Announcement of the 13th Hamamatsu International Piano Competition Guidelines

Hamamatsu City and the Hamamatsu Foundation for Cultural Promotion will hold the "13th Hamamatsu International Piano Competition" for 23 days from Sunday, November 7, 2027, to Monday, November 29, 2027.

The Hamamatsu International Piano Competition began in 1991 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Hamamatsu City's establishment, as an international cultural event befitting a city proud of its history and tradition in musical instruments and music. It has been held every three years since then.

The previous 12th competition (2024) garnered significant attention with a Japanese winner.

The highest-ranking winner of this competition will be offered opportunities for national and international tours starting the following year, invitations to participate in renowned music festivals, collaborations with orchestras, and solo recitals, with ongoing support for their development.

Accordingly, we announce the guidelines for the "13th Hamamatsu International Piano Competition."

Purpose

The Hamamatsu International Piano Competition began in 1991 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Hamamatsu City's establishment, as an international cultural event befitting a city proud of its history and tradition in musical instruments and music. It has been held every three years since then.

The purpose is to provide a venue for many young pianists aiming for the world to showcase the results of their daily practice, to foster their growth, to promote world music culture, and to advance international exchange.

Competition Overview

Dates: Sunday, November 7, 2027 - Monday, November 29, 2027

Venue: Act City Hamamatsu (111-1 Itaya-machi, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture)

Organizers: Hamamatsu City, Hamamatsu Foundation for Cultural Promotion

Official Website: https://www.hipic.jp/

Schedule

Opening Concert: Sunday, November 7, 2027

Drawing of Performance Order: Friday, November 12, 2027

First Preliminary Round: Saturday, November 13, 2027 - Wednesday, November 17, 2027 (5 days)

Second Preliminary Round: Friday, November 19, 2027 - Sunday, November 21, 2027 (3 days)

Third Preliminary Round: Tuesday, November 23, 2027 - Wednesday, November 24, 2027 (2 days)

Final Round: Saturday, November 27, 2027 - Sunday, November 28, 2027 (2 days)

Award Ceremony: Sunday, November 28, 2027

Laureate Concert: Monday, November 29, 2027

Jury Members (Alphabetical Order by Last Name)

Jury President: Momoka Kodama (Japan)

Jury Members: Rodolphe Bruneau-Boulmier (France)

Akiko Ebi (Japan)

Till Fellner (Austria)

Ralf Gothóni (Finland/Germany)

Michael Helfried (Switzerland)

Hae-sun Paik (South Korea)

Arabella Pare (Germany/UK)

Ewa Pobłocka (Poland)

Ayako Uehara (Japan)

Xiaohan Wang (China)

Eligibility

Born on or after January 1, 1997

Application Period

Friday, January 8, 2027 - Sunday, February 28, 2027, 24:00 (Japan Standard Time)

Applications accepted online

Prizes and Prize Money

1st Prize: 4,000,000 JPY, Gold Medal, Certificate

2nd Prize: 2,500,000 JPY, Silver Medal, Certificate

3rd Prize: 1,500,000 JPY, Bronze Medal, Certificate

4th Prize: 1,000,000 JPY, Certificate

5th Prize: 800,000 JPY, Certificate

6th Prize: 600,000 JPY, Certificate

Best Performance Award for Japanese Work: 300,000 JPY, Certificate

Encouragement Award: 150,000 JPY, Certificate

Best Performance Award for Violin Sonata: 150,000 JPY, Certificate

Audience Award: Certificate and Prize

* The 1st prize winner will be offered more than 10 opportunities for solo recitals and performances with major orchestras in Japan and abroad by the end of March 2029.

Preliminary and Final Round Details

1. Preliminary Audition

- Judging based on video recordings of preliminary audition repertoire uploaded via online application.

- Record performances of (1)-(3) below within 30 minutes. Performance order is optional.

(1) One piece from J.S. Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier

(2) One piano sonata by Mozart, Beethoven, or Haydn

(3) One etude by Chopin or another specified composer

- Results will be notified to applicants by Wednesday, June 30, 2027.

2. Competition Repertoire

- First Preliminary Round: Up to 20 minutes, free selection including at least one etude.

- Second Preliminary Round: Perform (1) and (2) below within 40 minutes.

(1) Perform at least two pieces from the Classical, Romantic, or Modern/Contemporary periods, selected from works by specified composers, representing at least two different eras.

(2) Perform a commissioned work by a Japanese composer written for this competition (Composer: Eisuke Tsuchida).

* The first performance in the Second Preliminary Round will be its world premiere.

- Third Preliminary Round: Perform (1) and (2) below within 70 minutes.

(1) One violin sonata by Beethoven or Brahms

(2) Solo recital with free selection

* From the 8th to the 12th competitions, performances were with chamber musicians (violin, viola, cello). For the 13th competition, a performance with a violinist has been set as a repertoire item for the Third Preliminary Round.

- Final Round: Select one piano concerto by a specified composer and perform with an orchestra.

Orchestra: Tokyo Symphony Orchestra

Conductor: Naoto Otomo

[Contact Information for Inquiries]

Hamamatsu International Piano Competition Office

111-1 Itaya-machi, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, 430-7790

Within the Hamamatsu Foundation for Cultural Promotion

TEL: 053-451-1148 FAX: 053-451-1123

E-mail: [email protected]