Rome International Piano Competition

A historic competition in the heart of Trastevere

The Rome International Piano Competition is one of the longest-running and most respected events on the Italian concert circuit. Established in 1990—following an initial national edition in 1989—at the initiative of pianist Marcella Crudeli, who has served as artistic director since its inception, the competition takes place every November in Rome, the capital of the Lazio region, specifically in the charming Trastevere district.

The historic venue for the auditions is the cloister of the Confraternita di San Giovanni Battista de' Genovesi, located at Via Anicia 12. It is an intimate and enchanting setting where the public can enjoy the contestants' performances just a few feet away from the instrument. This is one of the event's most appreciated features: the competition is open to the public, not just to industry professionals.

Categories and participants

Each edition attracts between 80 and 100 young pianists from all over the world. Throughout its history, the competition has hosted over 4,200 musicians representing approximately 80 countries across five continents, serving as a genuine springboard for international careers.

• Young Pianists — a section dedicated to early-career talents
• Emerging Pianists — reserved for young artists already embarking on a concert career
• Piano Duos — for four-hand and two-piano ensembles
• Chopin Prize — the most prestigious category, featuring a repertoire dedicated to Frédéric Chopin

The required repertoire varies by category, ranging from 15 to 30 minutes of music, spanning from the Baroque era to the 20th century, with a particular focus on the great Romantic repertoire.

The Winners' Concert

The highlight of the event is the Winners' Concert, which concludes the competition in mid-November. The award winners perform accompanied by the Rome International Piano Competition Orchestra. In 2025, the final concert was held at the Auditorium del Palazzo dei Congressi in the EUR district, conducted by maestro Filippo Manci. The presence of a full orchestra for the final stage has been a long-standing tradition since 1997, providing many young musicians with their first experience as a soloist with a symphonic ensemble.

Awards and international network

Over the years, the competition has received the High Patronage of the President of the Italian Republic and has been affiliated with the Alink-Argerich Foundation, the global network of piano competitions, since 2012. It also represents Italy in the International Federation of Chopin Societies. Since 2024, the organization has been managed by the Fondazione Marcella Crudeli ETS, which carries on the legacy of the "Fryderyk Chopin" Cultural Association founded in 1987.

Why attend

For those visiting Rome in November, the competition offers a rare opportunity: to attend two weeks of high-level live music for free in a Renaissance cloister just a stone's throw from the Tiber, with the chance to discover the names that will grace Europe's concert halls in the years to come. It is an authentic cultural experience, far from the beaten tourist paths of the Eternal City.