcome to enter, participation in the Competition is not mandatory.

To participate in the Cremona International Competition for Piano, participants must include the following material in their application:

• Completed Application Form
• Document showing proof of age
• Recent photograph
• A video recording of two contrasting works for the Preliminary Round
• Non-refundable application fee of $100

Application material must be received no later than May 1, 2025.

Participants are required to submit video recordings of two contrasting works for the Preliminary Round. Videos may be linked from YouTube or Dropbox. CD/DVD recordings will not be accepted.

2025 Competition for Piano Application Form 

The participants will be assigned by age into four age categories (age as of July 1, 2025):
Debut Category – 10 years old and under
Junior Category – 11 to 13 years old
Intermediate Category – 14 to 18 years old
Senior Category – 19 years old and above

DEBUT CATEGORY
Preliminary Round: Electronic recording of two contrasting works of the participant’s choice (not exceeding 15 minutes in length). Selected participants will advance to the Final Round in Cremona.

Final Round, Cremona: Mini-recital (not exceeding 15 minutes in length).

JUNIOR CATEGORY

Preliminary Round: Electronic recording of two works of the participant’s choice (not exceeding 15 minutes in length). Selected participants will advance to the Final Round in Cremona.

Final Round, Cremona: Mini-recital (not exceeding 20 minutes in length).

INTERMEDIATE CATEGORY

Preliminary Round: Electronic recording of two works of the participant’s choice (not exceeding 20 minutes in length). Selected participants will advance to Rounds One and Two in Cremona.

Round One, Cremona: Solo Recital (not exceeding 15 minutes in length).

Round Two, Cremona: Second Recital (not exceeding 25 minutes in length).

SENIOR CATEGORY

Preliminary Round: Electronic recording of two works of the participant’s choice (not exceeding 20 minutes in length). Selected participants will advance to Rounds One and Two in Cremona.

Round One, Cremona: Solo Recital (not exceeding 20 minutes in length).

Round Two, Cremona: Second Recital (not exceeding 30 minutes in length).

2025 Competition for Piano Application Form

• The proposed repertoire for all rounds must be approved by the Competition Committee.
• Participants in the Debut and Junior Categories are expected to perform in the Final Round, once they have advanced from the Preliminary Round.
• Participants in the Intermediate and Senior Categories are expected to perform in both, Rounds One and Two, once they have advanced from the Preliminary Round.
• Works from the Preliminary Round can be repeated in other Rounds.
• Works from Round One may not be repeated in Round Two.
• All works must be performed from memory.
• Participants who have won first prize in previous competitions may NOT compete again in the same age category.
• All rounds of the Competition will be adjudicated by a jury panel.
• The jury has the right to award shared prizes.
• The decision of the jury is final and will not be reviewed.
• All rounds of the Competition, except for the Preliminary Round, are open to the audience.
• The Academy reserves the right to cancel the Competition for a category where less than five participants are selected to advance from the Preliminary Round.

The competition is adjudicated by the renowned faculty of the Cremona International Music Academy.

1^st Prize Winners:

• Solo Performance at the Winners Concert in Cremona during the 2025 Academy Season
• Solo performance with the Academy Festival Orchestra in Cremona in the 2026 Academy Season.
• 30% Tuition Scholarship for participation in the 2026 Cremona International Music Academy.

2nd Prize Winners:

• Solo Performance at the Winners Concert in Cremona during the 2025 Academy Season.
• 20% Tuition Scholarship for participation in the 2026 Cremona International Music Academy.

3rd Prize Winners:

• Solo Performance at the Winners Concert in Cremona during the 2025 Academy Season.
• 15% Tuition Scholarship for participation in the 2026 Cremona International Music Academy.