36th ANNUAL WCU PRE-COLLEGIATE National PIANO COMPETITION

The West Chester University Annual Pre-Collegiate National Piano Competition, now it its 36th year, strives to provide students ages 9-18 with performing opportunities and raise the standard of excellence of young pianists. This is a national competition with no geographic restrictions. There are three age groups with up to five cash prizes awarded in each group. Information regarding repertoire requirements, competition guidelines, awards, and how to apply is found below.

This year, our competition will take place over one weekend; the competition will take place on Saturday, May 16, 2026 and the award ceremony with the winners' recital on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Swope Music Building on our beautiful West Chester University Campus. 

A Recital & Awards Presentation will be held on Sunday, May 17, 2026 from 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm in the Ware Family Recital Hall. The recital will include performances by the first, second, and third place winners in each group and must be attended by all Honorable Mention winners. Absences in either category will result in cancellation of the award.

Preceding the Recital will be a Masterclass in Ware Family Recital Hall from 11:00am – 12:30pm. The Masterclass will be conducted by one of our esteemed Wells School of Music piano professors. Both Masterclass and Winners' Recital are open to the public on Sunday, May 17th. 

36th Annual West Chester University of Pennsylvania National Pre-Collegiate Piano Competition May 16-17, 2026. First Place Prizes ranging from $500 to $2,000. Application Deadline: April 6th, 2026. Competition Day: Saturday, May 16th. Masterclass & Winners' Recital: Sunday, May 17th

Click to View the Piano Competition 2026 Flyer

Wells School of Music - West Chester University

Repertoire Requirements

  1. Two pieces from the standard solo literature (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, 20th or 21st Century)
  2. The two pieces must be from different periods (listed above). A single movement from a sonata or a suite is acceptable.
  3. Beginner level pieces, arrangements of pop songs and piano duets, and simplified arrangements of classical compositions will NOT be acceptable.
  4. Transcriptions composed by known classical composers from the five periods listed above are acceptable.
  5. Pieces requiring anything to be put inside the piano or on the strings are not acceptable.
  6. In the 16 -18 age group, an optional third piece may be added. A third piece must follow the guidelines in 1 - 5 above.
Age 16-18 13-15 9-12
Time Requirement Maximum 22 Minutes Maximum 17 minutes Maximum 12 minutes

Students are advised that the judges may stop anyone who exceeds the maximum playing time, and may stop any student whose skill level is sufficiently demonstrated before the conclusion of a piece.

Competition time assignments will be sent to all applicants the week of May 13, 2026.

Competition Guidelines

  • A $120 non-refundable entry fee is required
  • Music must be performed from memory
  • 1st Prize Winners from the previous years may compete only in the next older age group
  • Previous entrants may reapply, but not with the same pieces
  • No audition recordings required
  • Applicants must supply one publisher's copy of each of their pieces for the judges
  • No photocopies allowed for the judges
  • No repertoire changes will be permitted after May 7, 2026
  • Applicants must be within the given age ranges as of May 16, 2026, and may not be in college

Awards

16-18 Years Old

  • 1st Place - $2,000
  • 2nd Place - $700
  • 3rd Place - $300
  • Honorable Mention - $100

13-15 Years Old

  • 1st Place - $1,000
  • 2nd Place - $350
  • 3rd Place - $200
  • Honorable Mention - $75

9-12 Years Old

  • 1st Place - $500
  • 2nd Place - $250
  • 3rd Place - $150
  • Honorable Mention - $50

*Up to two Honorable Mention Awards in each age group will be given at the discretion of the judges

Competition Awardees

2025 West Chester University of Pennsylvania Pre-Collegiate, National Piano Competition Award Winners

16-18 Years Old

  • 1st Place: Richard Francis Martin
  • 2nd Place: Robert Johnston
  • 3rd Place: Benjamin Goertzen
  • Honorable Mention 1: Helena Kim
  • Honorable Mention 2: Vincent Gao

13-15 Years Old

  • 1st Place: Daniel Liu
  • 2nd Place: Averie Wu
  • 3rd Place: Richard Qian
  • Honorable Mention 1: Conan Yang
  • Honorable Mention 2: Fréderic Phelizon

9-12 Years Old

  • 1st Place: Jeremy Bird
  • 2nd Place: Brian Wu
  • 3rd Place: George Zhang
  • Honorable Mention 1: Fengtian Wang
  • Honorable Mention 2: Charlotte Li

How to Apply

Register online and pay with a credit card (Registration closes on April 6, 2026 at midnight).

For additional information regarding registration or competition guidelines, please contact Joan Stalford, Competition Operations Manager, at pianocompetition@wcupa.edu | 610-436-2921.

For further information about competition repertoire, please email to the Director of the Competition, Dr. Igor Resnianski, Assistant Professor of Piano.