Eligibility
In-Person Competition: Open to any piano student from grades four through twelve who is a Texas resident or studies with a Texas-resident teacher.
2026 Online Composer’s Choice Competition: Open to any piano student from grades five through twelve. Video submissions will be adjudicated by the composers of the repertoire added to this year’s competition (Letter C repertoire selections ONLY).
Awards
In-Person Competition: First, second, and third place winners from grades four through twelve will receive trophies. All students will receive judges’ critiques of their performance.
2026 Online Composer’s Choice Competition: Winners of fifth through twelfth grade divisions will receive separate awards through the mail. Fourth grade competitors will receive a personal note from the composer.
Entry Fee
A non-refundable entry fee of $35.00 is required for each student participating in the in-person competition and an entry fee of $25.00 is required for those entering the online competition. Students may enter both in-person and online competitions, but each competition will be adjudicated separately. Those entering both will pay a fee of $45 total for both competitions.
Applications and payment are due January 5.
Online Composer’s Choice Competition entrants will receive a separate link to submit their video once they have turned in their application. The video submissions will be due February 7. The number of entries per teacher is unlimited. Only applications that include payment will be considered complete. Students with incomplete applications will not be allowed to compete. Applications may be submitted by either teachers or parents, but the teacher’s information must be included.
General Rules
· Students are allowed to compete only at their school grade level.
· Repertoire must be selected from the list provided and must be performed from memory.
Please note that the repertoire list contains three choices of works for each grade level. Students will select only one complete option (A, B, or C). Where two or more compositions are listed within an option, the works may be performed in any order.
Letter A selections are from the 2024 competition (Viva la France!) and letter B selections were added for the 2025 competition (Music Since 1985). Suggested editions are indicated, but are not required. Works available for digital download or through a subscription service are acceptable if purchased and printed by contestant.