RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE.

Semifinal  and Final Rounds will be held in late May and early June, 2026

Eight PianoArtists share over $34,000 in prizes, awards, a scholarship, performance opportunities, and PianoArts fellowships. During the competition, all perform with Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra musicians and other professional artists.  

Finalist Prizes
First place:  $20,000
Second place:$8,000
Third place:$4,000

Awards
Finalists and semifinalists may receive more than one award
as determined by the jury. 
Audience Communication
Best Performance of a North American Work Written After 1950 
Best Performance of a Duo with a Milwaukee Symphony violinist or cellist
Best Performance of a Composition by J. S. Bach
Best Performance of a Nocturne by Frédéric Chopin
Junior Jury Award
Gift of Music Award

Performances
Selected PianoArtists (finalists or semifinalists) will perform on
public radio and present paid concerts in Wisconsin, Illinois,
plus others, as they are arranged.

PianoArts Fellowships
Selected PianoArtists receive fellowships to return to Milwaukee to
perform for diverse audiences. Fellows receive stipends, all expenses
paid, with on-site training in “Programming and Creating New Audiences.”

All Fellows perform public concerts with professionals, who may be
actors, singers, dancers, and musicians from the Milwaukee
Symphony Orchestra.