FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sonare International Piano Competition Announces 11th Biennial Edition
(Formerly the Seattle International Piano Competition)
Seattle, WA — The Sonare International Piano Competition announces the 11th biennial edition of its internationally recognized piano competition, continuing a long-standing commitment to artistic excellence, fairness, and inclusivity. Formerly known as the Seattle International Piano Competition, Sonare welcomes pianists of all ages and nationalities to apply for its 2026 cycle.
The application deadline for the 2026 competition is May 15, 2026, with the live final round taking place September 26–27, 2026 at Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall in downtown Seattle.
“From its founding, this competition has been built around a simple but powerful idea: that musical artistry should be evaluated on its own merits,” said Dr. Ivona Kaminska-Bowlby, President of the Seattle International Piano Festival (SIPF). “The Sonare International Piano Competition continues this mission by providing a blind, artist-centered platform where pianists from around the world can be heard on equal footing.”
Competition Format
The Sonare International Piano Competition follows a two-round structure designed to ensure fairness and clarity in adjudication. In Round One, applicants submit recorded performances that are evaluated through a blind review process. A limited number of finalists—up to six per category—are then invited to perform live before a jury and audience in Seattle during the final round weekend.
This structure allows the competition to maintain high artistic standards while remaining accessible to pianists across geographic and professional boundaries.
Prizes and Opportunities
The 2026 competition will award over $21,000 in total prize money, including gold, silver, and bronze awards across multiple divisions:
- Professional Division
- Collegiate Division
- Youth Division (Ages 14-18)
- Youth Division (Ages 10-13)
- Youth Division (Ages 9 and under)
Additional honors include special awards for performances of works by Frédéric Chopin, Karol Szymanowski, and George Gershwin, as well as Audience Favorite and Teacher’s Favorite distinctions. Select prizewinners may also be invited to perform in future concert engagements presented by SIPF and partner organizations. Visit the prizes page for complete details.
Sonare International Piano Competition 2026 Final Round
Final Round Jury
The live final round of the 11th Sonare International Piano Competition will be adjudicated by a distinguished panel of internationally respected pianists and educators:
Festival Context and Featured Guest Artist
The Sonare International Piano Competition final round takes place within the broader framework of the Seattle International Piano Festival, presented in September 2026. The Festival provides an expanded artistic context for the Competition weekend, bringing together jurors, finalists, and guest artists for performances and events celebrating international piano artistry.
As part of the Festival programming, SIPF is pleased to welcome Jialin Yao as a featured guest artist. Mr. Yao was awarded the Professional Silver Medal at the 2024 Seattle International Piano Competition and also received the President’s Prize for the best performance of a work by Frédéric Chopin.
Mr. Yao began his musical studies in China and continued his training in the United States, including advanced study at The Juilliard School, where he worked with Sergei Babayan. He is currently pursuing an Artist Diploma at the Meadows School of the Arts, Southern Methodist University. His performance career has included appearances at major international festivals and concert venues, with repertoire spanning the core Romantic tradition and contemporary works.
The inclusion of a recent prizewinner as featured guest artist underscores SIPF’s ongoing commitment to supporting artists beyond the competition stage and highlighting excellence within its own laureate community.
Looking Ahead
“The transition to the Sonare name reflects both continuity and growth,” said Dr. Christopher Bowlby, Vice President of SIPF. “While the name has evolved, our values remain unchanged—fairness, excellence, and meaningful opportunities for pianists at every stage of their artistic journey.”
Applications for the 2026 Sonare International Piano Competition are now open.
For full rules, category details, and application instructions, visit www.seattlepianocompetition.org
About SIPF
The Sonare International Piano Competition is presented by the Seattle International Piano Festival (SIPF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering piano performance, education, and artistic exchange through competitions, festivals, and concert initiatives.
