Competition Requirements / Judging Procedures

cOMPEtitiON rEquirEMENtS

RECORDED/PRELIMINARY ROUND

Any solo piano repertoire selected by the competitor, not to exceed forty-five minutes in length. Individual movements of the sonatas are acceptable in this round only.

SEMIFINAL ROUND I

A memorized public recital, not to exceed 35 minutes in length, consisting of works chosen by the competitors. All twelve semifinalists will advance to Semifinal Round II.

SEMIFINAL ROUND II

A memorized public recital, not to exceed 20 minutes in length, consisting of works chosen by the competitor which have not been performed in Semifinal Round I. Three contestants will be chosen to advance to the Final Round.

FINAL ROUND

A memorized public recital, not to exceed 50 minutes in length, consisting of works not performed by the competitor in the Semifinal Rounds.

JuDgiNg PrOcEDurES fOr tHE PrEliMiNAry/rEcOrDED rOuND

Throughout the two stages of the Preliminary/Recorded Round, Judges watched and listened to videos submitted by the applicants online via Acceptd. In the initial stage, three judges were responsible for paring the field of applicants from 206 to 40.

In the second stage, three judges, each watching and listening independently, ranked their top twelve performances. Results were tabulated and the top twelve performers were invited to New Orleans to compete as semifinalists.

JuDgiNg PrOcEDurES fOr tHE cOMPEtitiON Jury

SEMIFINAL ROUND I & II

At the completion of Semifinal Round II of the competition, the five voting members of the jury (the chair of the jury is a non-voting member) will independently select, without discussion, three contestants to advance to the Final Round. Each of these contestants must have received at least three of the jurors’ votes. In the case of a tie, the competition jury will be asked to choose, without discussion, between the tied competitors. In the case where a juror withdraws, the chair becomes a voting member.

FINAL ROUND At the completion of the Final Round of the competition, the five voting judges will independently cast their ballots, without discussion, for the pianist they believe should win the First Prize. To be awarded this prize, the pianist must have received at least three of the jurors’ votes. In the case of a tie, the competition jury will be asked to choose, without discussion, between the tied competitors. The judges will repeat this process to determine the winner of the Second and Third Prizes.