Piano Arts Competition
Announcing the 2026 Piano Arts Competition!
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Saturday, April 4th, 2026
We are thrilled to offer pre-college competition opportunities at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga! This year, the Piano Arts Competition will be held in person in the Cadek Recital Hall on Saturday, April 4, 2026. The piano competition is an annual event and is an excellent performance and competition opportunity in two categories, junior high school and high school, in Tennessee and its surrounding states.
Eligibility
- Middle School piano students in grades 6-8.
- High School piano students in grades 9-12.
- 1st Prize Winners from the previous year may not compete in the same category.
Repertoire
- Students must perform a minimum of two pieces representing two different style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionist, and Modern/Contemporary. Memorization is required except for avant-garde works written after 1950. Compositions written for prepared piano and popular music selections are not appropriate.
- Maximum performance times:
- Middle School: 15 minutes
- High School: 20 Minutes
Awards
The judging panel reserves the right to withhold awards if eligibility requirements are not met.
| Category | First Prize | Second Prize | Third Prize |
| Middle School Category (grades 6-8) | $75.00 | $50.00 | $25.00 |
| High School Category (grades 9-12) | $100.00 | $75.00 | $50.00 |
Admission Audition
Graduating seniors may use this competition as an Entrance Audition into the UTC Department of Performing Arts:
Music Department.
Scholarships
Graduating seniors who plan to attend UTC are also eligible for scholarship awards, including the prestigious Arthur Rivituso Memorial Scholarship of $2000.00 per year.
Entrance Fee
- Middle School Category (grades 6-8) - $23.00
- High School Category (grades 9-12) - $28.00
Please make checks payable to UTC Music.
Judges
The judging panel will include faculty from the UTC Department of Music. If a judge is related to or has taught a contestant, that member will recuse himself/herself from voting on said contestant.
Application
Applications are due Sunday, March 22, 2026, by 11:59 PM.
Questions
Contact Dr. Danny Milan.