WPTA JAPAN is pleased to announce the 5th WPTA JAPAN Piano Competition – “Open the Door to the World”, offering a platform for artistic growth and international opportunity. The preliminary round will be conducted via video screening, and the final round will be held in concert format at Shiodome Hall, Tokyo, using a Steinway B-211 grand piano with professional tuning before each session.
Entry Period: October 15 – November 10, 2025
Preliminary Round: Video Screening
Final Round: Shiodome Hall, Live Audition in Tokyo
Entry Site: Click here to enter (Japanese Language)
◇Prof. Guigla Katsarava Joins the Jury Panel
We are honored to welcome Prof. Guigla Katsarava as a member of the international jury
for the 5th WPTA Piano Competition in Tokyo.
Prof. Katsarava currently serves as a Specially Appointed Professor at Tokyo College of Music,
and is a former professor at the École Normale de Musique de Paris.
His masterclasses and mentorship have inspired pianists across Europe and Asia, and
participants may optionally request individual feedback from him.
To preview his teaching style, please see this lesson video
◇International Opportunities
Top prize winners will be recommended for:
- Participation in the WPTA International Piano Conference 2026 in Serbia (including recital opportunities)
- Representation from Japan in the WPTA International Piano Competition 2026
- Future opportunities to the 2027 Certified Expo in Serbia
◇Categories & Entry Fees
| Category | Eligibility | Preliminary Fee | Final Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-A）Artist Division ※ | Ages 17–32, advanced students and young professionals | 10,000円 | 20,000円 |
| 1-B) Artist Plus Division ※ | Age 33+, adult pianists | 10,000円 | 20,000円 |
| 2) Junior Development | ① Lower Elementary | 5,000円 | 13,000円 |
| ② Upper Elementary | 6,000円 | 14,000円 | |
| ③ Middle/High School | 7,000円 | 15,000円 | |
| 3) General Division | Age 18+, amateur pianists and non-music majors | 8,000円 | 18,000円 |
| 4) Piano Duo (1 piano, 4 hands) | All ages | 15,000円 | 22,000円 |
| 5) Ensemble (Piano + Strings, 2–5 players) | All ages | 15,000円 | 22,000円 |
※ Artist and Artist Plus divisions include a required performance of a new piece by Serbian composer in the final round (score provided after entry).
◇ Schedule & Venue
- Preliminary Round: Video submission
- Final Round: Sunday, November 30, 2025
Venue: Shiodome Hall（1-7-2 Higashi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
Piano: Steinway B-211
Concert Tuner: Mr. Arimune Yamamoto ※adjusted during each intermission
◇ Video Submission Guidelines
- YouTube link (public or unlisted), no editing after performance begins
- Recorded within 6 months, showing performer’s face, hands, and full body
- Videos not meeting these criteria may be disqualified
- Send link to: japan@wpta.info
◇ Entry Period
All categories: October 15 – November 10, 2025
◇ Repertoire Guidelines
◇ Artist Division- Repertoire Guidelines
・ Preliminary Round (Video Submission):
1, Perform one or more advanced etudes(memorized)
by: Chopin, Liszt, Debussy, Rachmaninov, Scriabin, Ligeti Repertoire must be from the public domain
2, One or more published classical original solo piano works(memorized)
※ Judging based on the first 15 minutes
・ Artist Division ／Final Round (Live Performance):
１，Perform one or more published classical piano solo works
(max 15 min, memorized)
ー Repertoire must be from the public domain
２， Perform a new piano piece by Serbian composer
(score provided after entry, memorization not required)
◇ Artist Plus Division- Repertoire Guidelines
・ Preliminary Round (Video Submission):
ーPerform two or more contrasting classical original solo works(memorized)
ー Repertoire must be from the public domain
※ Judging based on the first 10 minutes
・ Artist Plus Division ／Final Round (Live Performance):
１， Free choice for one or more published classical solo works (max 12 min, memorized)
２，A new piano piece by Serbian composer(score provided after entry, memorization not required)
◇ Junior Development (Lower Elementary School) – Repertoire Guidelines
・ Preliminary Round (Video Submission):
ー Total performance time: up to 3 minutes
ー Perform one or more published classical piano solo works(memorized)
・ Lower Elementary School Students ／Final Round (Live Performance):
ー Total performance time: up to 5 minutes (memorized)
ー The final round performance must include at least one piece from the preliminary round repertoire.
ー Repertoire must be from the public domain
◇ Junior Development (Upper Elementary School) – Repertoire Guidelines
・ Preliminary Round (Video Submission):
ー Total performance time: up to 5 minutes
ー Perform one or more published classical piano solo works(memorized)
・ Upper Elementary School Students ／Final Round (Live Performance):
ー Total performance time: up to 7 minutes (memorized)
ー The final round performance must include at least one piece from the preliminary round repertoire.
ー Repertoire must be from the public domain
◇ Junior Development (Middle & High School Students) – Repertoire Guidelines
・ Preliminary Round (Video Submission):
ー Total performance time: up to 7 minutes
ー Perform one or more published classical piano solo works(memorized)
including at least one piece by a composer from the following list:
J.S. Bach, W.A. Mozart, F.J. Haydn, C. Czerny, Beethoven, F. Schubert, F. Liszt, F. Chopin, R. Schumann, J. Brahms, C. Debussy
・ Middle & High School Students ／Final Round (Live Performance):
ー Total performance time: up to 10 minutes
ー Perform one or more classical original piano solo works from the public domain(memorized)
including at least one piece by a composer from the following list:
J.S. Bach, W.A. Mozart, F.J. Haydn, C. Czerny, Beethoven, F. Schubert, F. Liszt, F. Chopin, R. Schumann, J. Brahms, C. Debussy
ー The final round performance must include at least one piece from the preliminary round repertoire.
◇ General Division – Repertoire Guidelines
・ Preliminary Round (Video Submission):
ー Perform one or more original classical piano solo works (5-10mins)
ー Repertoire must be from the public domain
ー Memorization is NOT required
※ No time limit is imposed, but only the first 10 minutes of the video will be considered for judging
・ General Division ／Final Round (Live Performance):
ー Perform the same repertoire as in the preliminary round
ー Must be performed by the same ensemble members
ー Memorization is required
◇ Piano Duo Division (1 Piano, 4Hands) – Repertoire Guidelines
・ Preliminary Round (Video Submission):
ー Perform one or more original classical duet works(1 piano, 4 hands)
ー Repertoire must be from the public domain
ー Memorization is not required
※ No time limit is imposed, but only the first 8 minutes of the video will be considered for judging
・ Piano Duo Division (1 Piano, 4 Hands) ／Final Round (Live Performance):
ー Perform the same repertoire as in the preliminary round
ー Must be performed by the same duo members
ー Memorization is not required
◇ Ensemble Division (Piano and Strings) – Repertoire Guidelines
・ Preliminary Round (Video Submission):
ー Perform one or more original classical chamber works that include piano and string instruments
ー Repertoire must be from the public domain
ー Memorization is not required
※ No time limit is imposed, but only the first 10 minutes of the video will be considered for judging
・ Ensemble Division (Piano and Strings) ／Final Round (Live Performance):
ー Perform the same repertoire as in the preliminary round
ー Must be performed by the same ensemble members
ー Memorization is not required
◇Awards
- Excellence Award
- Outstanding Performance Award
- Encouragement Award
- Serbian Ambassador’s Prize (invitation to perform at Embassy concert)
- WPTA JAPAN Prize (nomination for WPTA International Piano Competition)
- WPTA Excellence Prize (nomination for 2026 WPTA International Piano Conference)
- WPTA Teacher’s Award (for instructors with multiple prize-winning students)
…and more
Note: Please note that the official competition guidelines are originally written in Japanese. If any differences in interpretation arise, the Japanese version will be considered authoritative.