Skip to main content

Elena Leonova International Young Pianists Competition

About

The New York Piano Society is announcing its third Elena Leonova International Young Pianists Competition.

This competition is aimed toward outstanding young pianists who also have significant achievements in non-musical areas to be selected to perform in our 2024-2025 Concert Season.

Winners will be chosen based on the quality of their piano performances in addition to the level of their achievements in non-musical fields. Selected winners will be given the chance to perform at our concerts held at various major venues throughout New York City.

Our venues include, but are not limited to, Carnegie Hall (Weill Hall), Lincoln Center’s Bruno Walter Auditorium, Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center.

Requirements

  • Fill out and submit this application
  • The deadline for submissions is May 30, 2024
  • Students must be between 12-18 years of age
  • An application fee of $75 is required for submission into the contest. The application fee can easily be paid via our PayPal

Grand Prize

  • $500 prize
  • Featured at a major NYC venue

Requirements

Deadline

  • The deadline for Video Submissions is May 30, 2024

  • Please fill out this application

  • Students must submit an unedited video (at least 5 minutes but no more than 20 minutes)

  • Pieces are up to the individual applicants choice but must meet the time requirements

  • Students must be between 12-18 years of age

  • Students are required to submit a CV or Resume that denotes their achievements (academic and musical)

Application Fee

  • Students are required to submit a letter of recommendation
  • An application fee of $75  is required for submission into the contest.

  • Information on paying the fee can be found within the application

  • All submissions should sent to Adriana Sistig

  • Please reach out if you have any issues

“I feel so privileged to be a part of NYPS, and grateful to Elena, who has allowed me to grow as a musician and pursue my passion in ways I didn’t expect I would be able to when I left school.”

NICK STEADStrategic & Financial Planner
Elena Leonova

International Young Pianists Competition

International Young Pianists Competition.

2023 Results

It is our great pleasure to announce the winner of the Elena Leonova International Young Pianists Competition. Out of quite a number of submissions, a panel of three judges – world class pianist and Elena’s daughter, Aleksandra Silber, violin superstar soloist Chee-Yun, as well Natasha Paremski, Artistic Director – have chosen Mehana Ellis, 18 years old. 

Mehana Ellis is an 18-year-old UC Berkeley student studying piano under the tutelage of Betty Woo, having previously studied with Annamarie McCarthy at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Mehana was named a McKee Young Artist in the 25th Annual Ross McKee Piano Competition, awarded top prizes in numerous other competitions, participated in the Boston University Tanglewood Institute’s Young Pianists program in 2022, and the International Music Festival of the Adriatic (Italy and Slovenia) in 2023. Other recent events include performances at Carnegie Hall and SFCM’s Barbro Osher Recital Hall. Mehana also enjoys composing and has written a Symphonic Suite, Piano Trio, String Quartet, and seven Préludes for solo piano.

She won the judges over with her brilliant playing, beautiful sense of phrasing and exciting energy.

Mehana will participate in the forthcoming workshop and masterclass, virtual concert, and in a major New York City venue.

We want to thank all of our competition applicants and congratulate them on wonderful performances, they were all truly astounding.