2026 Satori Young Pianist Contest
The 2026 satori summer music festival handbook can be downloaded from here:
https://www.satoricm.net/satoricmFile/scm/form/2026%20Satori%20Summer%20Music%20Festival.pdf
Important Changes
- The Open Category time limit has been increased from 6 minutes to 7 minutes
- Due to the large number of Piano Qualified category entries last year, for this year we will have a number of Piano Qualified students perform on Saturday, July 18th (first day of Strings). We will determine which age and subcategory will perform on July 18th once the Satori committee has full knowledge of this year’s turnout.
Please keep this scheduling change in mind when registering into Piano Qualified. Any rescheduling requests should be submitted to satoristrings@live.com in the week following the initial schedule release.
Piano will be on July 18, 25 and 26th 2026.
Day 1 (Saturday July 18th) will be Qualified Categories (Age group will be determined later).
Day 3(Saturday July 25th, 2026) will be all Open and Prodigy categories of Piano, Qualified Categories (Age group will be determined later)
Day 4 (Sunday July 26th, 2026) will be all Qualified categories (Age group will be determined later) and Grand Prize Contest of Piano.
Contest schedule will be posted two weeks after registration closing.
Contest Schedule is located at: http://event.satoricm.net/satori-young-pianist-contest/young-pianist-contest-schedule/
Registration:
It will be open on May 7th and close on June 7th , 2026
Staff Accompanists:
1. Kyungmi Kim (714) 296-4622
2. Irene Park (323)810-7775
4. Karen Lee (626)823-8052
5. Jamie Tseng (909)753-2421
What to bring for competition
Important Note: All Judge’s decision are final. Please don’t approach judge unless they have requested.
1. Evaluation Form
Contestants will need to fill out two copies of evaluation form with their entry number, category number, and repertoire.
Your entry number will be available after the contest schedule is released.
It is recommended that contestants arrive 15 minutes before their performance time.
The evaluation form can be found at:
Please print and pre-fill information before the time of competition to expedite the check-in process.
2. Music score for judges.
Music score must either be originals or photocopies with proof of purchase/ public domain origin.
No illegally sourced copies of the score will be accepted at the time of the competition, and any contestants providing an illegally sourced copy will be disqualified to prevent any copyright infringements.
Copies of the score can either be
1) The original score for the piece.
or
2) An electronically sourced/ photocopied version. If you provide an electronically sourced/ photocopied version of the score, you must provide a brief description of where you obtained the copy from (i.e proof of purchase, link to public domain source, etc). Please also make sure to notify our staff when check in. We will verify it for you to avoid any questioning from Judge.
3. Proper performance attire.
Policy and Process
Check-in Process:
We recommend arriving 20 minutes before your scheduled time slot to allow ample time for the check-in process.
Unpack and set up your instrument in the parking lot, then leave your instrument case in the car BEFORE heading to the check-in table. Remember to bring your 2 filled-out comment sheets and sheet music for the judges.
Tell the check-in team your entry number, name, and category and they will take note of your attendance. After checking in, you may wait in the plaza.
There are no practice rooms available; please practice prior to arriving at the competition location.
Late Arrivals:
If you are running late, please call (626) 268-3591 to let us know about your situation and we will do our best to fit you in when you arrive. HOWEVER, the performance schedule is already very tight, we can’t guarantee that there will be an available time so PLEASE aim to arrive on time.
If the check-in team has not recorded your attendance when your time slot is about to begin and have not already received a call, they will call the number entered from when you signed up and/or your teacher’s number if it was given. Each number will only be called once.
Performance Policy:
Hand the judges your sheet music and comment sheets then head to the stage.
Results will be delivered to the Trophy Distribution table after the entire time slot is done. Please allow the staff up to 20 minutes to process the results and sort the comment sheets. Once the results are posted, you may pick up your trophy and comment sheets.
Time Limits
Prodigy Categories: 10 minutes maximum performing time.
Open Categories: 7 minutes maximum performing time.
All Qualified Category: 4 minutes maximum performing time.
Note: Multiple repertoires are permitted. The time limits will be strictly enforced.
Grand Prize
For this year’s Grand Prize Competition, once you find out you are eligible for the Grand Prize Competition (either through placing 1st in your category or upon judge’s recommendation), you must immediately go to the check-in table and fill out a Grand Prize Competition form with your contact information and repertoire. The full Grand Prize Competition schedule will be released by 9 PM PST Saturday night. Please make sure to check it.
More detail about grand prize competition can be found at: http://event.satoricm.net/grand-prize-information/
Due to time constraints, we were unable to make the Grand Prize registration process online. We thank you for your cooperation and wish you luck in the upcoming competition.
Results:
The results for a category’s age group will be announced one hour after that group is done. The trophy and commenting sheets will be handed out at the same time.
Starting this year, we will no longer retain unclaimed trophies and other student competition-related materials after the end of the festival. We relinquish responsibility of handling your awards after the event.
Date:
Day 1 (Saturday July 18th) will be Qualified Categories (Age group will be determined later).
Day 3(Saturday July 25th, 2026) will be all Open and Prodigy categories of Piano, Qualified Categories (Age group will be determined later)
Day 4 (Sunday July 26th, 2026) will be all Qualified categories (Age group will be determined later) and Grand Prize Contest of Piano.
Event Parking:
Parking Lot C (the one right next to the Music building) is only available for event Judge and Organizer.
Please use the Parking Lot at University Drive.
Address:
The building layout:
