A. Ram贸n Rivera Piano Competition

2024 Competition Dates

Timeline for the A. Ram贸n Rivera Piano Competition (ARR) and the RSC Piano Competition in Honor of A. Ram贸n Rivera (RSC):

March 22: Deadline to submit application and video for both ARR and RSC Competitions
April 8: RSC Jr. and Sr. Winners announced
April 8: ARR Jr. and Sr. Finalists named
April 14: ARR Jr. Finals Concert*
April 28: ARR Sr. Finals Concert*
May 5: Winners鈥 Concert, featuring both the ARR and RSC first prize winners*

*Finals and Winners鈥 Concerts take place in Rivera Recital Hall, located in RSC鈥檚 Bradley Hall.


A. Ram贸n Rivera Piano Competition (ARR)

The A. Ram贸n Rivera Piano Competition is open to all pianists in grades 7-12 who are actively taking private lessons.

Application Fee
$100 fee for all applicants

March 22: Deadline to submit application and video for both ARR and RSC Competitions
April 8: ARR Jr. and Sr. Finalists named
April 14: ARR Jr. Finals Concert*
April 28: ARR Sr. Finals Concert*
May 5: Winners鈥 Concert, featuring both the ARR and RSC first prize winners*

*Finals and Winners鈥 Concerts take place in Rivera Recital Hall, located in RSC鈥檚 Bradley Hall.

Qualifications for ARR Senior Category
Open to all private lesson students in grades 9-12.

Senior Category Prizes*
First place: $500
Second place: $250
*All senior finalists are eligible for the Bach Prize: $500

Qualifications for ARR Junior Category
Open to all private lesson students in grades 7-8.

Junior Category Prizes
First place: $350
Second place: $225

ARR Senior Audition Repertoire
Prelude & Fugue from The Well Tempered Clavier I or II by JS Bach, plus contrasting piece (total time not to exceed 15 minutes). PDF of clean scores unmarked, but with measure numbers. Link to Unlisted YouTube Video (requirements below).

ARR Junior Audition Repertoire
JS Bach Invention or Sinfonia, plus a contrasting piece (total time not to exceed 12 minutes). PDF of clean scores unmarked, but with measure numbers. Link to Unlisted YouTube Video (requirements below).

Video Requirements
1. At least 720p, preferably 1080p or higher
2. One continuous take, unedited, required JS Bach piece and contrasting work
3. Pianist鈥檚 face, hands, and feet must be visible and fill most of the screen
4. Ensure the video has good quality audio and image
5. Do not use special effects, dissolves, etc.
6. Please announce the date at the beginning of the recording before playing. Submission of pre-recorded performances or pre-recorded live performances prior to 1/1/24 will NOT be accepted
7. Please wear concert attire
8. Competitors bow when finished, as when performing in a recital

**Deviations from the above requirements will be accepted and heard, but not considered for a prize.**

YouTube Instructions
1. Log into YouTube or create a free account
2. Click the camera+ icon (top right corner) to upload a new video
3. Title your video: Last Name, First Name, ARR Competition
4. Description: Composer, Title, Key, Opus# or BWV
5. 鈥淚s this video made for kids?鈥 select, 鈥淣o, it鈥檚 not made for kids鈥
6. Click 鈥淯nlisted鈥 under the 鈥淰isibility鈥 section and copy the link for your video to include in your application
7. Click 鈥淪ave.鈥 Your video may take a while to process if it is a large, high-def file


RSC Piano Competition in Honor of A. Ram贸n Rivera (RSC)

The RSC Piano Competition in Honor of A. Ram贸n Rivera (RSC) is open to pianists in grades 7-12 who are actively taking private lessons at 海角乱伦社区. Students in the RSC Competition compete for scholarship prizes. All competitors must be enrolled in their second consecutive semester or greater at RSC. Summers are not counted in this total.

RSC students can enter both the RSC Piano Competition in Honor of A. Ram贸n Rivera (RSC) and the A. Ram贸n Rivera Piano Competition (ARR).

Application Fee
$100 fee for all applicants

March 22: Deadline to submit application and video for both ARR and RSC Competitions
April 8: RSC Jr. and Sr. Winners announced
May 5: Winners鈥 Concert, featuring both the ARR and RSC first prize winners*

*Finals and Winners鈥 Concerts take place in Rivera Recital Hall, located in RSC鈥檚 Bradley Hall.

Qualifications for RSC Senior Category
Open to all RSC private lesson students in grades 9-12. All competitors must be enrolled in their second consecutive semester or greater at RSC. Summers are not counted in this total.

Senior Category Prizes
First place: $500 RSC Scholarship
Second place: $250 RSC Scholarship

Qualifications for RSC Junior Category
Open to all RSC private lesson students in grades 7-8. All competitors must be enrolled in their second consecutive semester or greater at RSC. Summers are not counted in this total.

Junior Category Prizes
First place: $350 RSC Scholarship
Second place: $225 RSC Scholarship

RSC Senior Audition Repertoire
JS Bach Prelude & Fugue from The Well Tempered Clavier I or II by JS Bach, plus contrasting piece (total time not to exceed 15 minutes). PDF of clean scores unmarked, but with measure numbers. Link to Unlisted YouTube Video (requirements below).

RSC Junior Audition Repertoire
JS Bach Invention or Sinfonia, plus a contrasting piece (total time not to exceed 12 minutes). PDF of clean scores unmarked, but with measure numbers. Link to Unlisted YouTube Video (requirements below).

Video Requirements
1. At least 720p, preferably 1080p or higher
2. One continuous take, unedited, required JS Bach piece and contrasting work
3. Pianist鈥檚 face, hands, and feet must be visible and fill most of the screen
4. Ensure the video has good quality audio and image
5. Do not use special effects, dissolves, etc.
6. Please announce the date at the beginning of the recording before playing. Submission of pre-recorded performances or pre-recorded live performances prior to 1/1/24 will NOT be accepted
7. Please wear concert attire
8. Competitors bow when finished, as when performing in a recital

**Deviations from the above requirements will be accepted and heard, but not considered for a prize.**

YouTube Instructions
1. Log into YouTube or create a free account.
2. Click the camera+ icon (top right corner) to upload a new video
3. Title your video: Last Name, First Name, RSC Competition
4. Description: Composer, Title, Key, Opus# or BWV
5. 鈥淚s this video made for kids?鈥 select, 鈥淣o, it鈥檚 not made for kids.鈥
6. Click 鈥淯nlisted鈥 under the 鈥淰isibility鈥 section and copy the link for your video to include in your application.
7. Click 鈥淪ave.鈥 Your video may take a while to process if it is a large, high-def file.


History

The A. Ramn Rivera Piano Competition was founded in 1990 to honor Mr. Rivera as an extraordinary and inspirational teacher. The competition reflects his uncompromisingly high standards for artistry in music and beauty of sound and is intended to encourage young pianists to continue their search for excellence.


The 2024 Winners

Congratulations to the 2024 Winners (ARR winners will be announced after ARR Jr. and Sr. Finals Concerts):

Senior Competition
Henry Tushman, first prize, RSC Competition (student of Sandra Hebert)
Emily Zhou, second prize, RSC Competition (student of Sandra Hebert)

Junior Competition
Cole Delgado, first prize, RSC Competition (student of Ian Lindsey)


Previous First Prize Winners

Katherine Chen, Joyce Do, Sarah Kisin, & Gaiyatri Mathew (2023)
Victoria Park, Justin Wang, Pamela Hao, & Sarah Xu (2022)
Gaeun Ginny Lee (2021)
No Competition due to Global Pandemic (2020)
Kyle Chen, Julius Arolovitch & Theodore Teng (2019)
Khoi Le (2018)
Ahana Mukhopadhyay & Emilia DeJesus (2017)
Evren Ozel & Simonida Spasojevic (2016)
Niklas Kniesche (2015)
Victor Li & Alicia Juan (2014)
Christopher Staknys & Eric Lu (2013)
Nicholas Griffiths (2012)
Aaron Behr & Matthew Wu (2011)
Harry Li & Mackenzie Melemed (2010)
Evan Rees & Chi Wei Lo (2009)
Martin Falk & Ariel Borensztein (2008)
Roger Creel (2007)
Roger Creel & Katherine Peterson (2006)
Erli Veizaj & Yundu Wang (2005)
Sean Martinez, Luis F. Ortiz & Jessica Yam (2004)
Larry Weng & Yang Yang (2003)
Sang-Eun Hwang, Aaron Marcus &
Emi Okumura (2002)
Alexander Kossey (2001)
Eben Lichtman & Olga Parsegova (2000)
Ingrid Phoebe Keller & Alexander Kossey (1999)
Jessica Tai (1998)
Katherine Fisher (1996)
David Greco (1995)
Jocelyn Chapman (1994)
Drew Baker (1993)
Jonathan Jao (1992)
Kimberly Hamill (1991)