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Blüthner International Piano Competition

University of Kansas, Lawrence KS

Semi-finals -
Sunday, July 14, 2019

Finals - Monday, July 15, 2019


About the Competition

The International Institute for Young Musicians International Piano Competition will take place July 13, 14 and 15, 2019 in Swarthout Recital Hall located on the campus of the University of Kansas in Lawrence.  The IIYM International Piano Competition serves students, families, and teachers who are passionately committed to the art of piano performance.  It is a celebration of their talents and an opportunity to gain recognition, enlarge their experience and compete for scholarships and cash prizes.  The semi-final and final rounds of the competition are free and open to the public.

Awards

First Prize - $10,000
Second Prize - $6,000
Third Prize - $3,500
Audience Prize - $1,000
Finalist Prize - $1,500 x 3 (for finalists not winning 1st, Second or Third prize)

Eligibility

The competition is open to students of any nationality born after July 1, 1999 and before July 1, 2008. Students must also enroll in the 2019 IIYM Summer Music Academy at the University of Kansas.

Application Deadline & Fee

Complete the combined Summer Music Academy and International Piano Competition application form, submit a good-quality video via Youtube link, and send a $100 application fee (includes both Music Academy and Competition applications fees) by April 1, 2019.
Please also mail age proof (copy of driving license, passport or birth certificate).

Judging Procedures

Each round of the IIYM Piano Competition is judged using a “blind” system, based on numerical rankings that are tabulated mathematically by IIYM staff members.

  • Numbers, not names, identify each student.
  • Discussion of entrant performances is not permitted until after the votes have been tabulated.
  • Judges are not permitted to vote for or otherwise identify their own students.

Preliminary Round

  • Two memorized solo works from contrasting style periods
  • One of the works must be an etude
  • Single movements of larger works are acceptable
  • No concerto or ensemble works
  • All competition applicants must submit a good-quality video. Preliminary audition should be submitted via Youtube link or some other online storages(such as youku or QQ). Once uploaded, email the link to chung@iiym.com.
  • Preliminary Round Judges
    Michael Kirkendoll
    Scott McBride Smith


Semi-final Round

  • July 14, 2019 10:00am -8:00pm
  • Up to 14 semi-finalists chosen from preliminary round
  • 25 minutes of memorized solo works
  • Works from preliminary round are permitted
  • Works should represent at least three contrasting style periods
  • One of the works must be an etude
  • Single movements of larger works are acceptable
  • No concerto or ensemble works
  • The order of performance for semi-final contestants will be chosen by drawing on Jully 13, 2019.  Contestants will have an opportunity to try the competition piano on July 13, 2019 and warm-up rooms will be provided on day of competition.
  • Semi-final Round Judges




Final Round

  • July 15, 2019 3:00pm -8:00pm
  • Up to 6 finalists chosen from semi-final round
  • 35 minutes of memorized solo works
  • Works from previous rounds are not permitted
  • Works should represent at least three contrasting style periods
  • Single movements of larger works are acceptable
  • No concerto or ensemble works
  • The order of performance for final round contestants chosen by drawing on July 14, 2019 following announcements of finalists.  Warm-up rooms will be provided on day of competition.
  • Final Round Judges
    Same as Semi-finals round

2018

First Prize - Yu Lei (Shanghai, China)
Second Prize -Junhao Wang (KS, USA)
Third Prize -Joshua Jensen (AZ, USA)
Audience Prize - Joshua Jensen (AZ, USA)
Finalist Prize - Eric Lin(VA, USA), Janet Phang (WA, USA), Eashan Vagish (WA, USA)

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2017

First Prize - Jessica Zhang (AZ, USA)
Second Prize - Caleb Borick (SC, USA)
Third Prize - Tristan Paradee (SC, USA)
Audience Prize - Chi Barry Zhang (KS, USA)
Finalist Prize - Michael Huy Nguyen (Australia), Jarrett Takaki (IL, USA), Chi Barry Zhang (KS, USA)

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2016

First Prize - Catherine Huang(CA, USA)
Second Prize - Jessica Zhang (AZ, USA)
Third Prize - Leah Deobald(WA, USA)
Audience Prize - Jessica Zhang(AZ, USA)
Finalist Prize - Collin Jinks(MN, USA), Noah Qin(MN, USA), Hang Zhong(China)

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2015

First Prize - Samuel Xu (AZ, USA)
Second Prize - Chi Barry Zhang (China/KS, USA)
Third Prize - Anastasia Magamedova (UT, USA/Tajikistan)
Audience Prize - Noah Qiu (AL, USA)
Finalist Prize - David Geng (NJ, USA), Millicent McFall (WA, USA), Noah Qiu (MN, USA)

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2014

First Prize - John Wang (LA, USA)
Second Prize - Brian Le (MD, USA)
Third Prize - Guobi Liu (Sichuan, China)
Audience Prize - John Wang (AL, USA)
Finalist Prize - Ulises Magaña de la Paz (USA/Mexico), Litian Xie (Sichuan, China), Chi Barry Zhang (China/USA)

2013

First Prize - Evan Lin, HI, (USA)
Second Prize - Sarah Rasmussen, MO, (USA)
Third Prize - Luke Ratcliffe, VA, (USA)
Audience Prize - Evan Lin, HI, (USA)
Finalist Prize - Brian Le (VA, USA), Eric Lin (VA, USA), Patrick Pan (TX, USA)

2012

First Prize - Chaeyoung Park (USA/Korea)
Second Prize - Evan Lin (USA)
Third Prize - Rieko Tsuichida (USA)
Audience Prize - Chaeyoung Park (USA/Korea) )
Finalist Prize - Evelyn Mo (USA), Trenton Takaki (USA), Alice Zhu (USA)

2011

First Prize - Anna Han (USA)
Second Prize - Jonathan Mamora (USA) and Yangmingtian Zhao (China)
Audience Prize - Yangmingtian Zhao (China)
Finalist Prize - Lorranine Marie Chung (Australia), Chaeyoung Park (Korea) and Albert Wang (USA)


2010

Second Prize - Chelsea De Souza (India) and Frank Wu (IL)
Third Prize - Aileen Gozali (Singapore)
Audience Prize - Joseph Eisele (CO)
Finalist Prize - Kevin Ahfat (CO) and Jina Kim (South Korea)
First Prize not awarded.


2009

First Prize - Fantee Jones (CA)
Second Prize - Alan Woo (VA)
Third Prize - Rieko Tsuchida (CA)
Audience Prize - Alan Woo (VA)
Honorable Mentions - Christine Woo (MI),
Pan Xiao (CO), Min Joo Yi (WA)


2008

First Prize - Anna Han (AZ)
Second Prizes - Dominic Cheli (MO),
Kate Liu (IL), Micah McLauren (SC)
Audience Prize - Dominic Cheli (MO)
Honorable Mentions - Carolynn Cong (AZ), Sean Yeh (IL)


2007

First Prize - Rozalyn Chok (BC, Canada)
Second Prize - Alan Woo (VA)
Third Prize - George Fu (MD)
Audience Prize - George Fu (MD)
Honorable Mentions - Colin Barnett-Hart (CO),
Yvonne Chen (VA), Christine Kim (CA)


2006

First Prize - Mi Eun Kim
Second Prize - Ronald Ho
Third Prize - Yi-Ju Lai
Honorable Mentions - George Fu, Monica Liu, Alec Tauscher
MP3 Recordings Not Available

2005

First Prize - Charlie Albright
Second Prize - Veronica Shi
Third Prize - Erin Hales
Audience Prize - Veronica Shi
Honorable Mentions - Yvonne Chen, Yi-Ju Lai, Page Moon
MP3 Recordings Not Available

2004

First Prize - Kwok-Wai Lio (Hong Kong, China)
Second Prize - Grace Ma (AZ)
Third Prize - Eric Chen (CA)
Audience Prize - Daniel Suo (MA)
MP3 Recordings Not Available

2004 was the first IIYM International Piano Competition