about Fou Ts'ong

Awards

1. The first prize winner will receive USD $6,000 award and performing at NEC's Jordan Hall with Mercury Orchestra, the national winner of the 2010 American Prize in Orchestral Performance, and conductor Channing Yu, 2010 American Prize in Orchestral Conducting.
2. The first prize winner will also be invited back to perform a solo recital in the 2027 Summer FREE Concerts @ NEC, with additional compensation.
3. The Second prize winner will receive USD $3,000 cash award. By judge's decision, the second prize winner maybe invited back to perform a solo recital in the 2027 Summer FREE Concerts @ NEC, with additional compensation.
4. The Third prize winner will receive USD $2,000 cash award.
5. Those who passed the Preliminary and advanced to the Semi-Final Round could request free housing arrangement from Wednesday August 12 to Monday August 17, 2026, and that of the first-prize winner to Sunday August 23, 2026.
6. Those who passed the Preliminary and advanced to the Semi-Final Round could request a travel reimbursement up to USD $300 based on the travel related receipts.

Jury Panel  (in alphabetical order)
The judges will not give scores to his/her current students

For Video Preliminary

1. Professor Ning An 安寧, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore.
2. Professor Gila Goldstein, Longy School of Music, Changzhou University, Board member of the American
   Liszt Society.
3. Professor Henry Kramer, Université de Montréal. 2019 Avery Fisher Career Grant Recipient.
4. Professor Anton Nel, University of Texas at Austin - Butler School of Music.
5. Professor Tian Ying 應天峰, Frost School of Music at University of Miami.

For Semi-Final and Final Rounds

1. Professor Hitomi Koyama, Chair, Piano department, Expanded Education of New England Conservatory
   of Music.
2. Professor Roberto Poli, Expanded Education of New England Conservatory of Music.
3. Professor Angel Ramon Rivera, former Director of New England Conservatory’s Preparatory School.
4. Professor Sergey Schepkin, Carnegie Mellon University, Expanded Education of New England Conservatory of Music.
5. Mr. Channing Yu, Conductor Mercury Orchestra.

Official collaborative pianist

• Mr. Haiqi Zhang

How to apply

1. Submit a non-refundable USD $150 application fee, payable to Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts, 3
   Partridge Lane, Lincoln, MA 01773, USA. Via PayPal, Zelle (to cathy@fcpfa.net), Venmo (@Foundation-Fcpa), or a bank check.
    
2. Email the Application to foundation@chineseperformingarts.net with the following:
   • The Application Form. The Application Form is available on this webpage.
   • Image of a government issued official proof of birth date, such as the passport or driver's license.
   • For applicants who are under 18, the parent/guardian's information and signature are also required.
    
3. Upload the unedited screening videos to YouTube (or Youku for students in China). Provide the links with
   detailed repertoire information in the Application Form. The video recording should be prepared from
   within the past two years.
    
4. AUDITION Repertoire: Repertoire choices should show the applicants range technically and musically. It should include both A and B of the following:
   • FIRST movement of a sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert.
   • One or more solo piece(s) in contrasting style at competitor’s choice.
   All pieces must be played by memory. The repertoire could be repeated in the Semi-Final Round.
    
5. The total duration of the videos should not exceed 20 minutes.
    
6. The results of the Video Preliminary will be announced on or before June 22, 2026 via e-mail. Up to ten (with two additional on wait-list) applicants will be invited to the Semi-Final Round on Saturday August 15, 2026 at New England Conservatory's Williams Hall to perform solo pieces by memory, plus a required excerpt (about 5 -7 min) from the assigned concerto, to be announced on August 13, 2026 (two days before the Semi- Final Round) in front of the Jury Panel and audience.
    
7. The chosen Semi-Finalists should confirm their participation via e-mail no later than June 27, 2026, and provide the repertoire for the Semi-Final Round. A short bio up to 250 words, and a head-shot photo for publicity purpose are also required. The Semi-Finalists should indicate whether housing is needed. Practice and rooms will be provided at New England Conservatory.
    
8. The requirements of repertoire for the Semi-Final Round include two parts:

• Up to 20 minutes of solo piece(s) of contrasting styles that must include a FIRST movement from a sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert. The repertoire from the preliminary round could be repeated in the Semi-Final Round.
• A required excerpt (about 5 -7 min) from the Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2 to be announced on August 13, 2026 (two days before the Semi-Final Round). Performance will be accompanied by the official collaborative pianist on the second piano.

9. If the competitor exceeds the time limit, the Jury has the right to stop the performance.
    
10. The competitors should arrive New England Conservatory at least two hours prior to the assigned time slot. Warm-up practice rooms will be provided.
     
11. All travel expenses are the applicant's responsibility. Upon request, a travel reimbursement of USD $300 could be provided based on the travel related receipts.
     
12. The order of appearances at the Semi-Final Round will be determined by drawing on Wednesday August 12, 2026, 6:30 pm at NEC's Williams Hall. If the candidates could not appear in person, his or her designated representative (with prior notice) could draw on his or her behalf. This order will be used for rehearsals, Semi-Final and Final rounds.
     
13. The Jury’s decision is final and binding. This event is open to the public.
     
14. Up to four Finalists will be invited to the Final Round next evening, Sunday August 16, 2026, 7 pm to 11 pm at New England Conservatory's Williams Hall in front of the same Jury Panel. This event is open to the public.
     
15. Each Finalist will have one hour rehearsal with the official collaborative pianist on Sunday August 16 from 10 am to 12 pm, and from 1 pm to 4 pm, on assigned time slot. Individual practice rooms will be provided.
     
16. The Finalists will perform the assigned concerto in its entirety from memory, with the official collaborative pianist on the second piano. The result will be announced right after the Final Round. The Jury’s decision is final and binding. This event is open to the public.
     
17. The first prize winner will start rehearsals and performance with Mercury Orchestra on dates and venues as listed above.
     
18. By signing the Application and Release Form, the applicant and/or his/her parent/guardian of the applicant agrees to release the Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts 中華表演藝術基金會, the New England Conservatory of Music, the Mercury Orchestra, and their agents and employees from any and all claims, demands, and cause of action on account of any injury, illness, or loss which may occur during his/her participation in the 2026 Fou Ts'ong International Concerto Competition, and the Summer FREE Concert Series at NEC 2026.
     
19. Application and Release Form
    By signing the Application and Release Form, the applicant and/or his/her parent/guardian of the applicant agrees to grant Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts the permission to live-stream his/her performances in the semi-final and final rounds of the Fou Ts’ong International Concerto Competition and to use his/her submitted photo(s) and biographical information for publicity purposes.

Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts
The 6th Fou Ts'ong International
Concerto Competition 2026
Concerto 2026: Johannes Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op. 83
(Edition: G. Henle Verlag, ed. Johannes Behr, HN 1231, ISMN 979-0-2018-1231-1)

Email: foundation@chineseperformingarts.net


APPLICATION AND RELEASE FORM 2026

Name: (English first name) ___________ ( English last name )________________

Nationality as shown on passport or passport-equivalent document: _____________

Birth Date (MM/DD/YR): _________Age (as of June 5, 2026) _________ M□ F□
(Government issued official proof of birth date required, attach a scanned image of passport or equivalent)

Mailing Street Address:

 ______________________________________________________________

City ____________________ State/Zip ____________ Country _____________

Mobile Phone:___________Email of applicant: ____________________________

Current School and Grade: ____________________________________________

Current teacher: ______________ Email: _______________________________

Other teacher(s) of the past two years: ________Email(s): ____________________

Other teacher(s) of the past two years: ________Email(s): ____________________

Videos for Preliminary Audition: (composer, complete title of the work and movements)

Upload the unedited screening videos to YouTube (or Youku for students in China), and provide the links with detailed repertoire information below.

AUDITION Repertoire: Repertoire choices should show the applicants range technically and musically. It should include both A and B as below:
A, FIRST movement of a classical sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert.
B, One or more solo piece(s) in contrasting style at competitor’s choice.

The total duration of the videos should not exceed 20 minutes. All pieces must be played by memory. The repertoire could be repeated in the Semi-Final Round.

Composer, complete title of the work and movements

1:____________________________________________length: ________ min
 
Link of the video:___________________________________________________

2:____________________________________________length: ________ min
 
Link of the video:___________________________________________________

3:____________________________________________length: ________ min

Link of the video:___________________________________________________

4:____________________________________________length: ________ min
 
Link of the video:___________________________________________________
 

Release Statement
All applicants are required to sign
 

I, _______________________(Name), release the Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts 中華表演藝術基金會, the New England Conservatory of Music, the Mercury Orchestra, and their agents and employees from any and all claims, demands, and cause of action on account of any injury, illness, or loss which may occur during my participation in the Fou Ts'ong International Concerto Competition, and the Summer Concert Series @ NEC 2026.

I grant permission to Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts to live-stream my performances in the semi-final and final rounds of the Fou Ts’ong International Concerto Competition and to use my submitted photo(s) and biographical information for publicity purposes.


________________________________ ________________________
Signature of Applicant Date

_________________________________________________________
Signature of Parent or Guardian Date
if under 18 years of age

Please return the Application and Release Form, proof of birth date, the YouTube or Youku links of the Preliminary Audition video, and a non-refundable application fee of US $150, via PayPal, Zelle (to cathy@fcpfa.net), Venmo (@Foundation-Fcpa) or bank check payable to Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts, before June 5, 2026, to:

Dr. Catherine Tan Chan 譚嘉陵
Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts 中華表演藝術基金會
3 Partridge Lane, Lincoln, MA 01773, USA
Mobile: 617-968-7094
Email: Foundation@ChinesePerformingArts.net

 

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Form updated February 1, 2026