NC Piano Festival Apply & Audition

Eligibility

The inaugural 2026 North Carolina Festival is designed for pre-college and college-age pianists ages 16-26. Students are expected to participate in daytime, evening, and weekend evening activities, including recitals and outreach concerts. Students aged 14-15 who demonstrate advanced playing level are encouraged to apply and will be accepted on a case-by-case basis.  All students who reside less than 25 miles from UNCSA are not eligible for campus housing. NCPF students over 18 and students traveling to Winston Salem for the festival with their families should make their own living arrangements. We encourage early applications for college-age students who wish to live on campus, as on-campus housing capacity is limited.

Application and Audition Requirements 

To apply for the North Carolina Piano Festival, complete an application at this link being careful to select the desired option and submit all audition materials no later than April 15, 2026. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance status by April 20, 2026. Accepted applicants must confirm their participation and pay the deposit by May 1.

Early notification: students of exceptional merit who apply before March 1 may obtain early decision notification. Waitlisted students will be notified of their status after May 1. NCPF is open to both commuter and residential students. .

Audition Requirements

Upload Your Audition Materials

Submit by April 15, 2026:

1. Links to two recent, contrasting live video recordings submitted as individual open access URL links.  iCloud, Google Drive, YouTube are accepted upload formats. The recordings must show the performer’s hands and face as well as the entire keyboard.  
2. Recent headshot (high resolution, neutral background photos only, JPEG or similar format)
3. Recent repertoire list (Word or PDF format, single page)
4. A short bio with a focus on piano studies and performances (Word or PDF format, single page)
5. Scholarship request form (if desired)

Hear our students perform