Presentation of the first Pleyel International Chopin Piano Competition in Nohant
Fascinated by Bel Canto, constantly seeking ways to render color in music, a veritable “alchemist” of sound, Frédéric Chopin found in Pleyel pianos the qualities specific to the expression of his art, to the point of making exclusive use of them, including at Nohant, where Pleyel sent him a grand piano every summer. So it was only natural that Pleyel, now enjoying a renaissance, should be associated with this competition.
The first edition of the Pleyel International Chopin Piano Competition in Nohant promises to be a pianistic confrontation of the highest calibre, at the heart of the George Sand Estate in Nohant (Centre des monuments nationaux), a magical place where time seems to have stood still, and where the souls of George Sand and Chopin continue to vibrate.
Yves Henry
Director of the Pleyel International Chopin Competition in Nohant
President of the Nohant Festival Chopin
Calendar
REGISTRATIONS & PRESELECTIONS
June 1: Registration opens
October 17, 2025: Closing date for entries
March 2026: Announcement of preselection results
THE COMPETITION IN NOHANT
August 15, 2026: Opening evening of the competition
August 16 to 18, 2026: First competition round
August 19 and 20, 2026: Second competition round
August 21 and 22, 2026: Competition final in two rounds
- One in recital (afternoon)
- The other with orchestra (evening)
August 23, 2026 afternoon: Winners' Concert and prize-giving ceremony
Rules & Conditions
All the information you need to know about this 1st edition of the Pleyel International Chopin Competition in Nohant is available in the complete rules and regulations below. Download it to find out more about the conditions of participation and registration.
By submitting your application, you accept the rules of the Contest.
Program
With the exception of the pre-selection round, the repertoire for the Nohant rounds includes only works by Frédéric Chopin. With the exception of the Études and Concertos, most of the pieces to be performed by applicants were composed or completed in Nohant. Each piece selected by the candidates may be played only once, even if it features in several rounds of the competition.
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PRE-SELECTION PROGRAM IN VIDEO
For the pre-selection of candidates, a video recording of the following repertoire will be requested (recorded in its entirety and transmitted in a single file):
- Johann Sebastian Bach: A fugue with four voices from *The Well-Tempered Clavier*.
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: 1st movement of a Sonata of your choice (with the exception of Sonatas K. 282, K. 331).
- Frédéric Chopin :
- One etude of your choice, with the exception of the following: Op. 10 No. 3, Op. 10 No. 6, Op. 10 No. 9, and Op. 25 No. 1, Op. 25 No. 2, Op. 25 No. 3, Op. 25 No. 7, Op. 25 No. 8 and Op. 25 No. 9. .
- The finale of one of the two concertos (Op. 11 or Op. 21) with accompaniment by a second piano.
For candidates studying in mainland China, physical pre-selections will be held in several major cities between late October and early November 2025.
PROGRAM FOR THE FIRST ELIMINATION ROUND
Candidates must perform one piece from each of the following categories (3 pieces in all):
One of these etudes :
- In C major, Op. 10 No. 1
- In A minor, Op. 10 No. 2
- In G sharp minor, Op. 25 No. 6
- In B minor, Op. 25 No. 10
- In A minor, Op. 25 No. 11
One of these nocturnes :
- Nocturne in G major, Op. 37 No. 2
- Nocturne in C minor, Op. 48 No. 1
- Nocturne in E flat major, Op. 55 No. 2
- Nocturne in B major, Op. 62 No. 1
- Nocturne in E major, Op. 62 No. 2
One of the following pieces
- Scherzo No. 3 in C sharp minor, Op. 39
- Scherzo No. 4 in E major, Op. 54
- Ballade No. 3 in A flat major, Op. 44
- Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52
PROGRAM FOR THE SECOND ELIMINATORY ROUND
Candidates can choose between :
- 24 Preludes, Op. 24
Or
- One piece from each of the following 4 categories (4 pieces in total), not exceeding the maximum duration of 40' and without repeating a work already chosen from the program of the 1st round:
1. Scherzo No. 3 in C sharp minor, Op. 39 or Scherzo No. 4 in E major, Op. 54
2. Fantasy in F minor, Op. 49 or Polonaise-Fantaisie in A-flat major, Op. 61
3. 3. Ballade No. 3 in A flat major, Op. 47, or Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52 2
4. One of the following pieces, to be played on a period instrument (Pleyel 1844):- Impromptu No. 2 in F sharp major, Op. 36
- Prelude in C sharp minor, Op. 45
- Impromptu No. 3 in G flat major, Op. 51
- Lullaby in D-flat major, Op. 59
- Waltz in F minor, Op. 70
THE FINALS
The 6 candidates admitted to the final will have two rounds, one in recital and the other with orchestra.
The 3 who play the recital on the 21st of August will play with orchestra on the 22nd. The 3 who play the recital on the 22nd will play with orchestra on the 21st.
A rehearsal with the orchestra will be held on the morning of the candidates' orchestral performance.
PROGRAM FOR THE RECITAL TEST
One piece from each of the following categories (4 pieces in total),
with a maximum duration of 55':
1. One of the two following Sonatas:
- Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35
- Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58
2. One of the following four Mazurka cycles, to be played on a period instrument (Pleyel 1844):
- Mazurkas Op. 50, No. 1 in G major, No. 2 in A flat major, No. 3 in C sharp minor
- Mazurkas Op. 56, No. 1 in B major, No. 2 in C major, No. 3 in C minor
- Mazurkas Op. 59, No. 1 in A minor, No. 2 in A flat major, No. 3 in F sharp minor
- Mazurkas Op. 63, No. 1 in B major, No. 2 in F minor, No. 3 in C sharp minor
3. One of the two following Polonaises:
- Polonaise in F sharp minor, Op. 44
- Polonaise in A flat major, Op. 53
4. One of the following Nocturnes, to be played on a period instrument (Pleyel 1844):
- Nocturne in G major, Op. 37 No. 2
- Nocturne in C minor, Op. 48 No. 1
- Nocturne in F sharp minor, Op. 48 No. 2
- Nocturne in F minor, Op. 55 No. 1
- Nocturne in E flat major, Op. 55 No. 2
- Nocturne in B major, Op. 6 No. 1
- Nocturne in E major, Op. 62 No. 2
PROGRAM FOR THE TEST WITH ORCHESTRA
One of the two concertos:
- Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11
- Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21
Jury members
Akiko EBI, Japan
Trained at Tokyo University of the Arts, then at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris in Aldo Ciccolini's class, she went on to perfect her skills with Louis Kentner in London, winning the 2nd Grand Prix Concours International Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud in 1975, as well as four special prizes. In 1980, she won the Warsaw Chopin Competition. A member of the jury of the Warsaw Chopin Competition (2021-2025), she is President of the Chopin Society of Japan and Chair of the Yokohama International Piano Competition Committee.
Yves HENRY, France
Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris
Trained by Pierre Sancan at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, he went on to work with Aldo Ciccolini, winning the 1st Grand Prix of the Robert Schumann International Competition (Zwickau) at the age of 22. Appointed Artistic Director of the Festival de Nohant in 1995, he became its President in 2011, and was behind the creation of the 1st Pleyel International Chopin Competition in Nohant. He is a member of the jury of major international competitions: World Music Master in Montecarlo, Warsaw Chopin Competition on period pianos (2023), International Schumann Competition in Zwickau (2012-2016-2024).
Kevin KENNER, USA
Frost School of Music - Miami University
Recognized as one of the finest Chopin interpreters of our time, Kevin Kenner won first prize at the Warsaw Chopin Competition in 1990. He studied with the eminent Polish teacher Ludwik Stefański in Krakow, with Leon Fleisher at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore and with Leonard Bernstein at the Tanglewood Music Center. He teaches at the University of Miami's Frost School of Music and serves on the jury of some of the most famous international piano competitions, including the Busoni International Competition in Bolzano (2017), the Prague Spring International Music Competition (2021) and the International Chopin Competition (2010, 2021, 2025).
Ewa POBŁOCKA, Poland
Bydgoszcz Academy of Music
Ewa Pobłocka is a laureate of the 10th Fryderyk Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw (1980), where she also won the prize for best interpretation of mazurkas. She also won First Prize at the Viotti International Music Competition in Vercelli (1977). A distinguished pedagogue, she teaches at the Bydgoszcz Academy of Music and is a regular jury member at the most prestigious international piano competitions, such as the Warsaw Chopin Competition and the Arthur Rubinstein Competition in Tel-Aviv.
Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris Alfred Cortot
Trained at the Paris Conservatoire, Bruno Rigutto studied piano with Lucette Descaves. A very young winner of the Marguerite Long and Tchaikovsky competitions (the latter presided over by Emil Guilels), at 17 he met Samson François, whose disciple he was for ten years. He succeeded Aldo Ciccolini at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, where for 20 years he trained a number of pianists now enjoying international careers. He is a member of the jury of numerous international competitions.
A sought-after piano teacher who has trained a host of the finest young pianists of our time (Alexandre Kantorow, Lucas Debargue, Rémi Geniet and many others), she is the winner of the Prix
International Ippolitov-Ivanov Prize in the field of music pedagogy for outstanding contribution to the development of world musical culture. She is also a jury member of major international competitions such as Long-Thibaud (France), Santander (Spain), Geza Anda (Switzerland), Montreal (Canada), Maj Lind (Finland) and others.
Beijing Central Conservatory
Originaire de la République populaire de Chine, Danwen Wei, est considéré comme l’un des musiciens les plus remarquables de sa génération. Diplômé de la Juilliard School et l’un des derniers élèves du légendaire pianiste Vladimir Horowitz, il est aujourd’hui un professeur très recherché en Chine et un membre fréquent du jury de concours de piano nationaux et internationaux. Il dirige le département de piano du Conservatoire central de musique de Chine (Pékin) depuis 2019.
Application form
Dear candidates,
To take part in this first edition of the Chopin Pleyel Competition in Nohant, please fill in the online form from 1 June 2025, and send us all the documents you will be asked to submit (in French or English). Your application will be validated only after receipt of a complete dossier and payment of your registration fees.
Documents to be submitted :
- A biography.
- A copy of your passport or other identity document. The photograph and date of birth must be visible on the same image.
- Three recent and royalty-free photographs, including at least one portrait, which will be used in particular for the Competition’s publications.
- A copy of the main musical diplomas and competition results.
- Two letters of recommendation from well-known musical figures.
- A video recording of the following repertoire (recorded in its entirety and transmitted in a single file):
- Johann Sebastian Bach: A fugue with four voices from *The Well-Tempered Clavier*.
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: 1st movement of a Sonata of your choice (with the exception of Sonatas K. 282, K. 331).
- Frédéric Chopin :
- One etude of your choice, with the exception of the following: Op. 10 No. 3, Op. 10 No. 6, Op. 10 No. 9, and Op. 25 No. 1, Op. 25 No. 2, Op. 25 No. 3, Op. 25 No. 7, Op. 25 No. 8 and Op. 25 No. 9.
- The finale of one of the two concertos (Op. 11 or Op. 21) with second piano accompaniment.
Registration fees:
The registration fee is 100€ and must be paid to confirm your registration, indicating your name and the individual number used to identify your payment.
By submitting your application, you accept the rules of the competition.
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