Frederic Chopin
  • All contestants must be from Michigan, Illinois, Ohio or Indiana.
  • All contestants must be ages 15-18 and still in high school.
  • The competition limits the number of contestants per teacher to THREE.
  • All contestants should submit the best quality recording possible of no longer than 15 minutes for prescreening. (CD recordings are preferable) From the applications, 25 candidates will be chosen to participate in the November 7 live competition. Applicants not chosen for the competition may be invited to participate in the masterclasses given on November 7.
  • Recording prescreening will be conducted by WMU Keyboard Faculty
  • All decisions of the Contestant Selection Jury and the Competition Jury will be final.
  • Prescreening CD: The contestant should submit a recording NOT SHORTER than 15 minutes but NOT LONGER than 20 minutes, which includes a piece of Chopin. The contestant MAY choose to submit the same piece of Chopin to be played at the competition on November 7, but it is not obligatory. Any other style of music may be presented along with the work of Chopin.
  • November 7 Repertoire: The contestant should select any work or combination of works not longer than 12 minutes. Sonatas or Sonata movements are EXCLUDED. Upon acceptance to the competition, the contestant will receive a copy of the compulsory competition piece composed for the competition by Curtis Curtis-Smith. Contestants must be prepared to perform all works FROM MEMORY.

In addition to the personal data furnished on the application form, each applicant must provide the following:
  • a short resume (one paragraph or 150 words)
  • proof of date of birth (copy of a driver's license, birth certificate or passport)
  • a preliminary recording
  • a non-refundable application fee of $25. (Please make check or money order payable to Western Michigan University
  • All applications must be received by SEPTEMBER 1, 2010. Applications are not returnable.
  • Acceptances will be announced and contestants notified by SEPTEMBER 15, 2010. The compulsory work will also be made available by September 15.
  • Final repertoire selections for the November 7 competition must be submitted by October 15.
    Click here to view or download the application form.



For assistance or further information, contact Lori Sims at lorisimswmu@gmail.com.