Ann & Charles Eisemann International Young Artist Competition
FOR PIANO
Presented by the Richardson Symphony Orchestra
Unleash your talent and take a thrilling step in your musical journey with the Richardson Symphony Orchestra’s prestigious competition! Designed to spotlight and support emerging young artists, this is your chance to shine on a grand stage.
Calling all piano players: 2027 is your year! Join us for the exciting semi-final and final rounds on Saturday, January 16, 2027, at First United Methodist Church Richardson in Richardson, TX. Compete, connect, and perform with fellow aspiring musicians. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to elevate your career and inspire others with your passion and skill!
Experience the brilliance of tomorrow’s musical stars! Join us for an inspiring showcase as talented young piano performers compete for the Grand Prize of $5,000 and the incredible opportunity to perform with the Richardson Symphony Orchestra on March 6, 2027.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, January 16, 2027, at First United Methodist Church Richardson, 503 N US 75-Central Expressway, Richardson, TX. The semi-finals kick off at 9 a.m., with the thrilling final round starting at approximately 4 p.m.
This free event is open to the public—come witness the exceptional skill and passion of emerging artists as they light up the stage!
Eligibility
- Open to pianists aged 14 to 27 as of January 16, 2027.
- Professional and pre-professional musicians, including students and those with advanced music degrees, are encouraged to apply.
- International participants must obtain a visa to enter the United States.
- Previous first-place winners and current students of this year’s jury panel are ineligible.
- The first-place winner must be available for rehearsals on March 5 & 6, 2027, and the performance on March 6, 2027
Fees & Application
- Applications are completed online. A completed submission includes the competition’s online form, a valid URL link to an unedited video of a concerto performance from memory (the concerto on video must be the same concerto you intend to perform in the semi-final round), a resume or curriculum vitae, and a non-refundable entry fee of $100.
- Note: For semifinalists, an additional $175 accompanist fee will be required and payment must be received by December 20, 2026.
Timeline
- Application Opens: August 1, 2026, at Noon CT
- Application Deadline: November 16, 2026, by 5 pm CT
- Notification of Semi-Finalist Selection: December 2, 2026
- Semi-Finalist Rehearsal: January 15, 2027 (9 am – 5 pm CT)
- Semi-Final Round: January 16, 2027 (starting at 9 am CT)
- Final Round: January 16, 2027 (starting approx. 4 pm CT)
- First Place Winner’s Concert: March 5 & 6 (Rehearsal), March 6, 2027 (Performance)
Competition Repertoire
- Competitors must perform from memory all movements of a major concerto (or similar large work for piano and orchestra).
- Excluded Repertoire for 2027 competition:
- Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major, Op. 102
- Ravel: Piano Concerto in G major
- No substitutions or changes are allowed once the application is submitted.
Awards & Concert
First Prize:
- $5,000 Cash Award
- Concerto performance with the Richardson Symphony Orchestra on March 6, 2027
- Flight & Hotel Accommodations (up to 2 nights) for travel during the March rehearsal and performance (March 5th & 6th.)
Second Prize:
- $2,000 Cash Award
Third Prize:
- $1,000 Cash Award
Audition Submission
- Submit an unedited video of a standard concerto (or similar large work for piano and orchestra), including all movements, performed from memory.
- Upload your video to YouTube or Vimeo, including your name and repertoire (composer and title) in the title or description. This link must be included with your online application. ONLINE APPLICATION HERE: http://bit.ly/4woX2bf
- A resume or curriculum vitae.
- Competitors will be notified by email about their acceptance into the semi-final round by December 2, 2026.
Accompanist (semi-final & final rounds)
- For the in-person semi-final and final rounds, the RSO provides a professional accompanists for a fee of $175. This includes a one-hour rehearsal the day before the semi-final round and an accompaniment during the competition.
- Semi-finalists must mail an original piano score (no photocopies) for the accompanist to use during the rehearsal and performance.
- If a competitor withdraws after December 20, 2026, the accompanist fee is forfeited.
General Information
- Round 1 preliminary online submissions are judged on technical proficiency, musicianship, repertoire, and stage presence by professionally qualified musicians in the RSO’s artistic team.
- Round 2 is in-person and consists of a Semi-Final and Final round, judged by nationally recognized master teachers, and is open to the public.
- Semi-finalists will receive 30 minutes to warm-up before their scheduled audition time.
- Three finalists will be announced after the Semi-Final round, with the Final round begins shortly after the judges deliberate.
- Judges may choose not to declare a winner if performance standards are not met. All decisions by the judges are final.
- Participants are responsible for their food, travel, and lodging costs for all competition rounds (semi-final and final).
- For additional questions, email Laurie Garvie, Executive Director & President, at lgarvie@richardsonsymphony.org
Past Recipients
Winners of the 2026 Ann & Charles Eisemann International Young Artists Competition held on January 11, 2026
Winners of the 2019 Ann & Charles Eisemann International Young Artists Competition held on January 29, 2022
Left to right: Judge Paul Schenly (Cleveland Institute of Music); Judge Jerome Lowenthal (The Juilliard School); 3rd place, Young Sun Choi (University of Indiana, Jacobs School of Music); 2nd place, Scott Sherman (Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music); Simon Karakulidi (Park University); RSO Music Director / Conductor Clay Couturiaux.
Simon Karakulidi performed with the RSO at our March 2, 2019 concert.
Winners of the 2018 Ann & Charles Eisemann International Young Artists Competition held on January 29, 2022
Front row: 2nd place, Nathan Le (Harvard University / New England Conservatory of Music); 3rd place, Isaiah Kim (Strath Haven High School); 1st place, Aaron Olguin (University of North Texas.) Back row: RSO Music Director / Conductor, Clay Couturiaux; Judge Anthony Elliott (University of Michigan); Judge William Fedkenheuer (Miro Quartet, University of Texas at Austin.)
Aaron Olguin performed with the RSO at our March 3, 2018 concert.
Winners of the 2017 Ann & Charles Eisemann International Young Artists Competition held on January 29, 2022
Judge Alexandre Moutouzkine; Judge Nelita True; second place winner, Ximei Xiao (Professional Children’s School in New York); first place winner, Iskandar Mamadaliev (middle school student, studying with Stanislav Ioudenitch); third place winner, Mi Ou Lee (University of Kansas); Maestro Clay Couturiaux.
Iskandar performed with the RSO at the March 4, 2017 concert.