A. Ramón Rivera Piano Competition

2025 Competition Dates

Timeline for the A. Ramón Rivera Piano Competition (ARR) and the RSC Piano Competition in Honor of A. Ramón Rivera (RSC):

March 21: Deadline to submit application and video for both ARR and RSC Competitions
April 7:  RSC Jr. and Sr. Winners announced
April 7: ARR Jr. and Sr. Finalists named
April 13 at 2:30 PM: ARR Jr. Finals Concert*
April 27 at 1:00 PM: ARR Sr. Finals Concert*
May 4 at 5:00 PM: Winners’ Recital, featuring the ARR and RSC first prize winners*

*Finals and Winners’ Concerts take place in Rivera Recital Hall, located in RSC’s Bradley Hall.

The Divisions

  1. The Open Division
    Senior; grades 9-12 (3 winners)
    Junior; grades 6-8 (3 winners)
  2. The Rivers School Conservatory Division (must be studying piano at RSC)
    Senior; grades 9-12 (2 winners)
    Junior; grades 6-8 (2 winners)

A. Ramón Rivera Piano Competition (ARR)

The A. Ramón Rivera Piano Competition is open to all pianists in grades 6-12 who are actively taking private lessons.

Application Fee
$100 fee for all applicants

Qualifications for ARR Senior Category
Open to all private lesson students in grades 9-12.

Senior Category Prizes*
First place: $750
Second place: $400
Third place: $250
Bach Prize: $300

ARR Senior Application Here

Qualifications for ARR Junior Category
Open to all private lesson students in grades 6-8.

Junior Category Prizes
First place: $350
Second place: $225
Third place: $100

ARR Junior Application Here

ARR Senior Audition Repertoire
Prelude & Fugue from The Well Tempered Clavier I or II by JS Bach, plus contrasting piece (total time not to exceed 15 minutes). PDF of clean scores unmarked, but with measure numbers. Link to Unlisted YouTube Video (requirements below).

ARR Junior Audition Repertoire
JS Bach Invention or Sinfonia, plus a contrasting piece (total time not to exceed 12 minutes). PDF of clean scores unmarked, but with measure numbers. Link to Unlisted YouTube Video (requirements below).

Video Requirements
1. At least 720p, preferably 1080p or higher
2. One continuous take, unedited, required JS Bach piece and contrasting work
3. Pianist’s face, hands, and feet must be visible and fill most of the screen
4. Ensure the video has good quality audio and image
5. Do not use special effects, dissolves, etc.
6. Please announce the date at the beginning of the recording before playing. Submission of pre-recorded performances or pre-recorded live performances prior to 1/1/25 will NOT be accepted
7. Please wear concert attire
8. Competitors bow when finished, as when performing in a recital

**Deviations from the above requirements will be accepted and heard, but not considered for a prize.**

YouTube Instructions
1. Log into YouTube or create a free account
2. Click the camera+ icon (top right corner) to upload a new video
3. Title your video: Last Name, First Name, ARR Competition
4. Description: Composer, Title, Key, Opus# or BWV
5. “Is this video made for kids?” select, “No, it’s not made for kids”
6. Click “Unlisted” under the “Visibility” section and copy the link for your video to include in your application
7. Click “Save.” Your video may take a while to process if it is a large, high-def file

Downloadable Version of Requirements Here


RSC Piano Competition in Honor of A. Ramón Rivera (RSC)

The RSC Piano Competition in Honor of A. Ramón Rivera (RSC) is open to pianists in grades 6-12 who are actively taking private lessons at The Rivers School Conservatory. Students in the RSC Competition compete for scholarship prizes. All competitors must be enrolled in their second consecutive semester or greater at RSC. Summers are not counted in this total.

RSC students can enter both the RSC Piano Competition in Honor of A. Ramón Rivera (RSC) and the A. Ramón Rivera Piano Competition (ARR).

Application Fee
$100 fee for all applicants

March 21: Deadline to submit application and video for both ARR and RSC Competitions
April 7: RSC Jr. and Sr. Winners announced
May 4 at 5PM: Winners’ Concert, featuring both the ARR and RSC first prize winners*

*Finals and Winners’ Concerts take place in Rivera Recital Hall, located in RSC’s Bradley Hall.

Qualifications for RSC Senior Category
Open to all RSC private lesson students in grades 9-12. All competitors must be enrolled in their second consecutive semester or greater at RSC. Summers are not counted in this total.

Senior Category Prizes
First place: $500 RSC Scholarship
Second place: $250 RSC Scholarship

RSC Senior Application Here

Qualifications for RSC Junior Category
Open to all RSC private lesson students in grades 6-8. All competitors must be enrolled in their second consecutive semester or greater at RSC. Summers are not counted in this total.

Junior Category Prizes
First place: $350 RSC Scholarship
Second place: $225 RSC Scholarship

RSC Junior Application Here

RSC Senior Audition Repertoire
JS Bach Prelude & Fugue from The Well Tempered Clavier I or II by JS Bach, plus contrasting piece (total time not to exceed 15 minutes). PDF of clean scores unmarked, but with measure numbers. Link to Unlisted YouTube Video (requirements below).

RSC Junior Audition Repertoire
JS Bach Invention or Sinfonia, plus a contrasting piece (total time not to exceed 12 minutes). PDF of clean scores unmarked, but with measure numbers. Link to Unlisted YouTube Video (requirements below).

Video Requirements
1. At least 720p, preferably 1080p or higher
2. One continuous take, unedited, required JS Bach piece and contrasting work
3. Pianist’s face, hands, and feet must be visible and fill most of the screen
4. Ensure the video has good quality audio and image
5. Do not use special effects, dissolves, etc.
6. Please announce the date at the beginning of the recording before playing. Submission of pre-recorded performances or pre-recorded live performances prior to 1/1/25 will NOT be accepted
7. Please wear concert attire
8. Competitors bow when finished, as when performing in a recital

**Deviations from the above requirements will be accepted and heard, but not considered for a prize.**

YouTube Instructions
1. Log into YouTube or create a free account.
2. Click the camera+ icon (top right corner) to upload a new video
3. Title your video: Last Name, First Name, RSC Competition
4. Description: Composer, Title, Key, Opus# or BWV
5. “Is this video made for kids?” select, “No, it’s not made for kids.”
6. Click “Unlisted” under the “Visibility” section and copy the link for your video to include in your application.
7. Click “Save.” Your video may take a while to process if it is a large, high-def file.

Downloadable Version of Requirements Here


History

The A. Ramón Rivera Piano Competition was founded in 1990 to honor Mr. Rivera as an extraordinary and inspirational teacher. The competition reflects his uncompromisingly high standards for artistry in music and beauty of sound and is intended to encourage young pianists to continue their search for excellence.


The 2024 Winners

Congratulations to the 2024 Winners:

Senior Competition
Henry Tushman, first prize, ARR and RSC 
Julia Zhou, second prize, ARR
Emily Zhou, second prize, RSC
Henry Tushman, Bach prize

Junior Competition
Adam Li, first prize, ARR
Masanobu Pires, second prize, ARR
Cole Delgado, first prize, RSC


Previous First Prize Winners

Katherine Chen, Joyce Do, Sarah Kisin, & Gaiyatri Mathew (2023)
Victoria Park, Justin Wang, Pamela Hao, & Sarah Xu (2022)
Gaeun Ginny Lee (2021)
No Competition due to Global Pandemic (2020)
Kyle Chen, Julius Arolovitch & Theodore Teng (2019)
Khoi Le (2018)
Ahana Mukhopadhyay & Emilia DeJesus (2017)
Evren Ozel & Simonida Spasojevic (2016)
Niklas Kniesche (2015)
Victor Li & Alicia Juan (2014)
Christopher Staknys & Eric Lu (2013)
Nicholas Griffiths (2012)
Aaron Behr & Matthew Wu (2011)
Harry Li & Mackenzie Melemed (2010)
Evan Rees & Chi Wei Lo (2009)
Martin Falk & Ariel Borensztein (2008)
Roger Creel (2007)
Roger Creel & Katherine Peterson (2006)
Erli Veizaj & Yundu Wang (2005)
Sean Martinez, Luis F. Ortiz & Jessica Yam (2004)
Larry Weng & Yang Yang (2003)
Sang-Eun Hwang, Aaron Marcus &
Emi Okumura (2002)
Alexander Kossey (2001)
Eben Lichtman & Olga Parsegova (2000)
Ingrid Phoebe Keller & Alexander Kossey (1999)
Jessica Tai (1998)
Katherine Fisher (1996)
David Greco (1995)
Jocelyn Chapman (1994)
Drew Baker (1993)
Jonathan Jao (1992)
Kimberly Hamill (1991)