The 2026/2027 National Concerto Competition is open to all pianists aged 25 years and under. The venue for the preliminaries and final is The Piano, 156 Armagh Street, Christchurch.
The competition will differ slightly from the traditional format. Pianists will be invited to apply anytime from 20th July 2026 to the closing date of 16th October 2026. NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Rehearsals will begin on Monday 7th December 2026 and possibly go through to Tuesday 8th December 2026 (morning only), The preliminary section of the competition will begin on Tuesday 8th (afternoon and evening only) and go through to Wednesday 9th December 2026 (morning only). Each contestant will be given up to 20 minutes to play their particular concerto.
Following the preliminary rounds, four finalists will be selected to perform again, this time for up to 30 minutes, with an accompanying pianist. The winner will be announced and be invited to perform with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra as part of the CSO Lamb & Hayward Masterworks series to be held in Christchurch Town Hall on Saturday 20th March 2027. The full programme and conductor for this concert will be announced at a later date.
The adjudicators for the 2026/2027 National Concerto Competition are:
Michael Houstoun renowned New Zealand pianist and patron of the National Concerto Competition.
There is a second adjudicator to be confirmed.
Discover the full list of previous winners of the Competition in our archive.
2026/2027
Piano
The Adjudicators
Michael Houstoun
Renowned New Zealand pianist, winner of the National Concerto Competition in 1971 and now patron of the competition.
Ian Munro
Pianist/composter and music educator based in Melbourne
1.
The competition for 2026/2027 is open to Instrumental players, who are under the age of 25 years on 31st December 2026. Competitors will be either New Zealand citizens; persons having resided in New Zealand for over one year or overseas students studying in New Zealand for the 2026 current academic year. Please note the following:
2.
That if you become a “Winner of the National Concerto Competition” you are not eligible to enter the competition again.
3.
That a “Finalist may re-enter the National Concerto Competition” but must select an alternative work.
4.
To enter the competition please click the "enter now" tab. The non-refundable entry fee of $200.00 (includes GST) can be paid via online banking to Payee Name: The Christchurch Civic Music Council National Concerto Competition Trust - Account Number: 38/ 9010/ 0480141/ 00 – please put full name in reference. This must be received at the time of entering the competition. Please note when transferring the money to our account you must use the competition's full name (as stated above). As you will be aware most banks have introduced a checking system.
5.
At the discretion of the adjudicators, the following awards will be made:
6.
First prize: $10,000.00
Second prize: $5,000.00
Third prize: $2,500.00
Fourth prize: $1,500.00
Second prize: $5,000.00
Third prize: $2,500.00
Fourth prize: $1,500.00
7.
Competitors may nominate any concerto of their choice with the proviso that the National Concerto Competition Trustees will have the right to discuss repertoire choice with a contestant on the grounds of practicality. Factors could include composition length, the size of the orchestra required, unusual instrumentation of the orchestral score and costs of parts/royalties. If you have doubts as to the suitability of your choice, we recommend that you seek at an early stage the opinion of the Trustees before submitting your entry. Please direct communications to the Secretary – email: secretary@musiccanterbury.co.nz. Competitors may not change their nominated concerto once their entry has been accepted.
8.
Competitors choosing one of the nominated accompanists on the entry form must have paid the $150.00 fee (which entitles them to 1 x half hour rehearsal and the performance) no later than 9th November 2026, direct to their accompanist, the entrant’s score must accompany this payment. Please make sure you organise payment with your accompanist and pay promptly. If copying music for the Accompanist it is preferred if this was bound, with double-sided pages.
Music score - you need to supply one original music score and one copy. Please make sure the copy is spiral bound and easy for the adjudicator to read. This does not have to be a full orchestral score, it can be two piano versions.
Music score - you need to supply one original music score and one copy. Please make sure the copy is spiral bound and easy for the adjudicator to read. This does not have to be a full orchestral score, it can be two piano versions.
9.
During the preliminaries of the competition contestants are encouraged to have one support person accompany them to the rehearsal rooms at The Piano.
10.
The Competition will be held in two stages:
Stage One: A half-hour rehearsal with your accompanist will be arranged at The Piano, 156 Armagh Street, Christchurch on Monday 7th December 2026 and Tuesday 8th December 2026 (morning only). Please ensure you arrive at least 15 minutes before your allotted rehearsal time in order to begin punctually. Preliminary sessions will be held on Tuesday 8th December 2026 (afternoon and evening session) and Wednesday 9th December 2026 (morning only). The number of sessions will depend on the number of entries received. Actual dates and times will be decided following the closing date for entries and competitors will be duly notified.
Stage Two: A final of four performers recalled by the adjudicators will be held following the conclusion of the preliminary sessions. The final will be held on Wednesday 9th December 2026, 7.00 p.m. at The Piano with piano accompaniment. The winner will be announced and be invited to perform with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra as part of the CSO Lamb & Hayward Masterworks series to be held in the Christchurch Town Hall on Saturday 20th March 2027. The full programme and conductor for this concert will be announced at a later date.
Stage One: A half-hour rehearsal with your accompanist will be arranged at The Piano, 156 Armagh Street, Christchurch on Monday 7th December 2026 and Tuesday 8th December 2026 (morning only). Please ensure you arrive at least 15 minutes before your allotted rehearsal time in order to begin punctually. Preliminary sessions will be held on Tuesday 8th December 2026 (afternoon and evening session) and Wednesday 9th December 2026 (morning only). The number of sessions will depend on the number of entries received. Actual dates and times will be decided following the closing date for entries and competitors will be duly notified.
Stage Two: A final of four performers recalled by the adjudicators will be held following the conclusion of the preliminary sessions. The final will be held on Wednesday 9th December 2026, 7.00 p.m. at The Piano with piano accompaniment. The winner will be announced and be invited to perform with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra as part of the CSO Lamb & Hayward Masterworks series to be held in the Christchurch Town Hall on Saturday 20th March 2027. The full programme and conductor for this concert will be announced at a later date.
11.
In the first stage, competitors shall be required to play, with piano accompaniment, one or two movements, or parts thereof, from the concerto of their choice. The performance must not exceed twenty minutes, and the portion of the work should, if possible, include a cadenza and part, at least, of a slow movement so that the competitor may demonstrate his/her ability in performing a variety of moods.
As a result of adjudicator input, we ask all contestants to make every effort to keep music cuts to a minimum. Also, with a performing time limit of twenty minutes it is important not to present music from more than two movements. Three movements are not acceptable. In the event that the whole concerto is less than twenty minutes total duration, it is expected that the competitor will perform the entire concerto.
In the second stage, if you become one of the four finalists, you may extend your performance up to 30 minutes at your own discretion.
As a result of adjudicator input, we ask all contestants to make every effort to keep music cuts to a minimum. Also, with a performing time limit of twenty minutes it is important not to present music from more than two movements. Three movements are not acceptable. In the event that the whole concerto is less than twenty minutes total duration, it is expected that the competitor will perform the entire concerto.
In the second stage, if you become one of the four finalists, you may extend your performance up to 30 minutes at your own discretion.
12.
For the first stage competitors will be notified of the day and time allotted to them. No alteration will be permitted to the order of performance except for unexpected or exceptional circumstances. However, in the event of late withdrawals, the time of performance may be altered within the same day.
13.
Competitors must report to the Reception area at least 45 minutes prior to their time of performance.
14.
The selection and number of adjudicators for all stages of the competition shall be entirely at the discretion of the National Concerto Competition Executive. Competitors shall not communicate with the adjudicators. In all stages of the competition, the decision of the adjudicators shall be final and subject to no appeal.
15.
The National Concerto Competition Trust will not accept any responsibility for any accident, loss or injury which may occur to any competitor or to his/her property whether arising out of negligence or otherwise at any time in relation to the competition. Nor shall anything contained or implied in these rules be deemed to create a relationship of employer and employee between the National Concerto Competition Trust and the competitor, and it is a condition of entry that all competitors release the National Concerto Competition Trust from any and all liability.
16.
In the event of fewer than 10 entries being received, the National Concerto Competition Management reserves the right to cancel the competition.
17.
In the event of any or all of the stages of the competition being recorded, the National Concerto Competition Trust retains all rights, without payment to any competitor, accompanist or other individual or organisation, of any fees that may be paid for such recording, or for any subsequent radio broadcast of any or all of either stage of the competition. Competitors may be required to submit photographs, biographical details, be interviewed and perform for educational and promotional purposes.
Publicity material, in the form of photographic images as well as audio and video is recorded throughout the competition. As a participant in the National Concerto Competition I hereby give permission for the National Concerto Competition to use my name, photographic images and audio and video footage in all forms of media for National Concerto Competition publicity purposes. I waive the right to review any material used and understand that there will be no remuneration for said purposes.
Publicity material, in the form of photographic images as well as audio and video is recorded throughout the competition. As a participant in the National Concerto Competition I hereby give permission for the National Concerto Competition to use my name, photographic images and audio and video footage in all forms of media for National Concerto Competition publicity purposes. I waive the right to review any material used and understand that there will be no remuneration for said purposes.
18..
Any breach of the rules and conditions shall render the competitor liable to disqualification and, in the event of any such breach; the Concerto Competition Management may withhold payments of the awards. Judgement in regards to interpretation of the rules is the sole responsibility of the Concerto Competition Management or its representative. No correspondence will be entered into.