ISANGYUN COMPETITION

Rules & Apply

APPLICATION

The ISANGYUN Competition is open to pianists of all nationalities, born between November 1, 1996 and October 31, 2011. Applicants must submit the application form and all documents through the 'Apply Now' link at the top of the page by the application deadline, July 31, 2026

Online application form
- Required info: personal information, education, teachers, prizes, and repertoire of each round
A recommendation letter (any format is accepted)
- The letter should be in English or Korean or should include English or Korean translations.
A scan of the applicant's passport
A photograph of the applicant in JPG or TIFF format (no less than 1MB)
High-quality video recordings with the repertoire of the Preliminary Round
- All works must be recorded with no audio or visual editing.
- The date and place of each recording must be written on the application form.
- Each required piece should be on a single track, and the videos must be recorded in or after May 2025.
- The repertoire for the Preliminary Round is as follows (25-30 minutes):

a)F. Chopin: One Etude

b)Solo work(s) of the applicant’s choice (within the time limit above; not all movements are mandatory)

CONTACT

Tel : (+82) 55-650-0400
E-mail : competition@timf.org | Website : www.isangyuncompetition.org

OFFICIAL REPERTOIRE

All repertoire must be performed from memory, except for works composed after 1950. The work presented in the Preliminary Round cannot be performed in the First, Second, and Final Rounds. Time limits will be strictly enforced.

PRELIMINARY ROUND(25-30 minutes, video selection)

Applicants must submit the video recordings of a) and b):

a) F. Chopin: One Etude
b) Solo work(s) of the applicant’s choice (within the time limit above; not all movements are mandatory)

FIRST ROUND (35-40 minutes)

Each candidate will be required to perform a), b), and c):

a) One complete sonata by W. A. Mozart, J. Haydn or L. v. Beethoven
b) Isang Yun: Fünf Stücke für Klavier(1958) or Shao Yang Yin für Klavier (1966)
c) Solo work(s) of the applicant’s choice (within the time limit above; not all movements are mandatory)

SECOND ROUND (45-50 minutes)

Each candidate will be required to perform a) and b):

a) Isang Yun: Interludium A für Klavier (1982) or other composers’ solo work written after 1950 with a minimum duration of 10 minutes
b) Solo work(s) of the candidate’s choice (all movements are mandatory)
- One important work with a minimum duration of 15 minutes

- Optional solo work(s), if a) and b) do not reach the duration of 45 - 50 minutes

FINAL ROUND

Each finalist shall perform one concerto with orchestra to be chosen from the following:

L. v. Beethoven : Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37
L. v. Beethoven : Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
J. Brahms : Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15
S. Prokofiev : Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26
S. Rachmaninov : Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43
R. Schumann : Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54
P. I. Tchaikovsky : Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23

SCHEDULE GUIDE

Application Deadline

July 31
Notification of Acceptance

August 28
Registration & Drawing of lots

October 31
First Round

November 1-2

Second Round

November 4-5
Final Round with
Orchestra & Awards Ceremony

November 7
Winners’ Concert
(Busan Concert Hall)

November 8