FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. When will I be notified about the results of the preliminary round?
A. Preliminary round video recordings are reviewed during June and July, once jurors can be assembled for a live, moderated session to ensure the anonymity of all performers.
Participants will be notified of their results on or shortly after August 10. This includes both those advancing to the next round and those who do not pass the preliminary stage.
We sincerely appreciate your patience while this review process is completed.
Q. I see special prizes for awards like, “Best Performance of an Etude by Chopin.” Should I include a piece like that on my preliminary recording?
A. Yes. If you wish to be considered for a special prize (such as Best Performance of a Chopin Etude), the qualifying work must be included in your preliminary round recording.
Participants who do not advance to the Final Round (or the Winners Concert, in the Youth Ages 9 and Under category) are not eligible for special prizes. However, the required repertoire must appear on the preliminary submission in order to remain eligible should you advance.
All special prizes are awarded by the Final Round jury during the live event in September in Seattle.
Q. How do I upload my audio? I do not see a link.
A. Since 2019, applicants are required to provide links to their YouTube video recordings directly within the online application form. There is no separate upload portal.
Unlisted YouTube links are acceptable and encouraged. Please ensure that your video privacy settings allow jurors to access the recording without requiring special permissions. Private or restricted-access links cannot be reviewed.
If you have already submitted your application and omitted the video link, please contact us at sipfchelsea@outlook.com or seattlepianointernational@gmail.com to request that your application be reopened for editing.
Please ensure your video is hosted on a reliable platform that is easily accessible in the United States, and confirm that your link is fully functional before submitting your application.
Q. We are mailing our submission via UPS. They tell us that we need a physical address, not a PO Box number. Is there any other address I can send my package to?
A. Since 2015, the SIPF accepts online registration only. All performance recordings must be submitted electronically via video links included in the application form. In most cases, there is no need to mail physical materials.
If you must send supplemental physical documents, they may be mailed to the following address:
SIPF
58 Front Street N, Suite 200
Issaquah, WA 98027
USA
Please ensure that any mailed materials are postmarked by the competition deadline. Materials may arrive after the electronic application has been submitted, provided they were sent by the stated deadline.
Q. When is the final round of the competition?
A. The Final Round of the 2026 Seattle International Piano Competition will take place live at Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall in Seattle on September 26–27, 2026.
Youth Categories (Ages 10 and above):
Youth finalists will perform on Saturday, September 26, and are required to attend the Awards Ceremony on the evening of Sunday, September 27, following the featured guest artist performance, to receive any awards.
Collegiate and Professional Categories:
Finalists in these divisions will perform on Sunday, September 27, and must remain for the Awards Ceremony that evening.
Youth, Ages 9 and Under:
This category does not have a ranked final round. Participants are designated as unranked Gold Medalists. However, to be officially listed as a winner and to receive a prize, participants must perform in the Winners’ Concert on Saturday, September 26. Awards for this category will be presented immediately following the Winners’ Concert on Saturday. Attendance at Sunday evening’s Awards Ceremony is optional but welcomed.
All finalists and Youth (Ages 9 and Under) winners must confirm their participation in the live September event no later than August 17, 2026. Notification of advancement will be sent on or shortly after August 10, 2026.
Q. To whom should I make my check payable?
A. Since 2015, the SIPF no longer accepts payment by check. All application fees must be submitted electronically through the online application form.
Visa and MasterCard payments are securely processed at the conclusion of the application process. Applicants will be prompted to complete payment before final submission.
Q. Do I have to play the same music in the final round as the preliminary video? Is there a time limit?
A. Yes. Beginning in 2024, the repertoire submitted for the Preliminary Round and the Final Round must be identical. No program changes are permitted.
All programs must also adhere to strict time limits, calculated according to the specific duration method outlined in the 2026 Seattle International Piano Competition Complete Rules, Release, Waiver, and Sworn Statement under “Category Specifics.” The maximum program lengths are as follows:
Professional and Collegiate Artists: 15 minutes maximum
Youth (Ages 14–18): 12 minutes maximum
Youth (Ages 10–13): 10 minutes maximum
Youth (Ages 9 and Under): 6 minutes maximum
Additionally, if you wish to be considered for special prizes—such as Best Performance of an Etude by Frédéric Chopin—the qualifying work must be included in your preliminary program. Because the Final Round repertoire must match the preliminary submission exactly, we strongly recommend reviewing all special prize requirements carefully before selecting and recording your program.
Q. Do we receive commentary from the judges?
A. For our flagship event, the Seattle International Piano Competition, written commentary or adjudication sheets are not provided. This is a high-level competitive event designed for participants performing at a professional standard of preparation, including those in the youth divisions.
Finalists who perform in the live September event will have the opportunity, following the Awards Ceremony, to meet members of the jury and respectfully solicit brief verbal remarks. However, no written feedback is issued after either the Preliminary or Final Round.
Participants seeking a more educational experience with detailed written commentary and recommendations from adjudicators may wish to consider our related annual events, including the Classical Viennese Festival, Virtuoso Artists Festival, Chopin & Beyond Festival, and Bach Festival.
Q. Do I have to play a Prelude and Fugue by Bach or a sonata movement?
A. No. The competition does not require any specific repertoire, including a Prelude and Fugue by Bach or a sonata movement.
Because our competition format features relatively short program lengths, participants are encouraged to choose repertoire strategically—selecting works that best demonstrate their strongest artistic and technical qualities within the allotted time.
We do, however, encourage applicants to review the list of special prizes. Including qualifying repertoire may provide additional opportunities for distinction beyond the Gold, Silver, and Bronze medal structure.
Q. My son is 18 and will be enrolled in a conservatory in the Fall. Should he apply for the Youth category, or Collegiate?
A. Although there may appear to be some age overlap between the Youth (Ages 14–18) and Collegiate categories, our rules make a clear distinction.
If the participant falls within the Youth age range (14–18), they must apply in the Youth (14–18) category—even if they will be enrolled in a college or conservatory piano program during the upcoming academic year.
Collegiate status is not determined solely by enrollment in higher education, but by the age and category structure defined in the official competition rules.
Q. I am a pianist, age 32, interested in entering the Seattle competition in 2022 as a Professional Artist. Is there any age limit?
A. No. There is no maximum age limit for the Professional Artist category.
While certain categories have minimum or maximum age requirements—particularly within the Youth divisions—there is no upper age restriction for Professional participants. Please refer to the official Competition Rules for specific age eligibility details by category.
Q. I am interested in entering your competition. I am 39 years old, I am finishing my MM Degree and I will continue as a DMA student in Piano Performance this fall. I would like to know if I am able to apply for the Professional Artist Category at the Piano Competition.
A. The Professional Artist category is open to pianists who either:
Have earned a master’s degree (or equivalent) and are working professionally in the field, or
Are currently enrolled in a terminal degree program in music (such as a D.M.A.) at the time of application.
Eligibility is determined based on your status at the time you submit your application.
If you have completed your master’s degree on or before the application deadline, you may apply as either a Professional Artist or Collegiate Artist, depending on which category best reflects your current academic and professional standing.
Please refer to the official Competition Rules for full eligibility details.