Regulations
The Fifth International Piano Competition Jeune Chopin for Children and Youth will take place from April 2 to April 5, 2027, at the Paderewski Hall in Lausanne, Switzerland.
1. Categories
The competition consists of three age categories :
Category I – for contestants aged 12 and under (one stage)
Category II – for contestants aged 15 and under (one stage)
Category III – for contestants aged 18 and under (two stages)
The competition is open to children and youth of all nationalities from around the world. A maximum of ten contestants will be accepted in each category.
Note: Previous 1st prize winners of any category from past editions of the competition are not eligible to participate again.
Contestants from institutions other than state-run music schools are also eligible to participate.
Contestants who fail to comply with the rules and regulations will be disqualified from the competition.
2. Application
The application must be submitted by December 31, 2026, and should include the following documents :
- Completed application form
- A certified copy of the contestant’s birth certificate
- A link to a video recording of the contestant performing on YouTube
- A bank payment receipt
- One photograph
Please send all materials to the following email address:
The entrance fee of 150 CHF (Swiss Francs) should be paid to the following bank account :
Institut Frédéric Chopin en Suisse
Banque Raiffeisen Schweiz Genossenschaft
Raiffeisen Platz 4
9001 St. Gallen
IBAN CH60 8080 8004 3783 9191 1
No. CB: 80808
SWIFT-BIC: RAIFCH22XXX
Note: All candidates must transfer the exact fee. The transaction costs for international transfers are the responsibility of the contestant or the institution sponsoring them.
The total value of prizes will amount to approximately 6,000 CHF, and winners will have the opportunity to perform in prestigious concert halls in Switzerland and Poland. Applications submitted after December 31, 2026, will not be considered.
3. Participants
By the end of January 2027, applicants will be notified about their participation in the competition.
- Contestants whose applications are rejected after the YouTube preselection round will not be reimbursed for the entrance fee.
- The entrance fee is non-refundable if the contestant withdraws after January 31, 2027, or fails to attend the audition in Lausanne.
- Participation costs (including travel, accommodation, and board) are to be covered by the contestants.
- The preliminary program must be recorded with good-quality audio and video equipment. The recording should show the contestant’s full profile, and all pieces must be performed from memory, including any repetitions indicated in the score.
- The program will be performed in the order specified in the application. Contestants will perform in alphabetical order, starting with the letter drawn during the drawing ceremony on January 31, 2027. The organizers reserve the right to adjust the order of performances.
- Only half of the Category III participants will proceed from Stage 1 to Stage 2. Those selected will perform in alphabetical order, starting with the letter drawn before Stage 1.
- The use of any edition is permitted; however, the national edition revised by Prof. Jan Ekier is recommended.
- Time Limits: The jury may interrupt a performance if the time limit is exceeded.
The competition is open to the public.
By participating, each contestant agrees to the following :
- The Institute may record and disseminate their performances, interviews, statements, and images for promotional and archival purposes.
- Contestants grant the Institute exclusive, unlimited rights to these recordings and related content, including permission to adapt, translate, or otherwise use the materials.
- Contestants authorize the Institute to exercise personal rights related to their performances without restrictions.
4. Jury & Laureates
The jury will consist of esteemed pianists and professors, nominated by the F. Chopin Institute in Switzerland. Many of the jurors are also members of the jury for the International Chopin Competition in Warsaw. The National Chopin Institute in Poland and Mrs. Martha Argerich have given their honorary patronage to the competition.
- The jury’s decision is final and not subject to appeal. In exceptional cases, the Competition Director may appoint a substitute juror.
- Participants will be scored on a scale from 1 to 25. Those who receive a score of 21 or higher will be recognized as laureates. The distribution of prizes is at the exclusive discretion of the jury.
- Laureates from all age categories are required to perform at the Laureates’ Concert as part of the competition’s accompanying events. No additional compensation will be provided for this performance.
- There will be no extra compensation for participants whose performances, recordings, or photographs are published or broadcast by radio, television, or press.
All participants must adhere to the competition’s rules, and these rules are not subject to appeal.
For further inquiries, please contact the Competition Office:
Institut F. Chopin en Suisse
Grand Rue 22
1820 Montreux, Switzerland
Email: contact@institutchopin.com