Competition Outline
Title
The 5th Shigeru Kawai International Piano Competition (abbreviated as SKIPC)
Organizer
Shigeru Kawai International Piano Competition Committee
Supporters
Kawai Music Association, Kawai Music Education Society, Kawai Music Competition Committee
Judgment Process
The Competition has four stages; "Pre-selection", "1st Round", “Semifinal Round” and “Final Round.”
※About Pre-selection
Pre-selection (Japan) will take place in two major cities (Tokyo and Osaka). Pre-selection (Overseas) will be conducted on video screening.
Qualification for the 1st Round will be given to the applicants who passed the Pre-selection.
Official Piano
Shigeru Kawai Full Concert Grand Piano SK-EX
Shigeru Kawai Grand Pianos - Pre-selection (Japan)
Dates and Venues
| Date | Venue | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-selection (Overseas) ※1 | Feb 2025 | Video Screening | |
| Pre-selection (Japan)※2 | Osaka | March 2, 2025 | Kawai Umeda Concert Salon “Jouer” |
| Tokyo | March 4-7, 2025 | Kawai Omotesando Concert Salon “Pause” | |
| Piano Trial※3 | July 24-25, 2025 | Kawai Omotesando Concert Salon “Pause” | |
| Lottery※4 | July 25, 2025 | ||
| 1st Round | July 26-28, 2025 | ||
| Semifinal Round | July 29-30, 2025 | ||
| Rehearsal① | July 31, 2025 | Kawai Omotesando | |
| Piano Selection※5 | July 31, 2025 | Shibuya Cultural Center Owada “Sakura Hall“ | |
| Rehearsal② | August 1, 2025 | ||
| Final Round | August 2, 2025 | Shibuya Cultural Center Owada “Sakura Hall“ | |
| Prize Winners' Concert | August 3, 2025 | Kawai Omotesando Concert Salon “Pause” | |
| Pre-selection (Overseas) ※1 | |
|---|---|
| Feb 2025 | Video Screening |
| Pre-selection (Japan)※2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Osaka | March 2, 2025 | |
| Kawai Umeda Concert Salon “Jouer” | ||
| Tokyo | March 4-7, 2025 | |
| Kawai Omotesando Concert Salon “Pause” | ||
| Piano Trial※3 |
|---|
| July 24-25, 2025 |
| Kawai Omotesando Concert Salon “Pause” |
| Lottery※4 |
|---|
| July 25, 2025 |
| Kawai Omotesando Concert Salon “Pause” |
| 1st Round |
|---|
| July 26-28, 2025 |
| Kawai Omotesando Concert Salon “Pause” |
| Semifinal Round |
|---|
| July 29-30, 2025 |
| Kawai Omotesando Concert Salon “Pause” |
| Rehearsal① |
|---|
| July 31, 2025 |
| Kawai Omotesando |
| Piano Selection※5 |
|---|
| July 31, 2025 |
| Shibuya Cultural Center Owada “Sakura Hall“ |
| Rehearsal② |
|---|
| August 1, 2025 |
| Shibuya Cultural Center Owada “Sakura Hall“ |
| Final Round |
|---|
| August 2, 2025 |
| Shibuya Cultural Center Owada “Sakura Hall“ |
| Prize Winners' Concert |
|---|
| August 3, 2025 |
| Kawai Omotesando Concert Salon “Pause” |
※Multiple applications cannot be accepted.
※1…Applicants residing in Japan cannot apply to Pre-selection (Overseas) regardless of the nationality.
※2…Applicants can choose any venue of Pre-selection (Japan).
※2…Applications will be accepted on a first-come-first-served basis, and the Secretariat may ask applicants to move to another venue if the number of applications at one venue reaches full capacity.
※2…Order of performances in Pre-selection (Japan) will be decided by the Secretariat, and applicants cannot select the date and order of performance.
※3…1st Round Competitors are allowed to try the piano for the 1st and Semifinal Rounds at Kawai Omotesando Concert Salon “Pause”. Trial time is 10 minutes per person and the detailed schedule will be decided by the Secretariat.
※4…Order of performances in 1st Round, Semifinal Round and Final Round will be decided by the lottery on July 25, 2025.
Competitors who cannot attend the lottery may not be allowed to participate in the Competition.
※5…Finalists will participate in a 10-minute piano selection and choose one of the two “Shigeru Kawai Full Concert Piano SK-EX” to perform in the Final Round.
＜Announcement of Results＞
Results of Pre-selection will be notified to each applicant via e-mail and will be published on the official Competition website by March 10, 2025.
From the 1st Round, results will be announced on the last day of each round.
Eligibility
The Competition is open to pianists of all nationalities born on or after January 1, 1996.
Application Deadline
January 15, 2025 at 24:00 (Japan Time)
※Online Applications are scheduled to open on November 1, 2024.
Please check the official Competition website for the details.
Jury Members
| Chairperson of Jury | Katsumi UEDA (Japan) |
|---|---|
| Jury Members | Philippe GIUSIANO (France) |
| Kevin KENNER (USA) | |
| Kayo MIKI (Japan) | |
| Pavel NERSESSIAN (Russia) | |
| Noriko OGAWA (Japan) | |
| Michiko OKAMOTO (Japan) |
※In Alphabetical Order
※Pre-selection will be judged by three jury members, including at least one of the above jury members.
Winner’s Prizes
| First Prize | JPY 2,000,000 Certificate of Commendation Trophy |
|---|---|
| Second Prize | JPY 1,000,000 Certificate of Commendation Trophy |
| Third Prize | JPY 500,000 Certificate of Commendation Trophy |
| Fourth Prize | JPY 200,000 Certificate of Commendation |
| Fifth Prize | JPY 100,000 Certificate of Commendation |
| Sixth Prize | JPY 50,000 Certificate of Commendation |
| Audience Award | JPY 50,000 Certificate of Commendation Souvenir |
※Other awards may be presented by the parties who support the Competition.
※The prize money shown above is amount before the deduction of income taxes in Japan.
※If there is a tie, the prize money for that rank and the next rank will be split between the winners of that rank.
Additional Prize for the First Prize Winner
The First Prize Winner will be given the opportunity to perform at concerts/recitals organized by Kawai Musical Inst. Mfg. Co., Ltd. for one year after the competition, as well as the opportunity to attend master classes.
Prize Winners’ Concert
Prize Winners’ Concert will be held at Kawai Omotesando Concert Salon “Pause” on August 3, 2025.
First - Sixth prize winners must agree to perform at the concert. The program should be selected from the pieces played in the Competition. Performance fee for this concert shall not be paid.
- Performance Time
- First Prize Winner: within 30 min.
- Second Prize Winner: within 25 min.
- Third Prize Winner: within 20 min.
- Fourth Prize Winner: 10-15 min.
- Fifth Prize Winner: 10-15 min.
- Sixth Prize Winner: 10-15 min.
© Shigeru Kawai International Piano Competition
