REPERTORY AND ROUNDS
The 2026 North American Competition
will Consist of Three Separate Rounds

Round I.Preliminary Video Recital (all applicants)
Round II. Semifinal Solo Recital (eight semifinalists)
Semifinal Duo Recital (eight semifinalists)
Round III. Final Round with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (three finalists)

All compositions must be performed by memory, except the duo (see below). 

I. Preliminary Video Round (all applicants)
The video recording must include:

1.  One complete concerto (selected from the list below).
2. Two solos, totaling no more than 30 minutes, selected
from contrasting periods. (Baroque, classical,
romantic, or a work composed after 1950.)

Please ensure that all recordings contain the highest quality audio recording. This round is a blind audition.  Click here for PianoArts video recording requirements.  

THE CONCERTO 
Contestants must choose one concerto from the following list. The
same concerto must be performed in the preliminary and final rounds;
changes are not permitted.

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZARTAny work, except Köchel 37, 39, 40, 41
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVENConcerto No. 1 in C major, Opus 15
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVENConcerto No. 2 in B-Flat major Opus 19
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVENConcerto No. 3 in C minor, Opus 37
FELIX MENDELSSOHNConcerto No. 1 in G minor, Opus 25
FELIX MENDELSSOHN Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Opus 40
ROBERT SCHUMANNConcerto in A minor, Opus 54
CÉSAR FRANCKSymphonic Variations
EDVARD GRIEGConcerto in A minor, Opus 16
CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNSConcerto No. 2 in G minor, Opus 22
MAURICE RAVELConcerto in G major
SERGE PROKOFIEVConcerto No. 1 in D-flat major, Opus 10
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICHConcerto No. 2 in F major, Opus 102
FLORENCE PRICEConcerto in D minor in One Movement<

All competitors also will perform their concertos in a public workshop, with conductor and MSO chamber ensemble, after the conclusion of the semifinal rounds. The concerto workshop is not adjudicated.

II. Solo and Duo Recitals (eight semifinalists)
Refer to the prize page for information on Solo performance awards
Solos may be entire works or movements

1. Two Recitals with a maximum total time of 45 minutes each comprise
the semifinal round. Timing includes applause. speaking, and staging.
2. The Solo Recital must include a North America composition written
after 1950. Five minutes of the program should be devoted to playing
musical examples and speaking about the music. The works can be
performed in any order.
The Duo Recital must include a duo for piano with violin or cello from
the listing below. Up to ten minutes must be used to introduce your
MSO partner, perform musical examples, and speak about the music.
(Pianists must use scores. Page turners will be available.)
3. The Semifinal Recitals must include a work from the following
categories.These works may appear in any order in one or across both
recital programs. 

Required Repertory
One work from the classical period
One nocturne by Frédéric Chopin
One work written by a North American composer after 1950
One work written by a composer from a traditionally
under-represented group
(This may be the same piece as the North American work.)

Optional Repertory
A work by Johann Sebastian Bach. (Competitors who perform a work
by Bach will be considered for the Bach prize of $2,000. Only works
written originally for the keyboard are eligible for the prize.)

Contestants may perform works of their choice after all of the
requirements have been met. They must speak briefly about their reasons or the choice pieces.

THE DUO 
Contestants must choose either a violin or cello duo and two alternates.

SONATAS WITH VIOLIN (all movements)
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZARTSonata No. 22 in A major, Köchel 305
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZARTSonata No. 32 in B-flat major, Köchel 454
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVENSonata in D major, Opus 12/1
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVENSonata No. 2 in A major, Opus 12, No. 2
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVENSonata No. 4 in A minor, Opus 23, No. 4
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVENSonata No. 8 in G major, Opus 30, No. 3
ROBERT SCHUMANNSonata No. 1 in A minor, Opus 105
JOHANNES BRAHMSSonata No. 2 in A major, Opus 100
JOHANNES BRAHMSSonata No. 3 in D minor, Opus 108

SONATAS WITH CELLO (all movements)
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVENSonata No. 1 in F major, Opus 5, No. 1
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVENSonata No. 2 in G minor, Opus 5, No. 2
JOHANNES BRAHMSSonata No. 1 in E minor, Opus 38
CLAUDE DEBUSSYSonate pour violoncelle et piano, L. 137
EDVARD GRIEGSonata in A minor, Opus 36
DIMITRI SHOSTAKOVIHSonata in D minor, Opus 40

III. Concerto Round (finalists)
Finalists will perform their complete concros with th
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.

For information on eligibility, judging policies, requirements, and fees, please visit Rules and Procedues