THE 22nd ASIA PACIFIC OUTSTANDING YOUTH PIANO COMPETITION

Competition Date: 7,13,14,15 February 2026 (weekends & school holidays)

Competition venue: Hong Kong Cultural Centre & Tsuen Wan Town Hall

Last day of entry : 14 January 2026

Registration from mid-December 2025

Jury Panel

Dr Julian Hellaby (Principal Adjudicator)

Meidad Yehudayan

Award & Prizes

This year's competition includes Strings Session and Young Children Performers groups. NEW

Please scroll down for more information.

Award and Prize in each class:

Winner (score must reach 90 or above)- one person: will be awarded a winner trophy and prize HK$300; ^Diploma Open Class & Piano Recital Class: will be awarded a winner trophy and prize HK$500
Second and Third prize- can be more than one person: will be awarded a trophy
Each awardee will obtain an award certificate
Competitors scoring 85 and above will receive a Gold Award; 80-84 Silver and 75-79 Bronze.

- Each competitor may enter up to three different competition classes.
- Competitors shall comply with the requirement of competition class selected, including age limit (age calculated as of 7 February 2026), piece requirement, and time limit. Failure to comply will result in disqualification without further notice. Entry fees will be non-refundable and non-transferable

- Successful applicants will be sent a confirmation email specifying the competition date, time and relevant guideline. Should you have not received the confirmation email by 26 January 2026, please contact us for assistance.

- Once registered, application fees are non-refundable in any case. Entries are non-transferable and cannot be reassigned or used for other purposes.
- In case of severe weather or force majeure, the competition schedule and format will be adjusted accordingly. Updates will be announced via the official website, Facebook page, email, or other channels.

Online Registration (Registration from mid-December 2025)

Group entry (suitable for teachers and schools)

Payment method for overseas participants

Press here to find our past events’ scenes

Online registration

Notification

Competition Classes

Competition Class

Free Choice Class Series– perform ONE piece of piano music of your own choice

Age calculate on 7 February 2026

Each competitor can enter max. 3 different classes.

Young Children Primary Class Class code: YCP

Age 5 or under Beginner to Grade 2 level Piece Time limit: 2 minutes

HKD 530

Young Children Intermediate Class Class code: YCI

Age 6 or under Beginner to Grade 3 level Piece Time limit: 2 minutes

HKD 530

Young Children Advanced Class Class code: YCA

Age 6 or under Grade 4 to Grade 7 level Piece Time limit: 5 minutes

HKD 580

Children Primary Class Class code: CP

Age 12 or under Beginner to Grade 3 level Piece Time limit: 2 minutes

HKD 530

Children Intermediate Class Class code: CI

Age 12 or under Grade 3 to Grade 5 level Piece Time limit: 3 minutes

HKD 530

Children Advanced Class Class code: CA

Age 12 or under Grade 5 to Grade 8 level Piece Time limit: 5 minutes

HKD 580

Youth Intermediate Class Class code: YI

Age 12 - 16 Grade 3 to Grade 5 level Piece Time limit: 3 minutes

HKD 530

Youth Advanced Class Class code: YA

Age 16 or under Grade 6 to Grade 8 level Piece Time limit: 5 minutes

HKD 630

Youth Professional Class Class code: YP

Age 28 or under Grade 8 to Diploma level Piece Time limit: 6 minutes

HKD 630

*****

Austrian/ German Piano Music Class Class code: AGM
Age 28 or under Perform one piece from any Austrian or German

HKD 630

Sonata Class Class code: SON

Age 28 or under Perform one movement from any Piano Sonata, without repeat Time limit: 6 minutes

HKD 630

Diploma Open Class Class code: DO

Any Diploma level Piece Perform one piece only, without repeat

Time Limit: 8 minutes

HKD 680

Piano Recital Class Class code: PR

No age limit Any ONE to THREE pieces in a different style

Time Limit: 20 minutes

HKD 1380

*****

Professional Piano Teacher Class

Professional Teacher Intermediate Class Class code: PTI

Age 23 or above Any Grade 6 to Grade 8 level Piece Perform one piece only, without repeat Time limit: 5 minutes

HKD 630

Professional Teacher Advanced Class Class code: PTA

Age 23 or above Any Diploma level Piece Perform one piece only, without repeat

Time Limit: 8 minutes

HKD 680

*****

Piano Duet Primary Class Class code: DP

Age 12 or under Beginner to Grade 3 level Piece Time limit: 3 minutes

HKD 580

Piano Duet Intermediate Class Class code: DI

Age 16 or under Grade 4 to Grade 5 level Piece Time limit: 5 minutes

HKD 580

Piano Duet Advanced Class Class code: DA

No age limit Grade 6 to Grade 8 level Piece Time limit: 6 minutes

HKD 630

'Il Maestro e lo Scolare' Class ('Teacher and Pupil' Duet Class) Class code: DTP

A duet class to be performed by a teacher and pupil No age limit. Any piece of Grade 5 level or below. Time limit: 5 minutes Each teacher can participate in 3 duet groups maximum

HKD 580

*****

Young Performers Class- Beginners Class code: PCB NEW

Age 5 or under One Beginners level Piece No time limit, no repeats

HKD 530

Young Performers Class- Grade 1 Class code: PC1 NEW

Age 5 or under One Grade 1 level Piece No time limit, no repeats

HKD 530

*Please fill in the book name you are playing in the application form.

(If you are of the appropriate age but wish to play a Grade 2 level piece, please participate in the YCP group.)

✔️Main assessment scope of PCB and PC1: Posture, tempo, and rhythm stability, note accuracy

**No marks awarded in this class; only comments and a discretionary award of Excellence will be given.

*****

Piano Graded Series

Perform ONE piece only from either HK Schools Music Festival/ ABRSM/ Trinity Guildhall/ Central Conservatory of Music 25/26 Syllabus

No age limit

Grade 1 Class code: E1

HKD 530

Grade 2 Class code: E2

HKD 530

Grade 3 Class code: E3

HKD 530

Grade 4 Class code: E4

HKD 530

Grade 5 Class code: E5

HKD 530

Grade 6 Class code: E6

HKD 630

Grade 7 Class code: E7

HKD 630

Grade 8 Class code: E8

HKD 630

*****

Strings Class NEW

(Violin and viola only)

Violin/Viola Primary Class Class code: VP

One Beginner to Grade 2 level Piece Time limit: 2 minutes No age limit, no repeats

HKD 530

Violin/Viola Intermediate Class Class code: VI

One Grade 3 to Grade 5 level Piece Time limit: 3 minutes No age limit, no repeats

HKD 530

Violin/Viola Advanced Class Class code: VA

One Grade 6 to Grade 8 level Piece Time limit: 5 minutes No age limit, no repeats

HKD 580

Violin/Viola Diploma Class Class code: VD

One Diploma level Piece Time limit: 8 minutes No age limit, no repeats

HKD 680

Violin/Viola Duet Class Class code: DV

One Grade 6 to Grade 8 level Piece Time limit: 6 minutes No age limit, no repeats

HKD 630

*If the piece has the accompaniment part, please arrange your own piano accompanist. Playing audio recordings will not be permitted.

All participants must follow the competition requirements for the chosen class, including but not limited to age, repertoire level and time limit. Those who do not meet the requirements risk disqualification. Payment is not refundable nor transferable in any case.

Entry Fee (original entry fee, expressed in Hong Kong Dollar)

$530: YCP, YCI, CP, CI, YI, PCB, PC1, E1, E2, E3, E4, E5, VP, VI

$580: YCA, CA, DP, DI, DTP, VA

$630: E6, E7, E8, YA, PTI

$630: YP, SON, AGM, DA, DV

$680: DO, PTA, VD

$1380: PR

Online Registration

Group entry (suitable for teachers and schools)

Payment method for overseas participants

Frequent Asked Questions

Entry fee