Auditions

First round: Audition.

Registration for Crescendo International  Competition 2027 will be open on September 1, 2026.

Auditions will be held via video recording submissions, or in person*. For video submission requirements & instructions click here .

Video recording need to be submitted to the specific audition center on applicant’s preference. Videos should be submitted through YouTube and attached to the registration BEFORE THE DEADLINE . Other platforms than YouTube won’t be accepted. On YouTube menu select “Public” or “Unlisted” (do not choose “Private”).                    

Auditions will be held at the following competition venues:

    • New Jersey – Caldwell University, Visceglia Art Center, 120 Bloomfield Ave., Caldwell, NJ 07006. Audition date: Sunday, December 6, 2026, in-person and video submission entry. Registration deadline is November 29, 2026.              
    • New Jersey – Rider University, Fine Arts Center, Yvonne Theater at 2083 Lawrenceville Rd., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648-3099. Audition date: TBA. In-person and video submission entry.   
    • New Jersey – Crescendo Int. Competition headquarter, 9 North Main St., Suite #4, Marlboro, NJ 07746. Audition date: TBA. In-person and video submission entry. 
    • New Jersey – Masters Institute of Music, 168 Franklin Turnpike, Waldwick, NJ. Audition date: TBA. In person, Live auditions only. Registration deadline is December 13, 2025.      
    • New York – “PianoPiano Rehearsal Studios”, 37 West 65th St, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10023. Audition date: TBA. In-person and video submission entry. 
    • Pennsylvania –  West Chester University of Pennsylvania Swope Music Building, SMB100, 817 S. High Street, West Chester, PA 19382. Audition date TBA. Live in-person, prerecorded, Live via FaceTime.  Contact Ms. Olga Bondarchuk-Huque  at [email protected]. 
    • Pennsylvania – Settlement Music School, 318 Davisville Road, Willow Grove, PA 19090. Audition date: TBA. Live in-person, prerecorded, Live via FaceTime. Washington and Pacific Northwest – Seattle Steinway Piano Gallery, 1218 3rd Avenue, Suite 105, Seattle, WA 98101. Audition date TBA. In-person and video submission entry. Contact Ms. Alexandra Tsirkel at [email protected]. Click here to see official sponsor of Crescendo International Competition Steinway Piano Gallery. 
    • Massachusetts –  Sharon Music Academy, 112 N. Main St., Sharon, MA 02067. Audition date: TBA. In-person and video submission entry. Contact Ms. Tanya Schwartzman [email protected].        
    • Michigan – Kresge Hall at Madonna University 36600 Schoolcraft Rd. Livonia, MI 48150. This venue accommodates all  entries: In-person and video submission. The deadline for both in person and online audition TBA. Contact Mr. Dizhou Zhao at [email protected].  
    • Rhode Island – Bryant University, Machtley Interfaith Center, 1150 Douglas Pike, Smithfield , RI. Audition date: TBA. Contact Mrs. Nana Grace [email protected], or (617) 775-1374. R
    • California –  Pacific Institute of Music, 540 Plaza Dr., Suite 130, Folsom CA 9563. Audition date: TBA. Contact Ms. Carol Chuang  [email protected].   
    • Connecticut – Faust Harrison, 322 Black Rock Turnpike, Fairfield, CT 06825. Audition date:TBA. Both in-person and video audition are accepted. Contact: Ms. Elly Wen, [email protected].  
    • Canada, Montreal, Quebec – Conservatoire de musique de Montreal,  4750 Henri Julien H2T 3E5, Montreal, Quebec, Audition Rm. 2405. Audition date:  Sunday, TBA. Contact prof. Ana Drobac at [email protected].  
    • Vancouver, BC, – Dio Piano School, #305, 1549 Marine Drive, West Vancouver, BC, Canada, V7V 1H9. Audition date: TBA. Contact [email protected].  
    •  Canada, Toronto Midtown –  Wizz Kidz Yamaha Music School, 862 Eglinton Ave East, Toronto, ON. Audition dates:  TBA. This venue accommodates all  entries: in-person and video submission. Contact Ms. Eliza Wong  [email protected]. 
    • Canada, Toronto Outskirts – Symphonic Music Institute #103 – 80 Acadia Ave., Markham, ON, Canada L3R 9V1. Audition date: TBA. This venue accommodates all  entries: in-person and video submission. Contact  Ms. Ada Chen at [email protected]. 
    • Europe – Headquarter of European Union and UK – Italy, Rome, Accademia di Musica “Scatola Sonora”, via Ferruccio 32b, 00185. Audition date: TBA.  Contact Ms. Annamaria Diroma and Eugenia Nalivkina: [email protected]. Direct lines: Annamaria Diroma, Rome, Italy 00393470960533; Eugenia Nalivkina, European Union and United Kingdom 003463739795. 
    • Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar – AnuMusic Violin Studio, Khan Uul District 11th Khoroo Zaisan Center, 3rd Floor, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Audition date: TBA. Contact Anu Mendsaikhan [email protected]. 
    • Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar – Piano Amateurs Association in Mongolia, Metro Business Center,  6 khoroo, Sukhbaatar District,Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Audition date: TBA.This venue accommodates all  entries: in-person and video submission. Contact Ms. Munkhtuya Batmunkh at [email protected]. 
    • Japan – Osaka, Audition date: TBA. Video submission only. Contact Ms. Melody Zheng [email protected], CC to [email protected]. 
    • Japan – Tokyo, Audition date: TBA. Video submission only. Contact Ms. Melody Zheng [email protected], CC to [email protected]. 
    • Georgia, Tbilisi, New York, US – Audition date: September 19, 2026. Video submission only. The deadline for video submission: September 12, 2026. Contact Ms. Nini Shermadini [email protected]

–  Click here to Sign up for the audition –

– Click here to Login to your account –

Registration for Winners Recital for FIRST PLACE WINNERS open on Tuesday, December 23rd.
Second and third place winners can register starting December 26th.

** Please note that each recital has limited spots available, and spaces are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Registration for the First round (auditions) will  be closed 7 days before the audition date. 
Audition results will be uploaded to the participant  online account.

Participants may apply for auditions multiple times. One composition is considered one entry and maybe registered for the auditions only once.

Audition fees (are non-refundable):

Solo Performance: $100
Duet: $70 per performer
Trio: $ 60 per performer
Ensemble of 4 or more members: $50 per participant.

We accept debit and credit cards payments via PayPal. To make payment via PayPal login in to your account and make payment to [email protected]. Please specify student’s name on the Memo of your PayPal transaction or personal check.

All personal check, or money orders should be sent to the competition headquarters:
     Crescendo International Competitions, Inc.
     9 North Main Street, Suite 4,
     Marlboro, New Jersey 07746
 

Duets, Trios and Ensembles should submit one application. Please chose one student as a primary applicant and enter all other participants names in the special field on the application form.

Only one application form per duet or an ensemble is required.

    • Please note that the live audition format does not permit the presence of parents, or teachers.
    • Your applications status will be available in your profile under Active applications.
    • There is no strict time limit imposed at the auditions, but the judge may interrupt the performance.
    • No cuts allowed at the audition performances.
    • For the second round (recital performance) you may shorten the composition to avoid the extra time fee.
    • There is no requirement to have an accompanist at the auditions although it is preferred.
    • For the Second Round – Winners Recitals – all compositions requiring an accompaniment must be performed with accompaniment.

CRESCENDO INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION’S OFFICIAL MARKING SYSTEM

Achievement scores (out of 30):

First Place: 27-30
Second Place: 22-26.5
Third Place: 18-21.5
Honorary Mention: 15-17.5

The judges pre-select Winners of cash prizes according to first round results. The final decisions, however,  will be made based on recital performances.

Decisions on monetary rewards are based on accumulated auditions score, composition complexity, age of the contestant and contestant’s artistic maturity.

* Please, note that the award system is established in a manner which those who receive the First Place honor are not necessarily predisposed to receive a Prize. An applicant’s placement does not always correspond to the Prize they receive. With that being said, only judges may promote a winner’s Prize in the case of a special achievement.