WPTA Australia
International
Piano Competitions
A stage without borders for young and emerging pianists.
Talent is everywhere. Opportunity isn't.
Led by Dr Julijana Sarac, the WPTA Australia International Piano Competitions remove geographical barriers, so young and emerging pianists can perform and connect internationally. In the 2026 competition, pianists entered by video and were judged by an international jury, and prize-winners went on to perform in Vienna, Belgrade and Adelaide.
Dr Julijana Sarac
Australian-Serbian pianist, scholar and educator. Founder of Tone Square and President of WPTA Australia.
- DMA, Sydney Conservatorium of Music
- Published in Music & Science
- 20+ years of teaching
Tone Square is the home of Dr Julijana Sarac's work in piano, including teaching, competitions and performance. Tone Square presents the WPTA Australia International Piano Competitions.
The 2026 Competition,
in review.
Six categories, one video.
Free choice of solo piano repertoire from any period. Each entry was an unedited video recorded within the previous 12 months, showing face, hands and pedals.
| Category | Age | Max time |
|---|---|---|
| A · Tiny Keys Talents | ≤ 7 | 5 min |
| B · Little Maestro Showcase | 8–11 | 8 min |
| C · Teen Talents | 12–14 | 10 min |
| D · Rising Teen Recital | 15–17 | 15 min |
| E · Young Artist Talents | 18–24 | 25 min |
| F · Professional Artists | 18–35 | 35 min |
Where the prize-winners played.
Ehrbar Saal
Prize Winners' Gala Concert and Award Ceremony
ViennaMozarthaus
Gala Concert
ViennaKolarac Endowment Concert Hall
Laureate recital
BelgradeNorth Adelaide
Baroque Hall
Laureate recital
AdelaidePrizes included €250–€1,000 cash, masterclasses in Vienna, Hong Kong and Novi Sad, and scholarship courses in Madrid.
First prizes in each category. A special prize also went to the best performance of Paths of Amber, a new miniature by Australian composer Max Kielly.
Thirteen pianists and professors.
From conservatoires and universities across Europe, the Americas and Australia.
With the support of
Laureates
Prize-winners and honourable mentions, by category and country.
| Pianist | Country | Category | Award |
|---|
Best performance of Paths of Amber
David Soo (Australia)
North Adelaide Baroque Hall Prize
David Soo (Australia)
Best Hong Kong Pianist
Ngai Ting Ho
Best Australian Pianists
Amelia Yuxuan Zhang · Olivia Yan · Jayden Wayne · Olivia Hou · Lucas Cai · Symphony Shi · Sean Kim · David Soo
Best Serbian Pianists
Bjanka Rea Kišgeci · Mateja Ivanov · Bogdan Spasić
From the stage.
The Prize Winners' Gala at Ehrbar Saal, Vienna, June 2026.
Get in touch.
Questions about the competition, results, partnerships or performances: send us a message and we'll reply by email.