What is the schedule?

It all begins Wednesday afternoon with check-in and a welcome reception. Meet the organizers and fellow contestants at Longy with appetizers and drinks.

Thursday morning: 3-hour masterclass. Thursday afternoon: silver, followed by gold stream preliminary rounds until dinner time.

Friday morning: 3-hour masterclass. Friday afternoon: gold stream preliminary round continues.

Saturday morning: Piano festival performed by BPAA members 10 AM. Noon: Jury feedback for contestants. Afternoon: silver finalists and gold semi-finalists.

Sunday morning: Piano marathon for people who did not advance to the finals. Noon:: 2022 winner’s recital, followed by jury feedback. Afternoon: gold stream finals. Closing reception will be held after the awards ceremony.

Where is the venue?

Pickman Hall at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, address is 27 Garden Street, is just a couple of blocks from Harvard University in Cambridge.  It is an intimate performance space with seating capacity for 260 people and a 9-foot Steinway concert grand piano. With its superb acoustics it's also home to Celebrity Series events, where many world-famous pianists have performed, including most recently Daniil Trifonov, Beatrice Rana, Martin Helmchen, Conrad Tao and Alexander Malofeen. Previous notable Longy faculty include Nadia Boulanger, Victor Rosenbaum and Peter Serkin.

Will the event be live streamed?

Yes, all performances that take place in Pickman Hall will be live streamed. Links will be posted on this website. If the livestream does not work, the performance is archived and can be viewed later.

Patron Etiquette

Program booklets are available in the lobby, and also on the competition website. No Entry into the Competition Hall during performances. Please silence all cellphones, etc. Observe utmost silence. Clap only at the ending of the entire performance, not in between pieces. If you think you’ll suffer a prolonged coughing fit, please leave as quietly and quickly as possible. No children under six allowed in the Competition Hall. If you enjoyed the competition, please consider donating, either cash in the DONATION bottles at the reception area, or on the website: https://www.bostonpianoamateurs.org/donations

Where are the restrooms and the water dispenser?

Below Pickman Hall (down circular staircase) in the basement level next to the staircase.

Where is the Wolfinsohn Room?

The Wolfinsohn Room is where the masterclasses, opening and closing receptions, stage warm-up and jury feedback will take place. Go past the entrance of Pickman Hall, turn right at the far wall. Take fifteen steps and the Wolfinsohn Room will be on your right.

What if I need a page turner or have a change in my repertoire?

Request a neon index card from your warm-up room to stage escort, and write down your request/change and hand the card to the announcer prior to going on stage.

Who are the members of the Jury?

Michael Lewin (chair), Wayman Chin, Yukiko Sekino, Roberto Poli and Renana Gutman.

Who are the masterclass teachers?

Sergey Schepkin and Hugh Hinton., and Tim McFarland for the piano marathon.

How do I know if I’m accepted as a contestant?

You will receive confirmation of your online application within 24 hours. A few weeks later, after your payment has cleared and the audition video has been reviewed, you will receive a confirmation email with more information about the competition.

How do I take a black-and-white photo?

To take a black-and-white portrait on an iPhone, go to Camera, open the Camera app and swipe to the left to open Portrait mode. Here, you will find five effects, with the last two being black-and-white options. These are called “Stage Light Mono” and “High Key Light Mono.” Tap on one of them.

Can I repeat repertoire in subsequent rounds?

No repetitions allowed.

Does the 15-minutes repertoire limit include applause?

You have fifteen minutes to go on stage, get settled, play your repertoire and leave the stage.

Can I change my repertoire after I submit my application?

You can change the repertoire until the moment the step on stage. However, it’s best not to change it after April 1, since the repertoire you submit by then will be in the printed program booklet.

Do I have to memorize my repertoire?

No, you can bring sheet music. A page turner will be supplied upon request.

Am I required to play the composer's repeats?

By necessity, many pieces in the repertoire would exceed the fifteen-minute limit if all the repeats are played. It's up to the contestant's artistic judgment to decide if all, or some, repeats can be skipped, keeping in mind that some pieces might sound incomplete without repeats. And if repeats are played, it is up to the pianist to show their artistry and ingenuity in playing them differently the second time.

Can I warm up before my performance on stage?

Yes, you can play for up to 15 minutes before your performance in the masterclass room on a Steinway B.

What is the difference between the silver and the gold streams?

It's entirely your choice which stream (gold or silver) you prefer.  Silver stream is no more than 30 minutes of repertoire (15 minutes first round, and if you advance to the second round, another 15 minutes).  Gold stream has three rounds, with the final round 30 minutes long, if you advance. So one hour of repertoire.  The prize money is more for the gold stream.

Can I change from the silver to the gold stream (or vice versa)?

Yes, until April 1.

How do I know whether the competition has filled up?

The Application Form button will stop working. But you can email to confirm that it’s not due to a technical glitch.

How many pianists will participate?

There will be a maximum of 40 total contestants, and no wait list, with gold versus silver stream the contestant’s choice.

What is Jury feedback?

You can receive five minutes of feedback from each jury member, on a first come, first served basis. On Friday and Saturday around noon time..

What is the Piano Marathon?

On Sunday morning the people who did not advance to the finals get another chance to play, with feedback from Tim MacFarland, a well-known professional pianist.

Contestants sign up for 10-minute blocks, so plan for about 7 minutes of repertoire, and 3 minutes of feedback.

What is the Piano Festival?

Members of the Boston Piano Amateurs Association, who sponsor the competition, perform a varied repertoire for the membership and contestants on Saturday morning.

Are there practice rooms?

Richard Einhorn will contact you in April to schedule 2-hours/day in the practice rooms at Longy, and maybe more, as other contestants don't always use all of their allotted time. This starts at 6 PM on 6/5.. If you want to have additional access to practice pianos before or during the competition, there is a facility nearby (2 miles away) at the Sommerville Music Spaces, where you can rent practice rooms at a reasonable rate.

Are there restaurants, hotels and public transportation nearby?

The Red Line Harvard T-stop is about a 10-15 minute walk, with service to Boston, as well as nearby bus service (75 and 72 routes). The Sheraton Commander hotel is across the street from Longy. There are also AirBnB listings not far from Longy. The Charles, Hyatt and Doubletree Hotels are nearby, though not within walking distance. There are many restaurants in Harvard Square, including the very conveniently located Nubar Restaurant in the lobby of the Sheraton Commander.

Is there parking nearby?

Parking is very limited and expensive. There are meters, but an empty meter is hard to find and will expire after a short time. The best bet is the University Place Garage, and there is also a parking lot on Church Street, which is closer by but smaller.