Nina Simone Piano Competition: Artists Round 1
A competition, in collaboration with the Art of the Piano Festival, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, for Black American pianists.
Made possible by a generous grant from the Sphinx Organization.
Competitors
Click on their name to see their repertoire and biographical information!
Click here for Official Rules.
Click here for Jury information.
About the Nina Simone Piano Competition
Art of the Piano, led by Awadagin Pratt, is thrilled to hold its Nina Simone Piano Competition specifically for talented young African American pianists.
The aim of this Competition is to give these young artists a highly visible platform to showcase their skills, gain opportunities, experience, and support. Additionally, the Competition aims to get more African American artists on concert stages in general, to commission new works, and to add more African American pianistic voices to the classical canon.
The competition will be held on the campus of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in the summer of 2026. Three finalists selected from the Artists Division will also perform with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in the fall of 2026 as the concerto portion of the competition.
Piano
Awadagin Pratt
About SFCM's Piano Department
SFCM pianists study in a focused, energized, and supportive environment. Artist-teachers with a wealth of international performing experience provide close instruction and mentorship to an exclusive group of fewer than 50 students. Performance opportunities within the Conservatory and around San Francisco help prepare students for a career at the highest professional level. Students also have the chance to enter a yearly concerto competition, the winner of which performs with the Conservatory Orchestra. Interdepartmental collaboration, guest artist residencies, and master classes round out a transformative piano education. Recent guest artists include Emanuel Ax, Sergei Babayan, Richard Goode, Stephen Hough, Menahem Pressler, and Shai Wosner.
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