Cliburn International Competition for Young Pianists 2027

The Cliburn's competition for pianists aged 13 to 17 (born between 19 June 2009 and 7 June 2014) runs 10 to 19 June 2027 in Dallas, in partnership with Southern Methodist University and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. It's built as a full career-stage showcase: competitors advance through a preliminary round, two semifinal phases and a final performed with the orchestra, so success here means weeks of visibility in front of a professional audience, not a single afternoon's judging.

Applying costs a non-refundable $125 and means submitting a 15-to-20-minute video — recorded within the previous six months, unedited, with your face and hands visible throughout — covering a virtuosic etude, a movement from a Classical-era sonata, and a slow, lyrical work. The preliminary programme itself mixes required pieces (a Bach Prelude and Fugue, a jury-approved etude, a nocturne or equivalent) with free choice; later rounds add specified concerto movements performed with a Cliburn-provided pianist and, in the final, the Dallas Symphony.

Selected competitors are fully supported: housing, meals, local transport and a round-trip economy flight to Dallas are covered, alongside prize money and scholarships (amounts are published separately on the Cliburn site, not on the application page) earmarked for continued musical training. A confidential committee narrows the field to 12 semifinalists and 6 finalists. The deadline is 17 November 2026 at 11:59pm Central; late applications aren't accepted.