Piano Competition

Pianists in the Portland Metropolitan area (who reside within a 75-mile radius of Portland) who will be high school seniors or younger in the academic year 2027-2028. The competition is open to all who qualify.

Applicants should choose a piano concerto or concert piece with orchestral accompaniment. Please note that the accompaniment for the concerto must be available for PYP to rent or purchase in order for the concerto to be considered for live performance. For works that might be considered obscure, unusually long (over 35 minutes) or require unusual orchestration, please consult PYP by emailing information@portlandyouthphil.org.

Deadline for completed applications, audio recording uploaded to Dropbox (no videos) and $35 application fee is Sunday, November 22, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST.

Please use this form to submit your application.

After you submit this form, you will be sent a link to upload your audio files.

Pianists should submit a live, unedited, unaccompanied audio recording of a movement from the concerto selected.

Selected finalists will be notified by December 21, 2026 and invited to perform the movement from their chosen concerto on Friday, February 5, 2027 at Lincoln Recital Hall (Room 75), Portland State University. Pianists should memorize the one movement which shows artistic and technical proficiency.

Note: The entire concerto will be presented with the Philharmonic Orchestra by the competition winner in the 2027-2028 season. The runner up will play a mutually agreed upon short work for piano and orchestra with PYP or Camerata PYP in the 2027-2028 season.

Each finalist is responsible for providing (at their own expense) their own accompanist to perform the orchestral score reduction. Accompaniment is required for the Competition Finals. Recommendations for accompanists are available upon request.

The winner must be available during the rehearsal process for the concert period mutually agreed upon by the artist and the Conductor.

Winner

• The winner will receive the opportunity to perform their entire concerto with PYP at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall during the 2027-2028 season.
• $1,000 scholarship
• Professional photo shoot prior to the performance (Courtesy of Portland Youth Philharmonic)

Runner Up

• The runner up will play a mutually agreed upon short work for piano and orchestra with PYP or Camerata PYP in the 2027-2028 season.
• $500 scholarship

Lucy Joo
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73 “Emperor”
Performed with the PYP on November 8, 2025 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.
Watch on YouTube

Biography:
Music has been a part of Lucy Joo’s life from the very beginning. Her parents recall that as a baby, when inconsolable, she was instantly calmed when hearing the sounds of Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1. By age 4, Lucy had taken up the cello herself, beginning lessons with Valdine Richie-Miskin. For the past six years, Lucy has been an active member of the Portland Youth Philharmonic as a cellist where she loves making music alongside her peers. However, Lucy’s curiosity for the piano had begun to pique when listening to her older sister’s piano lessons, and she began her own piano studies with Monica Ohuchi-Bunch at the age of 7, quickly falling in love with the instrument.

For the past 3 years, Lucy has studied piano under the direction of Dr. Julia Lee where she has continued to refine her technique, learning to express her personal artistry through music. Her dedication has earned her several honors: 2nd prize in the 2022 Eleanor East and Edward G Michaels competition, 3rd prize in the 2023 Chris Tapang scholarship, and winner of the 2025 Oregon Sinfonietta Concerto Competition as well as the 2025 Portland Piano International Concerto Competition.

“Winning the Portland Piano International Concerto Competition was a shock. I had never been more confused when my name was announced as the winner. But through all the hours of practice and rehearsals, my confidence has started to grow. I realize what an incredible opportunity it is to play an entire piano concerto at Schnitzer. But I am most grateful to be playing this concerto alongside some of the most incredible and talented friends at PYP that I have gotten to know over the years.”

Lucy is currently a 15-year-old sophomore at Portland Adventist Academy where she plays an active role in leadership as class president. In addition to academics and music, Lucy also runs cross country, she is an avid club volleyball player, spends the summers on the water wakesurfing, and seeks out fresh powder in the winter snowboarding. Her other hobbies include spending time with friends, traveling the world, and playing praise music with her church. Whether on stage, in the classroom, or outdoors, Lucy brings energy, focus, and joy to everything she does.

Elijah Wilson
Performed Joaquín Turina: Rapsodia Sinfónica, Op. 66 with Camerata PYP on January 9, 2026 at the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts.

Biography:
Elijah Wilson has played the piano for just under three years, studying under Linda Barker. A recent second place winner in the Portland Piano International Concerto Competition, in partnership with the Portland Youth Philharmonic, he passionately performed Rachmaninoff’s First Piano Concerto. In the summer of 2024, he was invited to the Indiana University’s Jacob School of Music piano intensive where he was challenged and grew tremendously as a pianist.

Although he spends much of his time playing the piano, you can also find him participating in numerous after school academic and sport clubs. He is part of National Honor Society as well as the Japanese National Honor Society, Chess, Basketball and Math clubs. He enjoys the rigors of the International Baccalaureate Program at the International School of Beaverton where he attends school. He is interested in the fields of engineering, medicine, math, and of course, piano as future endeavors.

Mr. Nolan Tu, student of Dr. Renato Fabbro, with Concerto No. 2, op. 22, of Camille Saint-Saëns

Nolan Tu played the entire concerto with the Portland Youth Philharmonic Orchestra at the opening concert of our centennial season on Saturday evening, November 11, 2023, at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Plus, he won a $1,000 scholarship for further piano studies.

Mr. Hansen Berrett, student of Dr. Renato Fabbro, with Concerto No. 3, op. 26, of Sergei Prokofiev

Hansen Berrett performed Dmitri Shostakovich - Piano Concerto No. 2 on May 4, 2025. He won a $500 scholarship for further piano studies.

Watch on YouTube

Ms. Chloe Zhang, student of Kelli Stephens, with Concerto in F Major, Hob. XVIII:3, of Franz Josef Haydn

Alongside the Portland Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, Michael performed Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 1.

Alongside the Portland Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, Michael performed George Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F Major on Saturday, November 9, 2019 for the Fall Schnitzer Series Concert.

Hear the winner of the 2017-18 Piano Concerto Competition, Natalie Tan perform Frédéric Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with PYP on November 11, 2017.

Aveek Ganguly is the two-time Runner up of PYP’s biennial Piano Concerto Competition in 2015 and 2017. He performed Camille Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Portland Youth Conservatory Orchestra on Sunday, November 12, 2017, in the Skyview Auditorium.