Kawai Music Competition started in 1968, and it will be the 49th time in 2016.  The number of participants has been increasing every year, and the competition has become one of the largest music competitions in Japan having over 20,000 contestants nowadays.  In its long history, the competition has fostered young musicians and many of them are active as first-class musicians today.

"S-course" is the highest course of Kawai Music Competition, which was newly established last year with the aim to find and nurture the pianists of next generation.  A large number of pianists from Japan and some Asian countries participated in this course in 2015, though it was the first year.  In 2016, the first round of S-course will be held in U.S.A., Germany and some other countries in order to find the talented pianists around the world.

2016 Kawai Music Competition, Piano Solo Section, S-course

Kawai Music Competition S-course is open to pianists who were born on and after
April 2, 1989 and on and before April 1, 1999.

Applicants must play (1) and (2) from memory and record them on DVD in DVD-video format.

1. (1)One piece from J.S. Bach: Well Tempered Clavier, Book 1 or Book 2
   *Contestant should play both Prelude and Fugue.
   *Repetitions should be omitted.
2. (2) One piece from Chopin: Etude Op. 10 or Op. 25

   Note:

   The video should be newly recorded for 2016 Kawai Music Competition and cannot be edited. Angle of camera should be fixed and applicant’s face, hands and pedals must be visible at the same time.
   [DVD-video format] A standard created by the DVD Forum, and digital video stored on a DVD disc in this format can be played on general DVD players. When viewed on PC or other devices, a DVD disk formatted in DVD-video contains folders, such as VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS, and the VIDEO_TS folder contains files like .IFO and .VOB.

Same as the preliminary round (Video).

The contestant must play (1) and (2) from memory.
Playing order of the pieces can be determined by the contestant.

1. (1)One piece from the followings.
   1. 1)C. Debussy :12 Etudes "11. Pour les arpeges composes"
   2. 2)M. Ravel :Miroirs "1. Noctuelles"
   3. 3)A. Scriabin :2 Danses, Op.73
   4. 4)A. Schönberg :6 Little Piano Pieces, Op.19
   5. 5)Atsutada Otaka :Rhapsodie pour Piano
2. (2)One sonata by the following composers (Playing time should be from 10 to 15 minutes).
   1) W.A. Mozart  2) L.v. Beethoven  3) F. Schubert
   *It is acceptable to play a) one movement, b) all movements, or c) selection of several movements.
   *Repetitions should be omitted except da capo and dal segno.

The contestant must make a program of his or her choice of pieces and play from memory.
(Total playing time should be from 30 to 40 minutes.)
  *There is no restriction about the number of pieces.
  *Pieces played at first round and semifinal round can be included in the program.
  *Selection of music and playing order of the pieces are to be evaluated.

• Pieces you submitted to the committee cannot be changed.
• If the playing time is shorter or longer than the specified time, it will be the cause of point deduction.
• Practice room should be arranged by the contestants.
• Entry fee cannot be refunded in any case.
• Prize winners will be required to perform at the Winner’s Concert to be held on August 6, 2016.
  The performance fee for the concert shall not be paid.
• The contestants must obtain the necessary visa to visit.
  If an invitation letter or any documents are required for the visa application, the applicant must request them to the secretariat in each area.
• Application materials will not be returned.
• Photography, audio and video recording are prohibited.
• All the performances, broadcasting rights, recording, filming and photography in the competition and concert which are related to the competition belong to Kawai Music Competition Committee. The contestant can’t claim the rights to them.

End of March, 2016
*DVD should reach to the secretariat of Kawai Music Competition Committee in each area no later than March 30, 2016.
*The result of preliminary round (Video) will be notified to each applicant by the beginning of April, 2016.

August 1-2, 2016

Kawai Omotesando Concert Salon "Pause"
5-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150-0001, Japan

August 5, 2016

Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall - Small Hall
2-3-6 Minato Mirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, 220-0012, Japan

August 6, 2016

Kawai Omotesando Concert Salon "Pause"
5-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150-0001, Japan

Hitoshi KOBAYASHI (Japan)

Pianist, Emeritus Professor at Tokyo University of the Arts, Chairman of Frédéric Chopin Society of Japan

Katsumi UEDA (Japan)

Pianist, Professor at Tokyo University of the Arts

Mamiko SUDA (Japan)

Pianist, Assistant Professor at Toho Gakuen College Music Department

Emiko HARIMOTO (Japan)

Pianist, Professor at Tokyo College of Music, Visiting Professor at Sophia University, Visiting Professor at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music

Andrey PISAREV (Russia) - Final Round Only -

Pianist, Chairman of Piano Division at Moscow Conservatory

Wojciech SWITALA (Poland)

Pianist, Professor at the Academy of Music in Katowice

Grand Prize

JPY300,000, Certificate of Commendation, Plaque

Gold Prize

JPY150,000, Certificate of Commendation, Plaque

Silver Prize

JPY100,000, Certificate of Commendation, Plaque

Bronze Prize

JPY50,000, Certificate of Commendation, Plaque

The grand prize winner will be offered various opportunities to promote his/her career by Kawai Music Competition Committee.

Preliminary Round (DVD) :

JPY3,000

First Round :

JPY25,000

Semifinal/Final Round :

Included in the above fee.

Applicants should complete online application and payment no later than March 25, 2016, and application materials (shown below) should reach to the secretariat of each area no later than March 30, 2016.

Only online application is accepted.

1. 1) Access a special page from “Application” tab at the top of this page and fill out the application form no later than March 25, 2016.
2. 2) Upload a photo data of high quality at the time of online application.
   * Photograph should be taken within from the front and upper body only.
   * Photograph should be taken within 6 months.
   * Photograph will be used on official website, official program and other promotional materials of the competition.
3. 3) Pay the application fee for Preliminary Round (DVD) by credit card according to the information to be provided by e-mail.
4. 4) Send the following materials to the secretariat in each area by air courier. They should arrive to the secretariat no later than March 30, 2016.
   1. (1) DVD for Preliminary Selection
   2. (2) A copy of official documents that contains the applicant’s name, nationality and date of birth
      (e.g. Passport).

First Round : All contestants are responsible for the travel expenses.
Semifinal/Final Round : The committee provide support for travel expenses specified below to the contestants travelling from the countries outside Japan.

● Contestants Currently residing in Asia JPY25,000 as air travel and domestic travel expense support.

● Contestants Currently residing outside of Asia JPY50,000 as air travel and domestic travel expense support.