World Piano Competition


The World Piano Competition Inc. is a not-for-profit arts organization based in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, dedicated to the promotion of classical piano music. The competition is "America’s oldest annual piano competition for both Artists and Young Artists," and has recently hosted its 57th international piano competition. In the 1970s, André Watts and Arthur Rubinstein were associated with what was then known as the American Music Scholarship Association. The current organization was officially founded in 1985 by Gloria Ackerman.
Both the international Artist Division and regional Young Artist Division competitions are held annually at the University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music, and winners in both competitions receive cash prizes and recital opportunities in New York City. Finalists in the Artist Division competition perform with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
24 competitors are heard in Cincinnati following a pre-screening round. Competitors are expected to play a 40-minute recital, and if successful, a 60-minute recital if they are to advance to the final round. Judges for the 57th competition included Ursula Oppens, Frederic Chiu, Stephen Prutsman, Kyung-Sook Lee and Robert Weirich.
Awadagin Pratt, Associate Professor of Music at the College-Conservatory of Music, took on the role of artistic director in 2012.

2014 winners