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Hilton Head International Piano Competition

South Carolina , United States

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The Hilton Head International Piano Competition, one of the leading international piano competitions in the United States, operates with a three year rotation of events: an adult competition for pianists 18–30 years of age, a young artist competition for pianists 13–17 years of age, and a festival—BravoPiano!—which showcases past prize winners and other prominent keyboard artists performing music ranging from classical to jazz. The competition events draw applicants, artists, and audiences from countries the world over.

The 2025 Hilton Head International Piano Competition is for pianists ages 18 - 30 and will be held March 10 - 17, 2025 in Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA.
Important Dates
  • June 1, 2024: Applications available online
  • September 30, 2024: Applications due
  • November 27, 2024: Invitation to the 20 applicants chosen to participate in the HHIPC.  Others will be notified as to their status.
  • March 6 or 7, 2025: Competitors arrive in Hilton Head.
  • March 10 and 11, 2025: Round I of the Competition (all 20 competitors)
  • March 12 and 13, 2025: Round II of the Competition (all 20 competitors)
  • March 14. 2025: Master Classes (judges with selected competitors) and Ambassador Outreach Program
  • March 15, 2025: Round III Semi-Final recitals (6 competitors selected by jury at the end of Round II) 
  • March 17, 2025: Round IV Finals (Concerti w/HHSO; 3 finalists selected by jury at the end of Round III) followed by Awards Ceremony
  • March 18, 2025: Competitors depart Hilton Head

 

HOST FAMILY ACCOMMODATIONS:  Each competitor stays in the home of a Host Family--from arrival on March 6 or 7 to departure March 18, 2025--who provides lodging, food, all local transportation, and a grand piano for practice.  If a competitor wants to stay in the Hilton Head area for any days falling before or after the period of March 6–18, they will be responsible for arrangements and payment for their own lodging, food, and transportation. Host families will only host the competitor and not any family members or teachers.

JURIES:  There are two juries for the 2025 Hilton Head International Piano Competition.

The Competitor Selection Jury (CSJ) will meet in November to evaluate all video audition files on the basis of commonly accepted musical criteria. The CSJ will then select twenty (20) applicants to compete in the 2025 Hilton Head International Piano Competition. The CSJ will also provide the competition administration with a rank ordered list of alternates.  The Jury’s decision is final.

Competitor Selection Jury

The Competition Jury will be on Hilton Head Island in March to listen to the 20 competitors’ live performances during Rounds I and II, after which they select 6 semi-finalists for Round III. Following that, they select 3 finalists, and then, following the Finals Round, they select the prize winners.

Competition Jury


Before proceeding with this application, please review the following pages on the www.hhipc.org website in the 2025 Applicant Information section:


For guideline and requirement questions please contact: pianocomp@hhipc.org or call +1 (843) 842-5880 

For technical questions, visit the Applicant Support Help Desk.