Composition Competition

We now invite submissions for the 2026 Australasian Piano Pedagogy Conference Composition Competition.

Hal Leonard Competition
(17 years and under)

1st Prize:
– Hal Leonard prize pack and publication
– $500 cash prize
– Professional recording of the prize-winning composition for digital release

2nd Prize:

– Professional recording of the prize-winning composition for digital release

Kawai Competition
(18–30 years)

1st Prize:
– Kawai ES120 portable keyboard
– $1000 cash prize
– Professional recording of the prize-winning composition for digital release

2nd Prize:

– Professional recording of the prize-winning composition for digital release

Aim

– To foster new pedagogical piano music from Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, with a focus on stimulating the interest of today's student pianists.

Eligibility

– Open to residents of Australia and New Zealand

– Hal Leonard Competition: age 17 and under as of 30 June 2026.
– Kawai Competition: aged 18 to 30 as of 30 June 2026.

Composition Requirements

– Solo piano works of maximum five minutes duration

– Music should appeal to student pianists from Grades 3 to 6.

– Submitted works must be original, composed after February 2024, and not previously published.

– Previously performed works are eligible.

Jury

– Dr Anne Cawrse (Composer; Adjunct Lecturer in Composition, The University of Adelaide)
– Yundi Yuan (Pianist, PhD candidate at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, The University of Adelaide)
– Benjamin Nicholls (Pianist, composer, PhD candidate at The University of Adelaide)

Important Dates

– Application closing date: Tuesday 10 March 2026.

– Prizewinners announced at the APPC conference in July 2026.

Entry Fee

– A non-refundable entry fee of $25 must be paid via the link.

– Your unique Order ID will be required for your submission.

Submission Checklist

– Completed and signed entry form (parent/guardian signature required if under 18).

– Composition score in PDF format only.

– Audio recording in WAV or MP3 formats (live recordings are preferred, but software-generated recordings are acceptable).

– All uploading materials will remain confidential and only shared by the judging panel.

Important Note: All submissions, including scores and WAV files will remain strictly private and confidential and stored on our secure servers.

Ready to Submit?

Your first step is to secure your entry by paying the competition fee through Humanitix. Simply click on the 'Enter' button on the right to proceed to the checkout. Once your entry has been processed, you will receive an Order ID number upon payment, which is essential for your submission.

Your Submission Form

Once you have obtained your Humanitix Order ID number, simply enter it into the bottom of your completed submission form, available at https://appca.com.au/composercomp/submission.html.