Recitals

Second round of the competition: Performance.

         First and Second place winners may register for the second round of the competition to Carnegie Hall, or any of listed below venues. 
 
Third Place winners are eligible to register at Merkin Hall (Kaufman Music Center, NY), Rockport Performance Arts Center (MA), the German Society of Pennsylvania (PA), Alger House of the War Memorial (MI), the Aga Khan Museum Concert Hall, or Crescendo TV (global).
 

Registration for Winners Recital for FIRST PLACE WINNERS opens on December 23rd, 2025 between 9:00-24:00 EST.

SECOND and THIRD place winners can register starting December 26th. 2025 Registration is available between 9:00-24:00 EST.

Registration for Carnegie Hall, Benaroya hall and Chan Center at University of British Columbia (UBC) concerts is available for the First and Second Place winners only, and based solely on “first come-first serve” basis, as all of our other recital venues. No exceptions. Registration for the recital will be closed once capacity is reached.

Please refer to our website and review the “How to Get to Carnegie Hall?” section for all relevant details https://crescendocompetition.org/international-competition/recitals/

  • Saturday, January 17, 2026, 7:30 pm at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Registration is closed
  • Saturday, January 24, 2026, 1:00 pm at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Registration is closed
  • Saturday, January 24, 2026, 7:30 pm at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Registration is closed
  • Sunday, February1, 2026, 1:00 pm at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Registration is closed
  • Sunday, February1, 2026, 7:30 pm at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Registration is closed
  • Saturday, February 7, 2026, 1:00 pm at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Registration is closed
  • Saturday, February 7, 2026, 7:30 pm at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Registration is closed
  • Sunday, February 15, 2026, 1:00 pm at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Registration is closed
  • Sunday, February 15, 2026, 7:30 pm at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Registration is closed
  • Sunday, February 22, 2026, 1:00 pm at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Registration is closed
  • Sunday, February 22, 2026, 7:30 pm at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Registration is closed
  • Sunday, March 29, 2026, 1:00 pm at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Registration is closed
  • Sunday, March 29, 2026, 7:30 pm at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Registration is closed
  • Saturday, April 25, 2026, 7:30 pm at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Registration is closed
  • Sunday, April 26, 2026, 2:00 pm at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, Gala Concert (by special invitation for selected winners). Registration is closed
  • Saturday, May 30. 2026, 11:00 am at Chan Centre For Performing Arts at University of British Columbia (UBC). 6265 Crescent Rd, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1. Registration is closed
  • Saturday, May 30. 2026, 4:00 pm at Chan Centre For Performing Arts at University of British Columbia (UBC). 6265 Crescent Rd, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1. Registration is closed
  • Sunday, May 24, 2026, 1:00 pm at Benaroya Hall at Seattle Symphony Orchestra, 200 University St, Seattle, WA 98101. Registration is closed
  • Saturday, May 16, 2026 11:00 am at Harvard University, John Knowles Paine Concert Hall at Harvard University, 3 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA USA.  Registration is open
  • SUnday, May 17, 2026 11:00 am at Harvard University, John Knowles Paine Concert Hall at Harvard University, 3 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA USA.  Registration is open
  • Saturday, April 11, 2026, 11:00 am at Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center,129 West 67th Street, New York, NY 10023. Registration is closed
  • Saturday, April 11, 2026, 3:00 pm at  Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center,129 West 67th Street, New York, NY 10023. Registration is closed
  • Sunday, May 31, 2026, 11 :00 am at Rockport Music  Shalin Liu Performance Art Center,37 Main Street, Rockport, MA 01966. Registration is closed 
  • Sunday, May 31, 2026, 4 :00 pm at Rockport Music  Shalin Liu Performance Art Center,37 Main Street, Rockport, MA 01966. Registration is closed
  • Sunday, June 14, 2026 2:00 pm at Aga Khan Museum concert hall, 77 Wynford Drive, Toronto, Ontario M3C 1K1 
  • Sunday, June 14, 2026 4:00 pm at Aga Khan Museum concert hall, 77 Wynford Drive, Toronto, Ontario M3C 1K1 
  • Sunday, March 8, 2026, 12:00 pm at The German Society of Pennsylvania, 611 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA19123. Last date to register February 22, 2026. Registration is closed
  • Sunday, March 8, 2026, 2:00 pm at The German Society of Pennsylvania, 611 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA19123. Last date to register February 22, 2026. Registration is closed
  • Sunday, March 8, 2026, 4:00 pm at The German Society of Pennsylvania, 611 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA19123. Last date to register February 22, 2026. Registration is closed
  • Sunday, April 12, 2026, 11:00 am Alger House of the War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Rd., Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236
  • Sunday, April 12, 2026, 1:00 pm Alger House of the War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Rd., Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236
  • Sunday, April 12, 2026, 3:00 pm Alger House of the War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Rd., Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236
  • Sunday, March 29, 2026, Crescendo TV channel on-line recitals. Last date to register Sunday March 15, 2026.

Repertoire requirements

Contestants are required to perform one composition from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, or Contemporary period. The performance must not exceed six (6) minutes. Repertoire changes from the First Round are not allowed. Refer to the General Information section for further details.

Message from photographer
Crescendo 2026 Mail Order Form
All contestants must wear formal attire.
Recitals fees
A Solo recital fee is $330 USD;
A Duet recital fee is $230 USD per member;
A Trio recital fee is $205 USD per member;
A recital fee of $160 USD per participant will be assessed for an ensemble of four and more musicians.
Tickets are not included.  For tickets reservation text to 732.539.4634 performer’s name, Unique Identifier number (UIN), date and time of recital, number of tickets you want to reserve. 
Booking will be closed 7 days prior to the recital date. No tickets need to be purchased for the performing artists.
 
A Solo recital fee is $685 USD;
A Duet recital fee is $410 USD per member;
A Trio recital fee is $350 USD per member;
A recital fee of $315 USD per participant will be assessed for an ensemble of four and more musicians.
Tickets are not included. For tickets reservation text to 732.539.4634 performer’s name, date and time of recital, number of tickets you want to reserve. Booking will be closed 7 days prior to the recital date. No tickets need to be purchased for the performing artists.
 
A Solo recital fee is $330 USD;
A Duet recital fee is $230 USD per member;
A Trio recital fee is $205 USD per member;
A recital fee of $160 USD per participant will be assessed for an ensemble of four and more musicians.
Free admission.
 
A Solo recital fee is $330 USD;
A Duet recital fee is $230 USD per member;
A Trio recital fee is $205 USD per member;
A recital fee of $160 USD per participant will be assessed for an ensemble of four and more musicians.
Free admission.
 

No recital fee for competition winners is required.

A Solo recital fee is $290 USD;
A Duet recital fee is $225 USD per member;
A Trio recital fee is $200 USD per member;
A recital fee of $150 USD per participant will be assessed for an ensemble of four and more musicians.
Free admission.
 

Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center

A Solo recital fee is $300 USD;
A Duet recital fee is $225 USD per member;
A Trio recital fee is $200 USD per member.
Tickets are not included. For tickets reservation text to 732.539.4634 performer’s name, date and time of recital, number of tickets you want to reserve. Booking will be closed 7 days prior to the recital date. No tickets need to be purchased for the performing artists.
 

A Solo recital fee is $235 USD; Duets, Trios and chamber groups $95 per artist.

Free admission.

For more information please contact Mr. Dizhou Zhao [email protected]

A Solo recital fee is $225 USD; Duets, trios and chamber groups $125 USD per artist.

Free admission.

  • Crescendo TV channel

$185 per solo or ensemble. For more information please contact Ms. Olga Bondarchuk-Huque [email protected]

  • The German Society of Pennsylvania

$210 for solo. $50 for each additional entry (e. q. duets, trios, chamber group). Recital Fee includes 6 complimentary tickets for family members. For more information please contact Ms. Olga Bondarchuk-Huque [email protected]

Recital Fees for includes: venue, stage crew personnel labor, security, ushers, audio system, preparation and publishing of legal Playbill, protocol, backstage crew, insurance, winner’s Certificate..

How to submit payments

  • To make payment via PayPal login in to your account and make payment to [email protected].
  • Checks or money orders should be mailed to:     Crescendo International Competitions, Inc., 9 North Main Street, Suite 4, Marlboro, New Jersey 07746.
Unpaid recital applications and ticket reservations will be canceled in 5 days.
 
 

How to get to Carnegie Hall?

1.“Practice, practice, practice”

2 Performing artists arrive 30-45 min prior to the curtain time for check-in at the backstage entrance located on 161 West 56th Street, New York, New York 10019. To minimize traffic at the backstage entrance, we kindly ask only one adult accompany young performers to security office.

3. Crescendo competition staff members escort artists to the back stage for brief practice at the backstage practice rooms.

4, Please be advised that …

a. Participants allowed to perform only one composition during the Winner’s Recital. (eg.  one movement of Sonata, Sonatina, or Concerto, one selection from Partita, Suite, or any ordered set of pieces are considered as one piece).
b. Performance duration is strictly limited to 6 minutes. Repeat signs and “Primo volta” (first endings) should not be performed. If the duration of the performance exceeds the allotted time limit of 6 min, student will be disqualified and suspended from receiving certificate.
c. Compositions must be performed from memory.
d.Certificates and prizes will be distributed at the conclusion of the recital and will not be sent by mail (except students participating in recital on Crescendo TV channel)
e. Scoring/placement awarded during the first round of the competition may be subject to changed (improvement/remediation) during the second round, pending performance quality. Decisions on monetary rewards are based on accumulated audition score, composition complexity and contestant’s artistic maturity. Rewards might be suspended due to poor performance.
 
5. All ticket holders use main entrance to Weill Recital Hall / Zankel Hall located at 57th Street.
 
6. Guests and family members may purchase tickets at the Weill Recital Hall / Zankel Hall’s BOX office.
 
7. Previously made ticket reservations will be available for pickup under the performer’s name at the Box Office one  hour prior to the curtain time. Please note, that availability of tickets is limited.
 
8. At the end of recital parents meet their children at the Weill Recital Hall / Zankel Hall lobby.
 
9. Please note that the taking of photographs, audio recordings and video recordings is strictly prohibited at all times in the Carnegie Hall.
 
10. Recital participants are responsible for the recital fees. All fees are non-refundable.
 
11. Please note that Recital  won’t be rescheduled to another date, or different recital hall  and recital fee won’t be credited in any circumstances.
 
 
 
How to get to Merkin Hall?
 
1. Performing artists arrive 30-45 min prior to the curtain time for check-in at entrance located on Kaufman Music Center 129 West 67th Street, New York, NY 10023.
 
2. Crescendo competition staff members escort artists to the back stage.
 
3. Please be advised that …
     a. Participants may only perform one composition during the Winner’s Recital. (eg.  one movement of Sonata, Sonatina, or Concerto, one selection from Partita, Suite, or any ordered set of pieces are considered as one piece).
     b. Performance duration is strictly limited to 6 minutes. Repeat signs and “Primo volta” (first endings) should not be performed. If the duration of the performance exceeds the allotted time limit of 6 min, student will be disqualified and suspended from receiving certificate.
     c. Compositions must be performed from memory.
     d. Certificates and prizes will be distributed at the conclusion of the recital and will not be sent by mail
     e. Scoring/placement awarded during the first round of the competition may be subject to changed (improvement/remediation) during the second round, pending performance quality. Decisions on monetary rewards are based on accumulated audition score, composition complexity and contestant’s artistic maturity. Rewards might be suspended due to poor performance.
 
4. Guests and family members may purchase tickets at the Merkin Hall’s BOX office.
 
5. Previously made ticket reservations will be available at the Box office under performer’s name. Please note, that availability of tickets is limited.
 
6. At the conclusion of the recital parents meet their children at the Merkin Hall lobby.
 
7. Photography, audio recordings and video recordings is permitted. PLEASE, DO NOT USE FLASH.
 
8. Recital participants are responsible for the recital fees. All fees are non-refundable.
 
9. Please note that Recital  won’t be rescheduled to another date, or different recital hall  and recital fee won’t be credited in any circumstances.
 
Attention High School Students:

Crescendo Competitions is a  non-profit non-commercial organization that operates exclusively for educational purposes.
Students who have participated in Crescendo International Competition for five (5) years may qualify for a Letter of Recommendation for College/ University.
Letters of Recommendation from Crescendo International Competition are accepted at all Colleges and Universities across the USA.