The VPS Concerto Competition is open to pianists of all ages and nationalities, including those not enrolled in VPS Performing Artists. Winners perform as soloists with the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Kenneth Hsieh, at Christ Church Cathedral — one of Vancouver's most iconic and historical venues.
applications
Application Deadline
04.15.26
Final Round
08.01.26 2:00 PM
Application Fee
$350.00 CAD
Gala Concert
08.12.26 7:00 PM
A note from VPS Artistic Directors
VPS is excited to present this opportunity to all pianists who wish to experience the thrill and inspiration of performing with a professional orchestra. We have been mindful in our structure, procedure, and planning in regards to the competition. All students, whether attending our festival or not, will be given the same opportunity and consideration by our judges in both the preliminary and final rounds. Current and past VPS students will be given no preferential treatment in the selection of our finalists and winners.
Competition structure
The VPS Concerto Competition is open to pianists of all ages and nationalities (VPS 2026 enrollment not required). The Competition will be divided into two rounds as follows:
Preliminary round
Online application form and non-refundable application fee
Competitors will submit any one single movement chosen from the official repertoire list (see below). The performance may include accompaniment with orchestra or second piano. The Preliminary Jury will review all submissions and select 20 competitors to advance to the next round. All candidates will be informed of the result of their application on May 15, 2026.
Final round
August 1, 2026 2:00 PM | Christ Church Cathedral
Live audition with second piano accompaniment of the same movement presented in the preliminary round. The Final Jury will choose 6 winners who will be performing at VPS Gala Concert.
VPS Gala Concert
August 12, 2026 7:00 PM | Christ Church Cathedral
The 6 winners will perform their concerto movement with the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra (VMO) conducted by Maestro Kenneth Hsieh.
Age categories
Preliminary round competitors will be divided into 4 age categories as follows (ages as of August 1, 2026):
Junior:
12 and under
intermediate:
15 and under
senior:
18 and under
open:
19 and above
Up to 7 finalists will be chosen from each category to proceed to the live round
Jury
preliminary round
final round
Repertoire list
Johann Sebastian Bach
Keyboard Concerto in D minor, BWV 1052
Keyboard Concerto in F minor, BWV 1056
Joseph Haydn
Keyboard Concerto No. 11 in D major, Hob. XVIII:11
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Any Piano Concerto
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 19
Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73
Felix Mendelssohn
Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25
Piano Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 40
Frédéric Chopin
Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11
Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21
Franz Liszt
Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, S.124
Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major, S.125
Totentanz (Dance of Death), S.126
Hungarian Fantasy, S.123
Robert Schumann
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54
Edvard Grieg
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16
Camille Saint-Saëns
Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22
Piano Concerto No. 4 in C minor, Op. 44
Piano Concerto No. 5 in F major, Op. 103
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Piano Concerto No. 1 in F-sharp minor, Op. 1
Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18
Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30
Maurice Ravel
Piano Concerto for the Left Hand in D major, M. 82
Piano Concerto in G major, M. 83
George Gershwin
Piano Concerto in F major
Dmitri Shostakovich
Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major, Op. 102
Dmitry Kabalevsky
Piano Concerto No. 3 in D major, Op. 50 (“Youth”)
Sergei Prokofiev
Piano Concerto No. 1 in D-flat major, Op. 10
Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26
Edward MacDowell
Piano Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 23
