THE NATIONAL CHOPIN COMPETITION · 1975–2025
Fifty years of winners
Eleven Competitions, held in Miami since 1975. Many of the pianists who won here went on to Warsaw, to the Cliburn, and to careers on the world’s stages.
Eric Lu
Lu won the National Competition at seventeen. Ten years later he won in Warsaw, the first American to take the top prize there since 1970.
First Prize
William Yang
Yang took First Prize along with two special prizes, then placed Sixth in Warsaw nine months later.
Went on to
- Best Mazurka and Best Sonata, 2025
- Sixth Prize, International Chopin Competition, Warsaw 2025
Prizewinners
First Prize
Avery Gagliano
Gagliano won the first $100,000 First Prize, the largest cash award of any competition at the time, along with the prize for Best Concerto.
Went on to
- Best Concerto, 2020
- Carnegie Hall debut and first Steinway & Sons recording, 2021
Prizewinners
First Prize
Eric Lu
One of the youngest First Prize winners in the Competition’s history. Ten years later he won Warsaw outright.
Went on to
- Fourth Prize, International Chopin Competition, Warsaw 2015
- First Prize, Leeds International Piano Competition, 2018
- First Prize, International Chopin Competition, Warsaw 2025
Prizewinners
Miami · 2010
First Prize
Claire Huangci
Huangci went on to an international solo career and returned to Miami as a Chopin Salon artist in 2019.
Went on to
- First Prize and Mozart Prize, Géza Anda Competition, 2018
Prizewinners
Miami · 2005
First Prize
Mei-Ting Sun
Sun took the top prize at the Competition’s thirtieth anniversary, with Maestro Tadeusz Strugała conducting the finals.
Prizewinners
Miami · 2000
First Prize
Ning An
An won the first Competition of the new millennium and now teaches at California State University, Fullerton.
Went on to
- Honorable Mention, International Chopin Competition, Warsaw 2000
- Top prize, William Kapell International Piano Competition, 2003
Prizewinners
Miami · 1995
First Prize
Jon Nakamatsu
After a season of Foundation-arranged concerts, Nakamatsu went on to the most celebrated win in the Competition’s history.
Went on to
- Gold Medal, Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, 1997
Prizewinners
Miami · 1990
First Prize
Wendy Chen
Chen won at seventeen. Her $12,000 award was sponsored by the Beveridge Foundation.
Went on to
- Young Concert Artists Award, 1991
Prizewinners
Miami · 1984
Shared First Prize
- Jonathan Bass
- Arthur Hart
The jury divided the top prize between two pianists, each awarded $3,000 and concert engagements.
Went on to
- Jonathan Bass: Bronze Medal and Mozart Prize, Robert Casadesus International Piano Competition, 1987
Prizewinners
Miami · 1980
Shared First Prize
- Charles Abramovic, Jr.
- Ira Levin
- Elier Suarez
The first Competition presented by the newly incorporated Chopin Foundation. The jury divided First Prize three ways.
Finalist
Miami · 1975
First Prize
Dean Kramer
The first Competition, presented with the University of Miami School of Music. Kramer later returned to Miami as a juror in 2015 and 2020.
Went on to
- Fifth Prize, International Chopin Competition, Warsaw 1975
Prizewinners
National laureates who placed at the International Chopin Competition
National First Prize, 1975
National Second Prize, 1990
National Fourth Prize, 1995
National First Prize, 2000
National First Prize, 2015
National First Prize, 2025
National First Prize, 2015