Does anyone know of any mediocre piano competitions? I mean are there any that aren't just for professionals, but for college students? I know there are a lot for high school and younger, and I used to do them a lot, but now that I'm in college, I rarely hear of any. It's really hard to find them online also. Any suggestions?

Mediocre competitions! I love it.

There are lots of general competitions open to college students, but the competition tends to be predictably stiff at these open events. The sieve just gets progressively narrower as you get on in years into your twenties.

Now, at most schools there are things like concerto competitions to play with the university orchestra. If you're at a conservatory, that's like signing up for a major international competition! But if you are at a college that lacks a performance major, but which has a full performance faculty to teach interested musicians, then the competition is a bit more relaxed. Competitive, yes, but against students who are primarily history majors and chemistry majors who play instruments on the side.

Look into Piano Texas at TCU. It is a wonderful mix of colege students, older non professional hobby pianists, piano teachers who want to perform or compete, and people who want to perform and learn in chamber music. http://www.PianoTexas.org It is more master classes and recitals than competion but it included that as well.

There was a scholarship competition at my school, which I competed in before I actually enrolled, but we don't have an orchestra so no concerto competitions.



Thanks! I have been looking into summer programs, most of which seem to have concerto competitions, but I hadn't seen this one yet!