Silicon Valley Open doors

international piano competition

Change lives, unite people, and help build a better world through the transformative power of music

GENERAL RULES

  • The First Silicon Valley Open Doors International Piano Competition will be held solely online.

  • The Competition is open to pianists of all nationalities.

  • The applicants are divided into four categories by 4 age groups (age is calculated as of December 31, 2024):

    • Junior Division: 6-10 years old

    • Young Artists Division: 11 - 14 years old

    • Senior Division: 15 - 19 years old

    • Adults Division: 20+ years old

  • You must submit your application through the online form, pay the application fee, and receive an email confirming your submission and payment.

  • All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. PST on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. No late or partial applications will be accepted.

  • All applicants must submit a nonrefundable application fee of One Hundred Dollars USD ($100), payable by credit card or PayPal. In case you do not have a credit card or PayPal, please contact us via Contact Form. Applications will not be accepted without payment.

  • Applicants will not be allowed to submit unless all information and payment is complete.

RULES OF THE PRE-COMPETITION STAGE

Applications include uploads of:

  • Video recording(s) - Please see the Repertoire Section below for details on repertoire and time limits. YouTube links are strongly preferred. (If you send files, please note: videos should not exceed 5 GB per file). SEE REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS AND VIDEO SUBMISSION SECTION BELOW FOR DETAILS;

  • Passport, birth certificate, or equivalent proof of age;

  • One high resolution color photograph: 300 dpi or higher, color headshot looking directly at the camera; and

  • Short biography of the applicant, not to exceed 1000 words.

All applications will be initially reviewed by a Selection Committee. The Competition reserves the right to request additional information from or about the applicant. All applicants are notified by May 15, 2025 whether or not they were selected to proceed to the Competition Stage.

RULES FOR THE COMPETITION STAGE

  • Applicants DO NOT NEED to send any new files/recordings NOR to pay any extra fees for this Stage. Your initial registration with payment and recordings will be used by the Panel of Jurors to select the winner.

  • Through the thorough review process, the Selection Committee advances pianists from each Age Category/Division to the Competition Round for review by the Panel of Jurors.

  • Names of the applicants who proceed to the Competition Round for the review by the Panel of Jurors are announced on this website on May 15, 2025. A separate email is sent to each applicant with information if they proceed or not to the Competition Stage.

  • The Competition Stage consists of one round.

  • Jurors are independent; their students are not allowed to apply if they participate on the Panel of Jurors. Pianists may not contact or speak with any member of the Panel of Jurors while they are active in the Competition. Any violation of this rule may disqualify the pianist.

RULES FOR THE FINAL SELECTION STAGE AND WINNER ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • The Winners are announced on the website and via email on May 30, 2025. 

  • There are three winners in each Division with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places. The Judges reserve the right not to grant a place in a certain Division. There might be Honorary Mention(s).

  • By applying to this competition, the applicants release the right to post their performances on the Silicon Valley Open Doors International Piano Competition website.

  • Winners’ photos and bios are posted on the website.

  • Winners’ performances are posted on the website.

REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS AND VIDEO SUBMISSION

REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS BY CATEGORY

JUNIOR DIVISION (6-10 years old):

  • Free repertoire

  • Total timing - not more than 10 min

YOUNG ARTISTS DIVISION (11-14 years old):

  • one (1) Three-Part Invention of your choice by J.S. Bach or one (1) Prelude & Fugue from Well Tempered Clavier by J.S. Bach (OPTIONAL)

  • one (1) Virtuoso Etude of your choice

  • free Program of your choice

  • total timing: not more than 15 min

SENIOR DIVISION (15-19 years old):

  • one (1) Prelude & Fugue from Well Tempered Clavier by J.S. Bach (OPTIONAL)

  • two (2) Virtuoso Etudes of your choice

  • one (1) Classical Sonata (one (1) part only) from the following choice of composers: J. Haydn, W.A. Mozart, L. van Beethoven

  • free program of your choice

  • total timing: not more than 35 min

ADULTS DIVISION (20+ years old):

  • one (1) Prelude & Fugue from Well Tempered Clavier by J.S. Bach

  • two (2) Virtuoso Etudes: one etude must be by F. Chopin, the second etude is of your choice

  • one (1) full Classical Sonata from the following choice of composers: J. Haydn, W.A. Mozart, L. van Beethoven

  • free program of your choice

  • total timing: not more than 50 min

Videos shall be submitted through the online application form.

Both complete works and individual movements from larger works are accepted. All works must be performed by memory. Applicants may submit one video containing all works, or separate videos for each work. All videos must be filmed with both the pianist’s face, hands, and pedal in the frame at all times. If submitting all works in one video, recordings may be paused between each repertoire selection. Each work must be a continuous and unedited performance. Videos must not be filmed more than six (6) months prior to submission.