Alicante InternationalPianoCompetition

Deadline to submit your application:
May 24. 2026






1. The Fourth Gonzalo Soriano International Piano Competition is open for pianists of all nationalities in the world.


2. The organiser of the Contest is the Ars Alta Cultural Association. The contest will take place from July 8 to July 11, 2026 at Casa de Cultura de Sant Joan d'Alacant, the official collaborator of the Contest.
The Master Classes with the Jury Members will take place right after the Competition, on the 12th and 13th of July.


3. COMPETITION CATEGORIES:

• PRODIGY Category: Up to 8 years old
• YOUNG PROMISES category A: 9-11 years
• YOUNG ARTISTS Category B: age 12-14 years
• YOUNG MASTERS Category C: age 15-17 years
• GRAND PRIX Category "GONZALO SORIANO": age 18-32 years

The age of the contestant must be the corresponding age on the day of the performance.

3.1 Students of Jury Members are not accepted to compete.
4. REPERTOIRE:

4.1 The contestants can freely choose their repertoire. All styles and periods within the field of classical music will be accepted.


Prodigy Category: up to 5 minutes (one round)
Great Promises Category A: up to 6 minutes (one round)
Category Young Artists B: up to 11 minutes (one round)
Category Young Masters C: up to 13 minutes (one round)
GRAND PRIX "GONZALO SORIANO" Category D:
1st round: up to 15 minutes, to include a virtuoso Etude
Final: Minimum 27, maximum 30 minutes, Free repertory.





4.2 All contestants are required to play their program from memory.

4.3 If a contemporary work is included in the program, it will be necessary to send the scores of the work to the organisation.



7. JURY

7.1 The Jury Members are artistic directors, concert pianists and international pedagogues.

7.2 The decisions of the jury will be based on the internal regulations of the contest itself.


7.3 The decisions of the jury will be final and irrevocable.




8. PRIZES

Various prizes will be awarded based on the category and singular interpretations. The different prizes will be financed by sponsors that collaborate in the Contest.

All contestants will receive a certificate of participation in the contest.

Prodigy Category:
The absolute winner will receive the Prize "Young Prodigy" Award
Diploma of honor and prize endowed with €100

98-100 points: Absolute prize and accrediting diploma
95-97 points: First prize and accrediting diploma
90-94 points: Second prize and accrediting diploma
85-89 points: Third prize and accrediting diploma

Category A: Great Promises:

The absolute winner will receive the Prize "Great Promise" Award
Diploma of honor and prize endowed with €100

98-100 points: Absolute prize and accrediting diploma
95-97 points: First prize and accrediting diploma
90-94 points: Second prize and accrediting diploma
85-89 points: Third prize and accrediting diploma
Less than 84 points: Mention and accrediting diploma


Category B: Young Artist:

The Absolute Prize winner will receive the "Rotary Club l'Alfás del Pi Internacional" Award.
Diploma of honor and prize endowed with €350


+In addition, the participation in the Young Promises concert in Alfas del Pi
(organized by Rotary Club l’Alfás del Pi Internacional)



98-100 points: Absolute prize and accrediting diploma
95-97 points: First prize and accrediting diploma
90-94 points: Second prize and accrediting diploma
85-89 points: Third prize and accrediting diploma
Less than 84 points: Mention and accrediting diploma

Category C: Young Masters:


The absolute winner will receive the “Franz Liszt Center” Award.
Diploma of honor and prize of €400

Also participating in:


+In addition, the participation in the Young Promises concert in Alfas del Pi
(organised by Rotary Club l’Alfás del Pi Internacional)

98-100 points: Absolute prize and accrediting diploma
95-97 points: First prize and accrediting diploma
90-94 points: Second prize and accrediting diploma
85-89 points: Third prize and accrediting diploma
Less than 84 points: Mention and accrediting diploma



Category D: GRAND PRIX "GONZALO SORIANO"

1st prize: Grand Prix Award “Gonzalo Soriano” +2000€

+ Recital






2nd prize: €1000
"Liszten Concert" in Auditorium of La Nucia, organised by Franz Liszt Center


3rd prize: €500


Surprises with external collaborators might occure, like in our last edition where several pianists got awarded with recitals .

SPECIAL PRIZES:


-“Oscar Esplá” Award for the best interpretation of Spanish music: consisting of a Diploma of Honor (Categories C and Grand Prix)
-"Guitarist José Tomás" Award for the best performer from Alicante: they must have been born or reside in the province of Alicante. Also to interpreters who, being non-residents, have completed at least three courses in professional or higher music centers in the province. Consisting of a Diploma of Honor. They must provide supporting documentation.
-“Centro Franz Liszt” Award for the best resident pianist in Spain: 2 free Master Classes at the Franz Liszt Center in La Nucia




9. REGISTRATION FEES

PRODIGY Category: 60 euros
Category A:YOUNG PROMISES 70 euros
Category B: GREAT PROMISES 80 euros
Category C: YOUNG MASTER 90 euros
Category D: GRAND PRIX category: "GONZALO SORIANO":120€

9.2 Bank or transfer fees will be payed by the contestant. We will send payment instructions after accepting the contestant's application.

9.3 The registration fee is a single payment and includes participation in the contest. The registration fee will be refunded only in the event that the contest cannot be held due to a decision by the artistic direction or for reasons related to the pandemic. In case of absence of the candidate, the refund of the registration fee will not be possible.



10. Application


Please fill in our registration form. We will register it within 24h.

After receiving the registration we will confirm the acceptance and we will indicate the method of payment of the registration fee.

If you don't hear from us after 24h, please contact us.

10.1 The application of minor contestants must be sent by their parents or legal guardians.

10.2 The Competition reserves the right to modify the regulations in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

11. Sending the application will imply full acceptance of the rules of this contest by the participant.

12. It is possible to participate in an older category (but not a younger one), but in any case it is possible to participate in only one category.

Pianos will be made available to the candidates to practice and the piano of the competition can be tried.