By arts editor HELEN MUSA

More than 400 performances by young pianists from Canberra, interstate and overseas, including a visiting group from Vietnam, will fill the Wesley Music Centre when the Australian National Eisteddfod’s Piano competition returns from August 15 to 20.

Competitors of all ages will perform a wide-ranging repertoire before distinguished adjudicators, making it one of the year’s biggest celebrations of emerging piano talent.

The week’s highlight is the Open Piano Championship, sponsored by Dianne Anderson, to be held at 2.30pm on Sunday, August 16, but the finalists will also be performing in two Open Sections from 9.30am that morning.

Outstanding young pianists from around Australia will compete for a prize pool of more than $10,000, thanks to the longstanding support of talented young musicians by Mrs Anderson, who says of the annual performances, “this event is wonderful and especially great to see the young children playing beautifully.”

The Eisteddfod is also strengthening opportunities for younger performers, with both Junior (13 years and under) and Senior (19 years and under) Piano Championships offering a combined prize pool of $2000 to encourage the development of performance repertoire.

Age-group sections for pianists aged seven to 18 will run throughout the week, with preliminary Open sections taking place on the morning of Sunday, August 16 before the championship that afternoon.

Adjudicating the competition will be well-known pianists and educators Konstantin Shamray from Sydney (August 15-16) and Kristian Chong from the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (August 17-20). Chong appeared at this year’s Canberra International Music Festival alongside 2025 Open Piano Championship winner Joshua Han.

The Piano Eisteddfod aims to encourage participation in the performing arts while fostering confidence, creativity and a sense of community among performers. Audiences are invited to come along and support the next generation of musical talent.

Australian National Eisteddfod Piano competition, Wesley Music Centre, 22 National Circuit, Forrest, August 15-20. All program and booking information here.

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