Open Class
Group 1-2
Video Requirements (Video Submission Required for the Preliminary Round)
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This requirement applies only to contestants in Groups 1-2.
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All pieces must be performed from memory.
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The performance must be played on a well-tuned grand piano.
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The video must be recorded using a single, static camera. The camera should be positioned at a distance and angle that clearly captures the entire side profile of the pianist - from the top of the head to the feet - including the hands on the keyboard.
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The entire pre-selection round must be recorded in one continuous, unedited take. No cuts or edits are allowed.
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Performers must wear formal attire or concert dress.
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Upload the video to YouTube.
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Please complete the online application form as required and include the YouTube video link.
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Failure to comply with the above requirements will result in disqualification.
1. Open Group A
For participants in Grade 8 or below, or equivalent academic level
Preliminary Round
• One fast movement from a classical sonata by Haydn or Mozart
• One own-choice piece (selected movements from a suite are acceptable)
• Total performance duration: not to exceed 12 minutes
*20 participants will be selected to compete in the Global Grand Finals in Singapore.
Round 1
• One Prelude and Fugue from J. S. Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier, or one Three-Part Sinfonia
• One or more own-choice pieces
• Total performance duration: 12–15 minutes
*The top 10 participants will advance to Round 2.
Round 2
Participants must choose one concerto from the following list. The Organising Committee will provide a second-piano accompanist.
• W. A. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 12 in A major, K. 414
First and second movements, or second and third movements
• W. A. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 19 in F major, K. 459
First and second movements, or second and third movements
• W. A. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K. 488
First and second movements, or second and third movements
• L. v. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15
First and second movements, or second and third movements
• L. v. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 19
First and second movements, or second and third movements
2. Open Group B
For participants in Grade 12 or below, or equivalent academic level
Preliminary Round
• One fast movement from a classical sonata by Haydn, Mozart, or Beethoven,
up to and including Op. 57
• One or more own-choice pieces
• Total performance duration: 15–18 minutes
*20 participants will be selected to compete in the Global Grand Finals in Singapore.
Round 1
• One Prelude and Fugue from J. S. Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier
• One or more own-choice pieces
• Total performance duration: 15–20 minutes
The top 10 participants will advance to Round 2.
Round 2
Participants must choose one complete concerto from the following list. The Organising Committee will provide a second-piano accompanist.
• W. A. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466
• L. v. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37
• F. Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, S. 124
• F. Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major, S. 125
• C. Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22
• E. Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16
• S. Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18
Group Categories
Group 3 to 38
Participants must not exceed 28 years of age (ensemble groups must have an average age under 28).
Students from music conservatory programs are not allowed to register for Groups 3-10 and 30-35.
All repertoires must be performed from memory, except for Four Hands and Duo Piano categories.
Repertoire may be repeated from previous rounds.
Only classical music is accepted; non-classical repertoire will not be permitted.
For information on registration procedures for other groups, please contact contact.globalartist@gmail.com
Age Categories
3. Junior Group A (Age 5 and below; born on or after 1 January 2022)
• Preliminary Round: One own-choice piece, not to exceed 4 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: Two own-choice pieces of contrasting styles, not to exceed 6 minutes in total.
4. Junior Group B (Age 6–7; born between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021)
• Preliminary Round: One own-choice piece, not to exceed 5 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: Two own-choice pieces of contrasting styles, not to exceed 7 minutes in total.
5. Junior Group C (Age 8–9; born between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2019)
• Preliminary Round: One own-choice piece, not to exceed 7 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: Two own-choice pieces of contrasting styles, not to exceed 10 minutes in total.
6. Junior Group D (Age 10–11; born between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2017)
• Preliminary Round: One own-choice piece, not to exceed 9 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: Two own-choice pieces of contrasting styles, not to exceed 11 minutes in total.
7. Youth Group A (Age 12–13; born between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2015)
• Preliminary Round: One own-choice piece, not to exceed 9 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: Two own-choice pieces of contrasting styles, not to exceed 12 minutes in total.
8. Youth Group B (Age 14–15; born between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2013)
• Preliminary Round: One own-choice piece, not to exceed 10 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: Two own-choice pieces of contrasting styles, not to exceed 13 minutes in total.
9. Youth Group C (Age 16–17; born between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2011)
• Preliminary Round: One own-choice piece, not to exceed 10 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: Two own-choice pieces of contrasting styles, not to exceed 15 minutes in total.
10. Young Adult Group (Age 18–28; born between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2009)
• Preliminary Round: One own-choice piece, not to exceed 10 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: Two own-choice pieces of contrasting styles, not to exceed 15 minutes in total.
Ensemble Categories
11. Four-Hand Piano Group (Playing from the score is permitted)
• Preliminary Round: One own-choice piece, not to exceed 6 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: One or two own-choice pieces, not to exceed 10 minutes in total.
12. Concerto Group (Participants must provide their own accompanist)
• Preliminary Round: One or more movements from a concerto, not to exceed 15 minutes in total. Video submission is required.
• Global Grand Finals: One or more movements from a concerto, not to exceed 15 minutes in total.
13. Two-Piano Group (Playing from the score is permitted)
• Preliminary Round: One or two own-choice pieces, not to exceed 9 minutes in total.
Video submission is required.
• Global Grand Finals: One or two own-choice pieces, not to exceed 12 minutes in total.
Composer/Special Repertoire Categories
14. Bach Category
• Preliminary Round: Any one work by Bach, not to exceed 5 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: Any one or two works by Bach, not to exceed 7 minutes in total.
Works must be at the level of J. S. Bach’s Two-Part Inventions or above.
15. Haydn Category
• Preliminary Round: Any one work by Haydn, not to exceed 6 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: Any one work by Haydn, not to exceed 8 minutes.
Multiple movements are permitted.
16. Mozart Category
• Preliminary Round: Any one work by Mozart, not to exceed 6 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: Any one work by Mozart, not to exceed 8 minutes.
Multiple movements are permitted.
17. Beethoven Category
• Preliminary Round: Any one work by Beethoven, not to exceed 6 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: Any one work by Beethoven, not to exceed 8 minutes.
Multiple movements are permitted.
18. Mendelssohn Category
• Preliminary Round: Any one work by Mendelssohn, not to exceed 6 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: Any one work by Mendelssohn, not to exceed 8 minutes.
19. Schubert Category
• Preliminary Round: Any one work by Schubert, not to exceed 6 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: Any one work by Schubert, not to exceed 8 minutes.
Multiple movements or multiple short pieces are permitted.
20. Schumann Category
• Preliminary Round: Any one work by Schumann, not to exceed 6 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: Any one work by Schumann, not to exceed 8 minutes.
Multiple movements or multiple short pieces are permitted.
21. Debussy Category
• Preliminary Round: Any one work by Debussy, not to exceed 6 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: Any one work by Debussy, not to exceed 8 minutes.
22. Tchaikovsky Category
• Preliminary Round: Any one work by Tchaikovsky, not to exceed 6 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: Any one work by Tchaikovsky, not to exceed 8 minutes.
Suite works are permitted.
23. Brahms Category
• Preliminary Round: Any one work by Brahms, not to exceed 7 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: Any one work by Brahms, not to exceed 9 minutes.
Multiple movements or multiple short pieces are permitted.
24. Liszt Category
• Preliminary Round: Any one work by Liszt, not to exceed 8 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: Any one work by Liszt, not to exceed 10 minutes.
25. Chopin Category
• Preliminary Round: Any one work by Chopin, not to exceed 8 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: Any one work by Chopin, not to exceed 12 minutes.
26. Rachmaninoff Category
• Preliminary Round: Any one work by Rachmaninoff, not to exceed 7 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: Any one work by Rachmaninoff, not to exceed 9 minutes.
27. Prokofiev Category
• Preliminary Round: Any one work by Prokofiev, not to exceed 7 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: Any one work by Prokofiev, not to exceed 12 minutes.
28. Scriabin Category
• Preliminary Round: Any one work by Scriabin, not to exceed 7 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: Any one work by Scriabin, not to exceed 12 minutes.
29. Modern and Contemporary Works Category
• Preliminary Round: One work composed in or after the 20th century, not to exceed 7 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: One or two works composed in or after the 20th century, not to exceed 10 minutes in total.
Free Choice Categories
33. Free Choice Group A
• Preliminary Round: One piece at Grade 1–3 level, not to exceed 3 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: One or more pieces at Grade 1–3 level, not to exceed 5 minutes in total.
34. Free Choice Group B
• Preliminary Round: One piece at Grade 4–6 level, not to exceed 4 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: One or more pieces at Grade 4–6 level, not to exceed 6 minutes in total.
35. Free Choice Group C
• Preliminary Round: One piece at Grade 7 or above level, not to exceed 5 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: One or more pieces at Grade 7 or above level, not to exceed 7 minutes.
Pop Piano Performance Categories
36. Pop Piano Performance Group A
• Preliminary Round: Improvisation based on a given melody, not to exceed 2 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: Improvisation based on a given melody different from the Preliminary melody, not to exceed 2 minutes.
37. Pop Piano Performance Group B
• Preliminary Round: Improvisation based on a given melody, not to exceed 3 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: Improvisation based on a given melody different from the Preliminary melody, not to exceed 3 minutes.
38. Pop Piano Performance Group C
• Preliminary Round: Improvisation based on a given melody, not to exceed 4 minutes.
• Global Grand Finals: Improvisation based on a given melody different from the Preliminary melody, not to exceed 4 minutes.
Evaluation Criteria & Awards
Preliminary Round
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Scoring is based on a 100-point system.
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Contestants who receive First, Second and Third Prize are qualified for the Global Final Round.
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90 points and above: First Prize Certificate; the instructor will receive a Certificate of Outstanding Teacher Award.
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85–89.9 points: Second Prize Certificate; the instructor will also receive a Certificate of Outstanding Teacher Award.
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80–84.9 points: Third Prize Certificate
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79.9 points and below: Honorable Mention Certificate
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All certificates will be available for pick up at Steinway Gallery Singapore
Global Final
Global Grand Finals Cash Prizes
• Groups 1–2 (Open Categories): The top six participants scoring above 92 points will receive SGD 2,000, SGD 1500, SGD 1,000, SGD 500, SGD 500, and SGD 500, respectively.
• Groups 3–10 (Age Categories): The highest-scoring participant in each group who scores above 92 points will receive SGD 200.
• Groups 11–13 (Ensemble Categories): The highest-scoring participant in each group who scores above 92 points will receive SGD 200.
• Groups 14–29 (Composer / Special Repertoire Categories): The highest-scoring participant in each group who scores above 92 points will receive SGD 200.
• Groups 30–35 (Graded Examination / Free Choice Categories): The highest-scoring participant in each group who scores above 92 points will receive SGD 100.
• Groups 36–38 (Pop Piano Performance Categories): The highest-scoring participant in each group who scores above 92 points will receive SGD 200.
• No cash prizes will be awarded in any category with fewer than ten participants.
Additional Prize Benefits
• The First Prize winner of each Open Category will be awarded free participation in the 2028 SIYPC
Summer Academy, with an estimated value of SGD 5,000–5,500. This benefit is valid only for the prize winner personally. If the winner does not participate, the benefit shall be deemed forfeited and shall not beredeemable for cash, transferable, or deferred to a later year.
• Open Category finalists and First Prize winners of all other categories will each receive a SGD 500
scholarship towards participation in the 2028 SIYPC Summer Academy. This scholarship is valid only for the recipient personally. If the recipient does not participate, the scholarship shall be deemed forfeited and shall not be redeemable for cash, transferable, or deferred to a later year.
• Recipients who participate in the 2028 SIYPC Summer Academy are required to prepare the assigned repertoire and attend the required lessons, masterclasses, rehearsals, performances, and other learning activities in accordance with the requirements of the Summer Academy.
• For recipients awarded free participation in the 2028 SIYPC Summer Academy, the benefit covers
participation fees only. Any indirect or personal expenses, including but not limited to travel,
accommodation, meals, visa-related expenses, insurance, local transportation, and other personal costs, shall be borne by the recipient.
• All arrangements, requirements, inclusions, exclusions, and conditions relating to the 2028 SIYPC
Summer Academy shall be subject to the official regulations and information published for the 2028
SIYPC Summer Academy.
Video, Photography, and Publication Policy
The Singapore International Young Pianist Competition Organising Committee reserves the right to record, photograph, livestream, broadcast, publish, reproduce, edit, and use competition-related performances and
activities, including rehearsals, award ceremonies, masterclasses, concerts, and related events.
By registering for the competition, participants and their legal guardians, where applicable, consent to the use of such materials by the Organising Committee on its official website, social media platforms, livestreaming channels, promotional materials, archives, and other official communication channels, without further approval or additional compensation.
Cash Prizes, Taxes, and Deductions
Cash prizes stated in these regulations are gross amounts. Where required by Singapore law or any other applicable law, the Organising Committee may withhold or deduct any applicable tax, withholding tax, bank charges, currency conversion charges, or other statutory deductions before payment. Participants shall be responsible for any personal tax reporting or payment obligations that may arise in their own country of residence, nationality, or tax jurisdiction.
Personal Data and Minor Protection
The Singapore International Young Pianist Competition Organising Committee respects the privacy and personal data of all participants, especially minors. Personal data submitted for the competition will be used only for purposes related to registration, administration, adjudication, communication, event organisation, promotion, documentation, and other competition-related matters. For participants below the age of 18, registration should be completed with the consent of a parent or legal guardian. By submitting the application, the parent or legal guardian confirms that they consent to the participant’s participation and to the use of the participant’s personal data for competition-related purposes. The Organising Committee will take reasonable care to protect participants’ personal data and will use such information responsibly in connection with the competition.
Withdrawal and Refund Policy
Application fees and Global Grand Finals fees are non-refundable once paid, except where the Organising Committee approves a refund in exceptional and unforeseen circumstances.
Participants who withdraw from the competition after registration shall remain responsible for any travel, accommodation, visa-related expenses, insurance, or other personal costs already incurred.
Schedule and Programme Changes
The Organising Committee reserves the right to make reasonable changes to the competition schedule, venues, jury arrangements, concert programmes, masterclasses, award ceremonies, and related activities where necessary. Any such changes will be communicated to participants as soon as reasonably practicable.
Final Authority and Interpretation
The Singapore International Young Pianist Competition Organising Committee reserves the right to interpret, amend, supplement, and enforce these regulations where necessary for the proper administration of the competition. In the event of any matter not expressly covered in these regulations, or in the event of any ambiguity, inconsistency, dispute, or unforeseen circumstance, the Organising Committee shall make the final decision in accordance with the principles of fairness, impartiality, and the proper conduct of the competition. By registering for the competition, participants and their legal guardians, where applicable, are deemed to have read, understood, and agreed to comply with all rules and regulations of the competition, and to accept the decisions of the Organising Committee as final. The Organising Committee will make every reasonable effort to ensure the smooth running of the competition, uphold fairness and transparency, and respect the rights and interests of all participants.
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Scoring is based on a 100-point system.
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The top 6 contestants in each group will be ranked based on jury scores. Positions may be left vacant or tied.
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Students of jury members must be declared in advance and will not be scored by their instructors.
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A maximum of two contestants may tie for the same prize. The prize money will be equally shared, while each receives their own certificate and trophy.
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The top six contestants in each group who score 90 or above will receive both a trophy and a certificate.
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The instructors of the top six contestants in each group will receive a Trophy and Certificate for International Outstanding Teacher Award.
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All other finalists will receive a Participation Medal and Certificate.
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All prize money, trophies, and certificates shall be presented at the Global Grand Finals award ceremonies in Singapore and must be collected in person. They will not be reissued, replaced, or delivered separately after the ceremonies.
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If no contestant scores above 92 in a group, the prize money will be canceled; only certificates and trophies will be awarded.
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The award ceremony will be held in multiple sessions. Participants shall be responsible for checking the schedule and attending the session assigned to their respective category.