Chopin Piano Competition for Children and Youth in Egypt 2027

The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Cairo and the European Foundation for Education and Culture Zielona Góra cordially invite young pianists to the “Chopin Piano Competition for Children and Youth in Egypt 2027” (further mentioned as the Competition).

The Competition is held in Cairo from April 15th to April 19th, 2027.

Repertoire category A (3 pieces) 

1. Fryderyk Chopin: one of the following pieces:

• Polonaises: G minor op. posth., B-flat major op. posth., A-flat major op. posth.,
• Waltzes: E major op. posth., E minor op. posth., A-flat major op. posth.,
• Contredanse g flat major, 3 Ecossaises op. 72
• one Mazurka of the candiate's choice.

2. Fryderyk Chopin: one of the following pieces:

• Nocturnes: C-sharp minor op. posth. (Lento con gran espressione), C minor op. posth., E minor op. 72 No. 1, E-flat major op. 9, No. 2,    
• Cantabile B-flat major,
• Preludes op. 28, No. 6.

3. an allegro movement of a classical sonata

• by J. Haydn, W.A. Mozart, M. Clementi, A. Diabelli, F. Kuhlau or L.v. Beethoven

Repertoire category B (4 pieces) 

1. Fryderyk Chopin: one of the following pieces:

• Polonaises: C-sharp minor op. 26, No. 1, D minor op. 71, No. 1, B-flat major op. 71, No. 2, G-sharp minor op. posth., B-flat minor op. posth.,      
• Waltzes: A minor op. 34, No. 2, A-flat major op. 64, No. 1, C-sharp minor op. 64, No. 2, D-flat major op. 69, No. 1, B minor op. 69, No. 2, G-flat major op. 70, No. 1, F minor op. 70, No. 2

2. Fryderyk Chopin: one of the following pieces:

• Nocturnes: B-flat minor op. 9, No. 1, E-flat major op. 9, No. 2, F major op. 15, No. 1, F-sharp major op. 15, No. 2, B major op. 32, No. 1, A-flat major op. 32, No. 2, G minor op. 37, No. 1, F minor op. 55, No. 1, E minor op. 72, No. 1

3. one Chopin’s Mazurka of the candidate's choice

4. an allegro movement of a classical sonata

• by J. Haydn, W.A. Mozart, M. Clementi or L.v. Beethoven

Repertoire category C (4 pieces) 

1. Fryderyk Chopin: one of the following pieces:

• one Etude from op. 10 or op. 25 (except 10/3, 10/6, 25/7)
• Methode des methodes No. 1, No. 2 or No. 3

2. Fryderyk Chopin: one of the following pieces:

• Polonaises (except Polonaises der category A or B)
• Impromptu op. 36, Impromptu op. 51,
• Fantaisie-Impromptu op. 66,
• Rondo op. 1, Rondo op. 16,
• Rondo à la Mazur op. 5
• Ballade op. 23, Ballade op. 38,
• Ballade op. 47, Ballade op. 52,
• Scherzo op. 20, Scherzo op. 31,
• Scherzo op. 39, Scherzo op. 54

3. Fryderyk Chopin: one of the following pieces:

• Valse op. 64, No. 1, op. 64, No. 2 or one
• Mazurka of the candidate’s choice

4. an allegro movement of a classical sonata

• by J. Haydn, A. Mozart (except KV 545), M. Clementi or L.v. Beethoven

Repertoire category D (4 pieces) 

1. Fryderyk Chopin: one of the following pieces:

• one Etude from op. 10 or op. 25 (except op. 10/3, 10/6, 25/2, 25/7)

2. Fryderyk Chopin: one of the following pieces:

• Polonaises (except Polonaises of the category A or B and Polonaises op. 26, Nr. 1 or op. 26, No. 2)
• Ballade op. 23, Ballade op. 38,
• Ballade op. 47, Ballade op. 52,
• Scherzo op. 20, Scherzo op. 31,
• Scherzo op. 39, Scherzo op. 54,
• Variations op. 12, Variations on the thema “La ci darem lam mano“ op. 2
• Bolero op. 19, Fantaisie op. 49,
• Barcarole op. 60,
• Polonaise-Fantaisie op. 64
• Andante spinato and Great Polonaise op. 22

3. Fryderyk Chopin: one of the following pieces:

• Valse op. 18, Valse op. 34, No. 1,
• Valse op. 34, No. 2, Valse op. 34, No. 3,
• Valse op. 42, or two Mazurken of the candidate’s choice

4. an allegro movement of a classical sonata

• by J. Haydn, W.A. Mozart (except KV545), L. v. Beethoven (except op. 49, No. 1, op. 49, No. 2, op. 79) or F. Schubert

Performance time

Category A: at least 12 minutes

Category B: at least 15 minutes

Category C: at least  20 minutes

Category D: at least 20 minutes

Registration

Interested candidates can register online by filling out the registration form available through the link https://www.chopin-competition-in-cairo.org/registration/ to March 12th, 2027.

The registration documents shall include:

• fully completed online form,
• current passport photo (portrait in good quality),
• scan of the identity card or passport,
• copy of the birth certificate.

Awards

First, second, and third prizes will be awarded in each category, along with honorable mentions. Also, there is the opportunity for a special prize for the best interpretation of a piece by Chopin.

The jury is not required to award all prizes.

All prize winners will participate in a master class led by Prof. Mariola Cienawa- Puchała.

All fi rst prize winners will receive a trip to signifi cant sites related to Chopin in Poland.

The fi rst prize winner in category D will perform as a soloist in a concert in Zielona Góra with the Zielona Góra Philharmonic Orchestra under the conductor Ahmed El Saedi of the Cairo Symphony Orchestra.

Locations

The competition will take place at the premises of the “German Music School Cairo” of the Rahn Education.

The awards ceremony and the laureates’ concert will take place at the Cairo Opera House - Small Hall.

In cooperation with