calendar
Cleveland International Piano Competition 2024 banner

Competition Repertoire

NB: You may choose select pieces from your pre-screening repertoire to perform during the in-person rounds. However, you may not repeat more than one piece from your pre-screening round per in-person program. For example, if you recorded piece X and piece Y, you can play piece X in the First Round and piece Y in the Quarter-Final Round, but you cannot play both piece X and piece Y in a single program.

First Round

  1. Contestants will prepare two 25-30 minute programs of music that feature diverse styles.
    1. There may be overlap in composer/style between the two programs, but the programs should remain distinct.
      1. For example, contestants may have Program A feature Mozart and Rachmaninoff, and Program B also feature Mozart, but it must be paired with something that is not late Romantic.
      2. Why do we ask this? The First Round Jury wants to see how contestants create programming when given the flexibility to build two unique short recital programs.
    2. The First Round Jury will inform you of which program you will perform by one month before your performance date.
  2. Contestants will also have a short conversation with the First Round Jury regarding their programs, career goals and how the CIPC can help to achieve them.
    1. Conversations will be held in English, but contestants will not be judged on their English language proficiency.

Quarter-Final Round

  1. 35-40 minute solo recital of free repertoire with at least two pieces of diverse styles
    1. Featured genres and styles must be distinct from Semi-Final Repertoire.
    2. In either the Quarter-Final or Semi-Final Round, contestants are required to play a work by a composer from a traditionally underrepresented background. This composer may be from the contestant’s origin country if that country is not well represented in the Western Art Music canon. Contestants selections will be subject to review by competition leaders.
    3. Need help finding repertoire? Check out these resources from the Yale School of Music!
  2. One piano duo transcription, to be performed at the Opening Ceremony on Sunday, July 28. This will be part of the judging process but will not be weighted as heavily as Quarter-Final performances.

Semi-Final Round

  1. 25-30 minute solo recital of free repertoire
    1. Featured genres and styles must be distinct from Quarter-Final Repertoire
    2. In either the Quarter-Final or Semi-Final Round, contestants are required to play a work by a composer from a traditionally underrepresented background. This composer may be from the contestant’s origin country if that country is not well represented in the Western Art Music canon. Contestants selections will be subject to review by competition leaders.
  2. Piano Trio selected from the below:

BEETHOVEN

  • Trio in E-flat Major, Op. 1, No. 1
  • Trio in D Major, Op. 70, No. 1 (“Ghost”)

BRAHMS

  • Trio No. 1 in B Major, Op. 8
  • Trio No. 2 in C Major, Op. 87
  • Trio No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 101

MENDELSSOHN

  • Trio No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 49

SCHUBERT

  • Trio No. 1 in B-flat Major, D. 898
  • Trio No. 2 in E-flat Major, D. 929

All trios should be performed without repeats in the 1st movement

Final Round

  1. Salon Round of 45 – 60 min solo recital with speaking.
    1. Program should weave together performances and speaking to tell the story of your recital. Speaking may include introductions of specific pieces or composers, a personal narrative, or other descriptive language. Speaking should be done in English; if this is not possible, Piano Cleveland will provide a translator in the contestant’s language.
  2. Concerto Final Round with The Cleveland Orchestra
    1. Contestants will submit two choices for their concerto round of contrasting styles. The jury will choose which concerto each contestant will play. Contestants will be informed of their choice when they learn if they are a Finalist (Sunday, August 4).
    2. Contestants may choose from the following concerto choices:

BACH

      • Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, BWV 1052
      • Concerto No. 2 in E Major, BWV 1053
      • Concerto No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1054
      • Concerto No. 4 in A Major, BWV 1055
      • Concerto No. 5 in F Minor, BWV 1056

BEACH

      • Piano Concerto in C-sharp Minor, Op. 45

BEETHOVEN

      • Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15
      • Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op. 19
      • Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37
      • Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58
      • Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73

BRAHMS

      • Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 15
      • Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op. 83

CHOPIN

      • Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 11
      • Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 21

GRIEG

      • Concerto in A Minor, Op. 16

HAYDN

      • Concerto No. 11 in D Major, Hob. XVIII/11

MENDELSSOHN

      • Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 25
      • Concerto No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 40

MOZART

      • Concerto No. 11 in F Major, K. 413
      • Concerto No. 12 in A Major, K. 414
      • Concerto No. 13 in C Major, K. 415
      • Concerto No. 14 in E-flat Major, K. 449
      • Concerto No. 17 in G Major, K. 453
      • Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, K. 466
      • Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467
      • Concerto No. 24 in C Minor, K. 491
      • Concerto No. 25 in C Major, K. 503
      • Concerto No. 27 in B-flat Major, K. 595

PRICE

      • Concerto in D Minor

PROKOFIEV

      • Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26

RACHMANINOFF

      • Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18
      • Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 30

SAINT-SAËNS

      • Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22

C. SCHUMANN

      • Concerto in A Minor, Op. 7

R. SCHUMANN

      • Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54

TCHAIKOVSKY

      • Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor, Op. 23
  1. Gala performances of single piece, 5-7 min
    1. Finalists will perform as part of the Piano Cleveland Bravo Piano Gala from Sunday, August 11 – Wednesday, August 14. Each Finalist will play a short piece and speak briefly about the impact of their CIPC experience.