Sonor Piano Competition 2027
Sonor Piano Competition 2027
About:
Welcome to the Sonor Piano Competition, 3rd edition! Our mission is to promote Mongolian classical piano music by inspiring young musicians to explore new sounds, embrace creativity, and develop greater musical diversity and artistic versatility through performance.
Beyond the competition itself, we hope each participant will see this as an opportunity to challenge themselves, grow as both musicians and artists, and embark on a journey of dedication, practice, and self-discovery.
The competition is open to pianists of all levels, ages 5–18, in both in-person and online formats. Bay Area participants are encouraged to participate in person.
Important Dates:
Registration Opens: Saturday, August 1st, 2026.
Registration Closes: Saturday, January 16th, 2027.
Late applications incur a processing fee $25.
Online Festival: Monday, January 23rd, 2027
Competition Day: Saturday, January 30th, 2027, Berkeley, CA
Results Announcement: Monday, February 1st, 2027.
Laureates Concert Day: Saturday, February 6th, 2027.
1:00 PM Piedmont, CA
Registration:
Registration for both the In-person and Online Competition is open until January 16th, 2027. After submitting the registration form, please make your non-refundable payment (see fee schedule below). Registration fees are due at the time of submission.
Category A - Elementary $70
Category B - High Elementary $70
Category C - Intermediate $70
Category D - High Intermediate $80
Category E - Pre Advanced $80
Category F - Advanced $80
1. Zelle: Use the phone number 925-878-8763
Include the performer’s name in the memo box
2. Check: Must be received by Saturday, January 16th, 2027.
Mail to: Sonor Music School 3391 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Ste B. Lafayette, CA 94549
Include the performer’s name in the memo
3. PayPal: Please use the buttons below to register using PayPal.
A processing fee of $4.00 to $4.50 will be added.
awards:
In the Online Competition, 1st Prize winners will receive cash awards, while 1st–3rd Prize winners will receive trophies and certificates.
In the In-Person Competition, 1st–3rd Prize winners will receive cash awards, trophies, and certificates. Recipients of awards in the In-Person Competition must be present at the Ceremony Laureates Concert and Ceremony to receive their monetary awards, trophies, certificates, and Special Awards. Awards not claimed in person will be forfeited. The total amount of monetary awards is $5,000.
Special Awards: Two Sonor Awards for Best Performance of a Mongolian Work and two Sonor Awards for Excellence in Teaching, presented across the online and in-person competitions.
Online participants will receive their certificates and evaluation sheets through email. The recipient must pay for any international shipping fees for awards.
Rules:
Open to participants of all levels, ages 5-18.
2 (two) pieces within the given time limit. 1 (one) Mongolian piece and 1 (one) own choice piece from Baroque to Contemporary period.
There will be no repeats unless D.C. al Fine is noted. Please see Categories / Repertoires for more information on repertoire requirements.
Music scores are available for purchase on our website as well as other free resources in PDF files per participants’ request. Upon registration, participants will receive an email with a folder of choices within their chosen level to download for free.
Memorization is required.
Performers may choose to play a higher-level piece from the Mongolian Repertoire List, but it can not be lower than the chosen level repertoire.
Original music scores must be provided to the judges on the day of competition for all the pieces and via email for online participants.
Categories:
Category A - Elementary: 2 pieces, up to 5 min.
- 1 Mongolian piece
- 1 Piece of choice
Category B - High Elementary: 2 pieces, up to 5min.
- 1 Mongolian piece
- 1 Piece of choice
Category C - Intermediate: 2 pieces, up to 10min.
- 1 Mongolian piece
- 1 Piece of choice
Category D - High Intermediate: 2 pieces, up to 10min.
- 1 Mongolian Piece
- 1 Piece of choice
Category E - Pre Advanced: 2 pieces, up to 15min.
- 1 Mongolian Piece
- 1 Piece of choice
Category F - Advanced: 2 pieces, up to 15min.
- 1 Mongolian Piece
- 1 Piece of choice
Repertoire Choices:
Participants should refer to the following document for a list of available repertoire choices, organized by levels. Upon registration, participants will receive an email with a folder of choices within their chosen level.
Competition Day:
Saturday, January 30th, 2027. Berkeley, CA
Registration is now open through Saturday, January 16th, 2027.
Participants must provide the original music and 1 copy to the adjudicators on the day of the competition.
Results will be announced on Monday, February 1st, on our website and informed by email.
Winners of each category will be awarded First, Second, and Third Place trophies, along with monetary prizes, certificates, and the judges’ evaluations.
Winners will receive their prizes at the Laureates Concert held on February 6th, 2027 at the Piedmont Center for the Arts.
Judges' decisions are final.
Online Competition:
Saturday, January 23rd, 2027.
Online participants will submit their performance video along with a PDF file of their original music score (including the cover of the music book) by Saturday, January 16, 2027
Submission Requirements:
Please upload your video to YouTube as unlisted and title it Sonor Piano Competition 2027
Video recordings must be made with one fixed side angle, ensuring that the performer’s face, hands, and legs are visible.
The pieces must be recorded separately, with 2 pieces within participants' applied level and time limits. Please upload all recordings at the same time.
Send the video link to admin@sonormusicschool.com
The subject of the email: SPC 2027, Name of the participant
Body of the email: Composer - Title of the piece and Level.
Attach your video links and your PDF sheet music.