2026 Southwest Bach Piano Competition (Live)

The inaugural Southwest Bach Piano Competition welcomes pianists of all nationalities in celebration of the timeless music of Johann Sebastian Bach. Created to inspire artistic growth and a deeper appreciation of Bach’s keyboard works, this competitive event provides pianists of all ages with the opportunity to share their performances before an esteemed panel of distinguished concert artists and pedagogues.

This newly established live event is designed to offer meaningful educational opportunities for musicians, encouraging the study and performance of Bach’s music at the highest level. Participants receive thoughtful educational evaluations, written commentary, certificates, medals, and recognition for artistic achievement, making the competition both a valuable learning experience and an exciting performance opportunity.

The Southwest Bach Piano Competition proudly welcomes participants of all ages, nationalities, and musical backgrounds, fostering a vibrant and inclusive environment for artistic growth.

Presented in partnership with the Steinway Gallery of Arizona, this live event is devoted exclusively to the keyboard music of J.S. Bach. The competition features cash prizes, written adjudications, medals and diplomas, and a special Gold Medalist Masterclass for top performers, offering both recognition and meaningful artistic development.

Registration

The form is set to accept applications starting July 1, 2026 at 12:00 pm, accepting credit cards for application fees and online signatures.

2026 Bach Festival International (Online)

The Seattle International Piano Festival (SIPF) is proud to present for the seventeenth iteration, the annual Bach Festival International (online edition) for pianists and instrumentalists of any nationality, featuring works by Johann Sebastian Bach, as well as other Baroque masters. This competitive event was created to provide performing opportunities for those who wish to share their love of Bach’s revered music and to provide performers with constructive feedback from performing and teaching masters. Participants will receive educational evaluations by performing for adjudicators, and a chance to receive medals and certificates.

We are honored to continue the tradition of the annual Bach Festival by its original founder, Jennifer Bowman, and hope to preserve her artistic vision. The festival has always been a wonderful educational and artistic opportunity for pianists and violinists both locally and abroad, and our mission is to see that it becomes an anticipated event each year.

This festival sets forth narrowly defined age groups and specific genre groups so that participants may be fairly judged, and generously decorated.

There are no significant changes to the 2026 festival from the previous edition.

Registration

The form is set to accept applications starting July 1, 2026 at 12:00 pm, accepting credit cards for application fees and online signatures.

Southwest Bach Piano Competition Rules

pdficonApplication Deadline: All applications must be completed by 11:59 PM Pacific Daylight Time (UTC/GMT-7), Saturday, October 10, 2026. Click on the icon to the left to download a copy of the 2026 Southwest Bach Piano Competition Rules, Guidelines, and Agreement.

Bach Festival Rules

pdficonApplication Deadline: All applications must be completed by 11:59 PM Pacific Daylight Time (UTC/GMT-7), Saturday, October 31, 2026. Click on the icon to the left to download a copy of the 2026 Bach Festival Rules, Guidelines, and Agreement.

Southwest Bach Piano Competition Guest Adjudicators

Bach Festival Guest Adjudicators

Minji Noh
Minji Noh
Dr. Stephen Pierce
Stephen Pierce

 

 

To Be Announced