Cape Town - Cape Town International Piano Competition

Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, set between mountain and ocean at the southern tip of Africa — and increasingly recognised for the sophistication of its arts and culture scene, on the continent and beyond. Our six finalists will each perform a full concerto in the Finals with the celebrated Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of esteemed Maestro Daniel Raiskin, before audiences whose warmth and unwavering commitment to the art form make every performance an occasion.

The Competition is built around a unique structure: it runs alongside our Cape Piano Festival, taking performances to unusual locations across the city, giving our contestants the chance to connect directly with communities, not only with concert-hall audiences. That connection between stage and community sits at the heart of our mission, and the Competition is its newest expression on an international scale.

Winners will share in over $70,000 USD in prize money, alongside global recital opportunities that extend their careers well beyond competition week. We are proud to have built partnerships with the Ferruccio Busoni Competition and The Gilmore Rising Star Series, as well as Bachfest, Leipzig, giving our laureates access to some of the most respected platforms and audiences in the piano world as they launch their international careers.

We see the Competition as both a rigorous artistic proving ground and a genuine cultural moment for Cape Town place on the global classical music map.