Website: http://www.oci-piano.com/

Category: Piano
Date: February 23 to March 4, 2012
Country: France

Founded by Orléans Concours International, the competition has been running biennially since 1994 with the focus on repertoires from the twentieth centuries. The organization believes that young interpreters should serve the fascinating repertoire from 1900 to now, which are essence of creative minds from various fields. First prize winner will be invited to record an album, as well as to tour in France and abroad. Holding a fierce competition is never the aim of the event, but preserving a unique musical atmosphere. Previous laureates include Christopher Falzone, Florence Cioccolani, Wilhem Latchoumia, Francesco Tristano Schlimé and more.

Website: http://www.hhipc.org/

Category: Piano
Date: March 5 to 12, 2012
Country: United States

Established in 1996, the event is held biennially with a special dedication to promoting young music talents aged between 18 to 30. Located at the southern tip of South Carolina in America, the event also features a piano contest tailored for even younger prodigies aged 13 to 17 during every odd number years. Atop the cash prizes, a scholarship to the renowned Aspen Music Festival and School (Summer 2012) will also be awarded to the winner. Judged by a jury of seven, finalists are to perform set repertoires with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra. Previous winners of the competition have now begun to shine on stage as emerging young pianists, including Sean Kennard (Second Prize, 2003), Di Wu (First Prize, 2005), Konstantin Soukhovetski (Second Prize, 2002) and more.

Website: http://www.opus-yvelines.org/

Category: Piano
Date: May 6 to 12, 2012
Country: France

Created in 1999 by René Girard, the French literary critic who contributed greatly on anthropological philosophy, together with his daughter Christine Girard, the competition is held annually in the city of Maisons-Laffite. Taking place in this cultural city where the famous Château de Maisons-Laffite sits, the event is an assembly of emerging pianistic stars from around the globe. With a jury panel consisting of reputable figures appointed by the prominent pianist Anne Queffélec, the event’s world recognition is certainly enhanced. Past laureates include Jean-Frédéric Neuburger (1999 & 2000), Alexey Lebedev (2007) and Miyeon Lee (2011).

Website: http://www.gezaanda.ch/index.php?lang=eng&site=

Category: Piano
Date: June 2 to 12, 2012
Country: Switzerland

Founded in memeory of the late Hungarian pianist Géza Anda by his widow Hortense Anda-Bührle, the Concours Géza Anda is a triennial international piano competition taking place in Zürich, Switzerland. With the purpose of promoting new talents, laureates are awarded to pass on the musical spirit of Géza Anda with a three-year free concert management which can include up to 200 engagements. Past winners include Konstanze Eickhorst (1988), Alexei Volodin (2003) and Jinsang Lee (2009).

The 12th edition will feature a jury panel including Jonathan Nott, Professor Wolfgang Rathert, Andrea Bonatta, winner of the 2003 edition Alexei Volodin and more. Finalists will be invited to perform with the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra.

Website: http://www.schumannzwickau.de/

Category: Piano, Voice
Date: June 7 to 17, 2012
Country: Germany

Originated in 1956 on the 100th anniversary of Schumann’s death, the competition is one of the most authoritative platform in the world that promotes prominent interpreters of Schumann’s works. Located at various venues in the city of Zwickau where Schumann was born, the competition invites guests to stroll in the composer’s footprints and to encounter his music in concerts and other events. Held every four years featuring the disciplines of singing and the piano, the stage Robert Schumann contest has nurtured many important pianists and singers of our generation: Pavel Egorov, Mikhail Mordvinov, Mitsuko Shirai, Annette Dasch, Siegfried Lorenz, Matthias Görne are amongst the names of proud former laureates.

In the 2012 edition, the competition’s jury panels will include Konstanze Eickhorst (piano), Pavel Gililov (piano), Mitsuko Shirai (singing) together with other musician authorities who were past winners. Gold medalists will be invited to perform at some of the most famous music festivals in Germany and France.

Website: http://www.unisa.ac.za/default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=24966

Category: Piano
Date: January 19 to February 4, 2012
Country: South Africa

Established in 1982 by the Unisa Music Foundation- based in the famous mega university offering distance education, the event aims at promoting music in all its forms and expressions in South Africa. As the only accredited contest by World Federation of International Music Competitions (Geneva) on the African continent, the event has earned the reputation as Unisa’s foremost cultural showcase. Held in Pretoria, one of the capital cities in the north of Gauteng province, visitors can experience its unique ambience blending diverse cultures. First started as a piano competition, more disciplines such as vocal, strings and organ have gradually been included as well. Notable laureates include Marc-André Hamelin, Renée Fleming, Johan Botha, Kobie van Rensburg and Ben Schoeman.

Website: http://www.sipca.com.au/

Category: Piano
Date: July 5 to 21, 2012
Country: Australia

Website: http://claricesmithcenter.umd.edu/2010/c/kapell/

Category: Piano
Date: July 7 to 21, 2012
Country: United States

Website: http://www.santanderpianocompetition.com

Category: Piano
Date: July 25 to August 8, 2012
Country: Spain

Website: http://pianocompetition.org/

Category: Piano
Date: August 4 to 12, 2012
Country: Germany

The competition has been established biennially since 1988 in Ettlingen. Its aim is to provide a competitive stage for young pianists to perform a variety of repertoire ranging from the Baroque works to the modern ones. There are two categories, one for participants aged up to 15 and one for those up to 20. The first prize winner of the latter group will be invited to give a concert in Ettlingen, and additionally to perform piano recitals in Germany and France.