Congratulations to all participants!
2024 WINNERS
Primary
1st: Abby Wang
2nd: Lucas White
3rd: Kaylin Soledner
4th: Jamison Ye
Elementary
1st: Angelina Ye
2nd: Eva Zhu
3rd: Joseph Shevchenko
4th: Eleanor Kiser
Intermediate
1st: Ezra Szobody
2nd: Victoria Staples
3rd Tie: Neil Dembla
3rd Tie: Arabella Nienaber
4th: Lucas Cheng
Early Advanced
1st: Joseph Liu
2nd: Nathaniel Ianc
3rd Tie: Olyvia Fan
3rd Tie: Christopher Rajagopal
4th: Hasset Ayalew
Advanced
1st: Zhanshuo Zhang
2nd: Henry Sun
3rd: Roger Luo
4th: Troy Harper
Watch the 2024 Asheville Piano Competition Winners’ Recital
The Asheville AREA piano FORUM
In Partnership with
The Eric Anderson Weigel Memorial Fund
Beacon Pointe Advisors
Adlai and Karen Boyd
The Donald Shafer Jettas Memorial Fund
Mars Hill University
O. Wayne Smith
Asheville Piano Competition
The Asheville Piano Competition occurs every spring at Mars Hill University. Participation is open to students through 12th grade of high school who study with a teaching member of the Asheville Area Piano Forum. Both Students and teachers must reside within a 75-mile radius of Asheville, NC. The Competition’s purpose is to offer young pianists the opportunity to perform in a professional and encouraging atmosphere and to receive written evaluations from outstanding professionals in piano pedagogy.
Competition’s Purpose
To offer young pianists the opportunity to be evaluated by outstanding professionals in piano pedagogy. All contestants will receive written evaluations and certificates of participation.
Eligibility
Open to pre-college students, 19 and under, whose teachers are members of the Asheville Area Piano Forum. Both teachers and competing students must reside within a 75-mile radius of Asheville, NC.
Entry Levels
Teachers may enter up to 4 students in each placement level.
There are five levels of placement:
Primary
Elementary
Intermediate
Early Advanced
Advanced
A placement level is determined by the difficulty of the piece as determined by the competition committee.
Repertoire
One solo piece is performed, chosen from any period in the classical repertoire. Contest selections will be reviewed by repertoire specialists from the competition committee for correct placement level. If a change of level is required, teachers will be notified by the competition chairperson. A list of repertoire examples by level is here.
Application Procedures and Calendar for 2024
3/18 - 3/31 New in ‘24: Review of Competition Pieces Selected by Teachers. This year the Repertoire Review Committee will look over the list of compositions teachers plan to have students play in the competition. Teachers must suggest the level they believe is appropriate for the pieces they submit. The Review committee will approve the level or let the teacher know if the piece must be placed at a different level. All pieces must be reviewed.
3/25 - 4/10 Application period for all competitors.
4/10 Notification date for any students who must participate in a virtual video round. If there are more than 10 students applying in any one level of difficulty, a video round will take place for those students.
4/10 - 4/17 Period of video submissions, should they be necessary for any level. Information about the submission procedures will be sent to those students and teachers who are affected.
4/18 - 4/24 Period of Virtual Judging.
4/25 Notification to Student and Teachers of any Virtual Judging results. The 10 students with the highest scores in a level of the virtual round will advance to the in-person competition.
4/27 Last day Notification is made of Competition Times for competitors.
5/4 Asheville Piano Competition Day at Mars Hill University. Reception for all competitors, families, and teachers 2:30-3:30 PM. Winners Recital and Awards Ceremony begins at approximately 3:30.
Reception, Awards, and Winners Recital
Following the end of adjudications: Please join us in the Fellowship Hall adjoining the Broyhill Chapel for a reception between 2:30 – 3:30 while we await contest results.
The Winners Recital will begin at about 3:30 PM in Broyhill Chapel. All are welcome to attend. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place winners will perform in the recital and will receive their awards.
Awards
*The First Place Winner in the Advanced Level of the competition receives the following awards:
Eric Anderson Weigel Memorial Prize of $200.
Invitation to perform in one of the AAPF Benefit Concerts in the following season.
The Donald Shafer Jettas Memorial Award of $1,000, given to encourage the winner to pursue further music study.
If there is more than one 1st Place Advanced Winner in any year, the $1,000 will be shared by the number of students tied for that place.
Application and Entry Fee
Note: Teachers and Applicants are responsible for knowledge of the Rules found here.
Entry Fee per student: $25.00
Application: here
Asheville Piano Competition Judges
May 4th Judges:
David Brickle
Polly Feitzinger
Catherine Garner
Michaela Kovacova
O. Wayne Smith
Teresa Sumpter
Virtual Judges:
