The fourth Steinway Youth Piano Competition will launch the countrywide audition round on March 20 to select the national winner to represent Vietnam at the regional final in Taiwan.

The jury panel including piano teachers from Vietnam National Academy of Music and HCM Conservatory at National Steinway Youth Piano Competition in 2016. (Photo: steinwaycompetition.vn)

The International Steinway Festival takes place every two years and is one of the most significant events for piano students in the world. 

In Vietnam, the competition has been held since 2012 by Vietnam Music, a Steinway representative in the country. This year there are about 130 young contestants registering to take part in the event.

The competition will include audition, semi-final and final rounds. 

The semi-final round will be held in April 20 in Hanoi and HCM City. The final round will take place on May 19 in HCM City.

There are three categories for different ages. The first category is for 11 and under, the second category is for 12 to 14 and the third category is for 15 to 17. 

The winners from the categories will perform the same piece at a gala concert to compete for one slot to present at the regional finals in Taiwan in August. There, competitors will vie for a chance to represent Southeast Asia at the International Steinway Festival 2018 in Hamburg, Germany.

The Vietnamese representative will compete with contestants from Taiwan, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore at the regional final.-VNA