The Chopin Foundation of the United States San Francisco Council

THE CHOPIN FOUNDATION – COUNCIL OF SAN FRANCISCO ANNOUNCES

The Annual San Francisco Chopin Competition for Young Pianists returns in 2025 on the Internet.

The deadline for non-edited video submissions is March 1, 2025, and winners will be announced on April 1, 2025. The winners' concert will be in person at a local Bay Area venue in early April.

The Annual San Francisco Chopin Competition for Young Pianists is open to pianists fifteen years old or younger who reside or study in the San Francisco Bay Area: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, and Sonoma counties.

The Competition will be conducted in three age categories:

• First Age Category: through nine years old (born on/after March 1, 2015).
• Second Age Category: from ten through twelve years old (born on/after March 1, 2012, but on/before March 1, 2015).
• Third Age Category: from thirteen through fifteen years old (born on/born after March 1, 2009, but on/before March 1, 2012).

Rules

• Every applicant’s teacher must be a Chopin Foundation of the United States San Francisco Council member. The membership application page is on www.ChopinSF.org.
• Contestants must submit a non-edited video recorded in the last three months.
• All compositions are original piano works by Fryderyk Chopin.
• Numbers in brackets refer to the Paderewski edition of all of Chopin’s works. A specific edition is not required.
• All pieces are to be played from memory. Contestants may choose the order in which the pieces are played. Please indicate it on the application form.
• Winners should be prepared to perform in the Winners Concert.
• Any winner who doesn’t perform in the Winners Concert (without a substantial and documented reason) will be automatically disqualified from receiving the prize.
• First-prize winners of the previous competitions are not eligible to participate in the same age category.
• Jury’s decisions are final.                                                                                                                                                                       

Required Repertoire


First Age Category  (Through 9):

One original composition by Chopin of the contestant’s choice.

Second Age Category  (10 - 12):

1) Prelude in B minor, Opus 28, No. 6
2) One original composition by Chopin of the contestant’s choice.

Third Age Category  (13 -15):

1) One of the 21 Nocturnes
2) One of the 24 Etudes
3) One original composition by Chopin of the contestant’s choice.

*One movement from a sonata would be acceptable.
*No concertos are allowed

Prizes

First Age Category

First Prize     $60

Second Prize $45

Third Prize    $30

Second Age Category

First Prize     $200

Second Prize $150

Third Prize    $100

Third Age Category

First Prize     $350

Second Prize $250

Third Prize    $150

Laureates will also receive Diplomas, and all contestants will receive Certificates of Participation.

Application fee: $100

Application materials include:

• A completed application form
• Proof of age
• A one-paragraph biography

 

www.ChopinSF.org    

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