Pearl River Piano Group, the world’s leading piano manufacturer, recently announced that the Kayserburg International Youth Piano Competition will now be open to pianists in the U.S. who will compete for a top prize all-expenses-paid trip to the finals in Guangzhou, China from November 12 to 15, 2021.
Held every two years since 1983, the Pearl River · Kayserburg International Youth Piano Competition is currently the world’s largest with over 100,000 participants. For 2021 there will be ten participating host countries under Overseas Group: the United States, Canada, Philippines, Singapore, Australia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Ecuador, Poland, and Iran.
The competition features two categories, the Student Group, ages 13 to 16, and the Open Group for pianists from age 17 to 32. The competitors will submit three video performances of contrasting pieces from different composers totaling a maximum of 12 minutes.
The first prize for the Student Group is a Kayserburg Excellent Series Upright KX1, while the Open Group winners will receive either a Kayserburg Heritage Series Grand GH160 or a Kayserburg Artist Series Grand KA160. Top prizes include cash prizes, and all winners will also receive a certificate and trophy.
This year, the host dealerships are Skelley Piano in University Place, Washington, Grand Piano Haus in Skokie, Illinois, Ethan Dong/Opus119 School & Foundation in Irvine, California and Loewen Piano House in Vancouver, Canada. Information and applications can be obtained from all four.
“Pearl River launched the Kayserburg International Youth Piano Competition to support ongoing development in performing arts in general, and to promote music education in the new era,” said Pearl River’s Global Director of Sales & Marketing Leng Tshua. “We encourage learning enthusiasm and supporting a new generation of young artists.”
Established in 1956, Pearl River Piano Group has become the largest piano manufacturer in the world with a global market share of over 30%, producing over 150,000 pianos a year under the Pearl River, Ritmüller, and Kayserburg names.