Washington International Competition 2027: Piano Prize Fund $22,000, Worldwide Entries by 15 February
Overview and application deadline
The Friday Morning Music Club Foundation (FMMC) is holding its 2027 Washington International Competition for Piano. Applications have been accepted since 15 September 2026 and close on 15 February 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Pianists from any country may apply if they are aged 18 to 30 as of 22 May 2027. Current pupils of the competition judges, previous first-prize winners and pianists already under professional management are excluded. The nonrefundable application fee is US$50; case-by-case assistance may be requested at least 72 hours ahead of the deadline.
The competition selects up to sixteen pianists for live semifinals on 22 May 2027 at Phillips Hall, George Washington University, Washington DC. Finals take place the following day at Gildenhorn Recital Hall, The Clarice, in College Park, Maryland. The overall prize fund is US$22,000, distributed among awards; that is not the payout to each finalist. Winners may be offered further performances, including a possible appearance with the FMMC Avanti Orchestra.
Repertoire and required video
The intended total repertoire programme must be at least sixty minutes and include a substantial Baroque piece, an entire Classical sonata, a Romantic work, a twentieth- or twenty-first-century piece and a freely chosen work of no more than ten minutes. At least one selected work must be by a living composer or a composer belonging to a historically underrepresented group described in the official rules. No preparations involving objects inserted into the piano mechanism are permitted.
For the first screening, candidates submit up to thirty-five minutes of video selected from the same repertoire. Each movement is filmed with one camera in a continuous unedited take. Files must not identify the performer or institution in a way contrary to the organizer's anonymity rules. Selected musicians must be able to play their entire registered repertoire from memory in later rounds; changing the programme after the deadline is not permitted.
Organiser background and travel costs
The FMMC Foundation has supported classical music opportunities around Washington for more than fifty years and also runs the Johansen competition for young string players. The three announced 2027 semifinal and final judges are Lucille Chung, Orli Shaham and Robert Weirich. The applicant can verify those names, prizes and venues directly on the Foundation's current piano page.
The organiser arranges local housing and transportation for invited semifinalists but leaves travel to and from the Washington DC area to the candidate. A textual inconsistency in one paragraph of the published regulation repeats the year 2026; the 2027 competition header, application window and later regulations identify 15 February 2027 as the actual entry deadline. Check the latest Acceptd form before paying.
Official competition regulations and application
Based on official information checked on 23 October 2026. Please verify deadlines, eligibility, fees, venue, rights and repertoire in the organiser's latest documents.