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Piano
Competition
The inaugural Ralph Votapek International Young Artist Piano Competition will make its auspicious debut in the summer of 2025, honoring the exceptional career of its namesake with jurors from the esteemed piano faculty at Michigan State University (MSU). The competition is open to gifted young pianists from all over the world aged 14 through 18. With a prize pool of over $10,000 plus scholarship consideration, the competition will be one of the largest international junior piano competitions of its kind.
Following screening by the jurors of all applications that include video performance submissions, the field of competitors will be narrowed to approximately 10 semi-finalists who will be invited to MSU to compete for top prizes. Held in Cook Recital Hall of the Music Building on the beautiful north campus of MSU, semi-finalists will spend four days in the MSU College of Music community with access to concert-quality pianos, and state-of-the-art practice rooms and facilities in the Billman Music Pavilion. The semi-final round will be held on August 15th, and finalists will be chosen to compete on August 17th. Those semi-finalists not advancing to the final round will be invited to participate in masterclasses with members of the jury on August 16th.
For more information, browse the below informational sections.
You may also learn more about Ralph Votapek and the piano faculty members in the MSU College of Music Keyboard Area who will be jurors of the competition.
The semifinal and final rounds of competition will be held live onsite August 14-17, 2025.
The Michigan State University College of Music, Music Building, 333 West Circle Drive, East Lansing Michigan. Competitor performances will be open to the public and held in Cook Recital Hall.
Learn more about the City of East Lansing, Michigan State University, Michigan’s capital city, and the greater Lansing community.
Candidates must submit a video recording of their performance. All completed candidate submissions will be reviewed by jurors, and candidates will receive notification of their status by approximately May 15.
The Ralph Votapek International Young Artist Piano Competition welcomes pianists of all nationalities and backgrounds. In consultation with your teacher, we encourage artists who are seeking to elevate their profile and gain professional and competitive experience in classical piano to apply.
Competitors are eligible to apply if they are aged 14 through and including 18 as of the competition dates.
Applicants must not be enrolled in a college music program at the time of the competition.
The panel of jurors will consist of piano faculty from the Keyboard Area of the MSU College of Music for all three rounds. Final competition prizes totaling $11,500 will be awarded.
• The Janet Nine First Prize: $5,000
• Second Prize: $3,000
• Third Prize: $2,000
• Best Performance of a Classical Work: $500
(Sponsored by Michael and Paula Koppisch)
• Best Performance of a Romantic Work: $500
(Sponsored by Michael and Paula Koppisch)
• Audience Prize: $500
(Sponsored by Michael and Paula Koppisch)
• All invited participants will be considered for a scholarship to Michigan State University pending acceptance from the MSU College of Music Admissions.
• Jury decisions are final and are not open to appeal.
Preliminary competition round: Held via video recording submitted with supplemental application materials (see the repertoire requirements listed on the Application Procedures page). Approximately 10 semifinalists will be chosen.
Semifinal and final competition rounds: Live and onsite at the MSU College of Music. The semifinal will be held on August 15th, and the final will be held on August 17th (times to be announced). See the competition repertoire on the Selected Finalists drawer for details about what will be judged for the performances.
Competition piano: Competitors will perform on a concert-quality Steinway Model D instrument.
Piano tryout and final competitor order: Each competitor will get 15 minutes to familiarize themselves with the Steinway Model D piano in Cook Recital Hall on Aug. 14th. Drawing for performance order will take place the evening of Aug. 14.
Masterclasses: Jury members will conduct masterclasses on Aug. 16th for competitors that do not advance to the final round.
Practice facilities: Competitors will have access to practice rooms in the new state-of-the-art facilities of the Billman Music Pavilion of the MSU College of Music.
Competitor arrival and departure dates: Competitors must arrive by Aug. 14th. The competition concludes on Aug. 17th.
Travel: Competitors are recommended to fly into Detroit Metro Airport (DTW). The Michigan Flyer (coach-quality bus) to East Lansing or a ride-sharing service such as Uber or Lyft are recommended to get from Detroit to East Lansing. Detroit International Airport is approximately a 1 hour and 30 minute drive from East Lansing. Limited connector flights to Lansing’s Capital Region airport are also available. Competitors are responsible for their travel costs and are responsible for acquiring a visa for travel to the United States if necessary.
Accommodations: Competitors are responsible for any cost associated with their accommodations. Several hotels are within walking distance of the College of Music, such as the Marriott and the Graduate Hotel.
Transportation within East Lansing: East Lansing is a very walkable community and given the proximity to campus, it is recommended that competitors choose the Marriott or Graduate Hotels. Alternatively, Uber, Lyft, and the CATA bus transportation system are convenient modes of transportation within the East Lansing community.
Click here to submit your application for the competition.
A fee of $150.00 USD is required for submission. Follow the steps in your online application to submit your payment.
The application form can be updated as needed, but ALL FINAL MATERIALS must be submitted by April 15.
Only fully complete applications will be considered.
Video: The preliminary video should consist of at least three works not to exceed 30 minutes.
Repertoire: Applicants must include at least one movement of a Classical sonata (Clementi, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven) and a significant work or group of works from the Romantic period. Other work/s are free choice. Only solo repertoire will be accepted, no concerti or chamber performances.
Performance: Applicants are required to perform from memory.
Recording Instructions: Video should be shot by a fixed camera with hands clearly visible at all times. Recording individual pieces and movements separately is acceptable, but the editing of individual takes is not allowed.
Questions?
Please email Dr. Eric Zuber at zubereri@msu.edu if you have questions about the application process.
The panel of jurors will consist of faculty from the Keyboard Area of the MSU College of Music.