Washington International Competition

2020 67th Annual Washington International Competition for Piano 
Sponsored by the Friday Morning Music Club Foundation

The 2020 Competition for Piano semifinals will take place at George Washington University in the Benjamin T. Rome Music Hall at 801 22nd Street, NW, in Room B-120 on Saturday, May 23rd, 2020 at 9:30 am. 

Finals will take place on May 24, 2020, at 2:00 pm in the newly renovated Terrace Theater of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. 

Questions?

• For repertoire and general questions, please contact the Competition Co-Chairs, Grace McFarlane & Junko Takahashi at wicpiano2020@gmail.com

• For technical questions please contact the Acceptd Support Team at support@getacceptd.com or by calling 1-888-725-2122. Check out our Help Desk for frequently asked questions.

Please visit our website here for more information.

Competition History and Purpose

The Washington International Competition (WIC) was established in 1950 to support outstanding young classical musicians in their pursuit of professional careers. The WIC occurs in a three-year rotation for piano, strings and voice. As of 1976, a competition for composition of a string quartet is also held concurrently with the strings competition. 

Prizes

• First Prize: $10,000
• Second Prize: $5,000
• Third Prize: $3,000
• Three Finalists Awards: $1,000
• Audience Prize: $1,000

Performance Awards
Solo performance opportunities in Washington DC include a solo recital at the Terrace Theater of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Alice Nagle Fund) and a solo appearance with the FMMC Avanti Orchestra.

Eligibility

Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 30 (as of the date of the competition). Proof of age will be required. Applicants must not be under professional management. Previous first-prize winners of the competition and current students of the judges may not apply. 

Application Fee: $125 - Application is non-refundable

Housing and Transportation

The WIC provides local housing for participants, with local transportation and meals offered at the convenience of hosts. Housing is available for all semifinalists from May 22- May 25. These accommodations in private homes will include access to an excellent piano.

Application Deadlines

Applications will be accepted from September 15, 2019 - February 15, 2020.

Deadline is February 15, 2020 by 11:59pm EST.

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REQUIRED REPERTOIRE

1. J. S Bach: Any work. (Pieces with multiple sections or movements must be prepared in their entirety.)
2. An entire Classical Sonata of one of the following composers: Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven (excluding Op. 49), or Schubert.
3. A major work from the Romantic Period.
4. A substantial work from the 20th or 21st century.
5. A piece of the contestant’s choice not to exceed 10 minutes.
6. Applicants should be prepared to perform all submitted repertoire for the semifinal and final rounds.
7. All music must be performed by memory.
8. The submitted repertoire program should be a minimum of 60 minutes.

IMPORTANT

• Please DO NOT include your name in the file name of your video recording.
• All submitted video selections must come from the submitted repertoire list.
• No substitutions or edits will be allowed for submitted repertoire once the application is finalized.
• Applicants must be prepared to present all repertoire on list if chosen to participate in the semifinals.

1. All selections must be performed from memory, both on the video and in the live auditions.
2. No changes in repertoire permitted past the deadline date on February 15, 2020.
3. Submit a maximum of 35 minutes chosen from your required repertoire for the audition video. List of formats allowed on the Getacceptd site. The selections should present a representation of your playing
4. A jury will review submissions and select approximately 16 semifinalists. 
5. All applicants will be notified of the results by mid-March.
6. Semifinalists will be sent further instructions as needed.

Judges

• Simone Dinnerstein
• Robert McDonald
• John Perry

Additional Information

1. FMMC Foundation assumes no responsibility for actions of or injuries sustained by applicants or their escorts during their course of stay in the Washington, DC area.
2. All contestants are responsible for transportation to and from Washington, DC.
3. The decision of the judges is final and not to be disputed. No contact with the judges is permitted until after the results have been announced.
4. The WIC reserves the right to use any recordings or photographs originated during the competitions, or any photographs or recordings provided by the contestants.

For technical questions please contact the Acceptd Support Team at support@getacceptd.com or by calling 1-888-725-2122. Check out our Help Desk for frequently asked questions.