501(C)(3) Charitable Non-Profit Organization
Now Accepting Applications Through August 10, 2026!
Festival Series Requirements
Recognized by the Alink-Argerich Foundation since 2022, the competition has attracted talented young pianists from leading institutions, including The Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music, the Royal Academy of Music, and major conservatories throughout Asia, Europe, and North America.
Beginning in 2027, Pacific Stars proudly introduces the Festival Series, a new artistic initiative created alongside the Main Competition. While the Main Competition follows traditional age divisions with Regional Rounds leading to the Final Round, the Festival Series offers specialized performance categories designed to celebrate stylistic interpretation, collaborative performance, and concerto repertoire.
Unlike the Main Competition, all Festival Series categories are presented in a single-round format, with Festival Awards announced following the conclusion of each Festival session.
See Important Dates for detailed schedules
Festival Categories
Period Festivals
Baroque & Classical Festival
Featured Composers
Bach · Handel · Scarlatti · Haydn · Mozart · Beethoven · Clementi · Early Schubert
1-2 Free Selection · Performance Time
5 Minutes Maximum
Romantic Festival
Featured Composers
Chopin · Liszt · Schumann · Brahms · Mendelssohn · Tchaikovsky · Rachmaninoff · Grieg · Saint-Saëns
1-2 Free Selection · Performance Time
5 Minutes Maximum
Impressionistic & Contemporary Festival
Featured Composers
Debussy · Ravel · Prokofiev · Bartók · Kabalevsky · Messiaen · Contemporary Composers
1-2 Free Selection · Performance Time
5 Minutes Maximum
Chamber Festival Music
Chamber Music Festival
Eligible Ensembles
Piano Duet (Four Hands) · Two Pianos · Violin & Piano · Cello & Piano · Piano Trio · Piano Quartet
At least one piano must be included in the ensemble.
Junior Chamber Festival
Average Age 12 and Under
1-2 Free Selection · Performance Time
6 Minutes Maximum
Young Artist Chamber Festival
Average Age 13–18
1-2 Free Selection · Performance Time
7 Minutes Maximum
Artist Chamber Festival
Average Age 19–32
1-2 Free Selection · Performance Time
8 Minutes Maximum
Concerto Festival
Registration Fee
All performances must be presented with second piano accompaniment.
One movement of a concerto is required.
Junior Concerto Festival
Age 12 and Under
One movement of Concerto · Performance Time
9 Minutes Maximum
Young Artist Concerto Festival
Age 13–18
One movement of Concerto· Performance Time
10 Minutes Maximum
Artist Concerto Festival
Age 19–32
One movement of Concerto · Performance Time
11 Minutes Maximum
Early Bird Application (January 1 – March 31)
Period Festivals: $160 (non-refundable)
Chamber Music Festival: $200 per ensemble (non-refundable)
Concerto Festival: $220 (non-refundable)
Regular Application (April 1 – May 15)
Period Festivals: $180 (non-refundable)
Chamber Music Festival: $220 per ensemble (non-refundable)
Concerto Festival: $240 (non-refundable)
Late Application (May 16 – May 30)
Period Festivals: $200 (non-refundable)
Chamber Music Festival: $240 per ensemble (non-refundable)
Concerto Festival: $260 (non-refundable)
Applications may be submitted through the online application portal below.