Empire Music Academy

The 2026 Pacific Stars International Piano Competition Finals and Winners Concert have just come to an end. I am finally back home at late night—physically exhausted, but deeply fulfilled and moved.

When I founded Pacific Stars five years ago, I held onto one simple belief: a competition should not exist to produce more winners, but to create a space where excellence can truly meet excellence.

Los Angeles is never short of piano competitions. In fact, many of the students who reached our finals this year would be strong first-prize winners in most other competitions. But I always tell my students that true growth does not come from collecting titles—it comes from stepping onto a higher-level stage, facing stronger peers, listening to better performances, and honestly recognizing the distance between where we are and true artistic excellence.

This year, outstanding young musicians from five U.S. regional divisions, as well as our international division, gathered in California. Over two days and nearly twenty hours of competition, there were countless unforgettable moments. The focus, discipline, and respect these young musicians showed toward music and the stage reaffirmed my belief in the true value of music education.

Competitions eventually end, but growth does not.

I would like to sincerely thank our distinguished jury members for their professionalism and dedication, our staff for their tireless work behind the scenes, and all teachers and parents for their long-term support and guidance. Every student who stepped onto the finals stage stands on years of consistent effort and commitment.

Special congratulations to the winners from the final round. The official competition results have now been published on Pacific Stars website:

https://www.pacificstars.org/livecompetitionwinners

And congratulations to every finalist. Reaching this stage is already a testament to both talent and courage.

This has always been the core belief behind Pacific Stars.

The 5th Pacific Stars San Diego Regional is complete!
Thanks to our distinguished judges Dr. Hyun-Jeong Ahn, Prof. Kravchenko, and Prof. Grigorian for their expert feedback, and to all our hardworking staff!
The contestants today were truly outstanding—so impressive✨.

Next, we’re heading to Seattle, Washington D.C., and San Francisco to enjoy more amazing talent.
See you all in Los Angeles for the Final Round in June!

2026 Pacific Stars International Piano Competition (PSIPC) | Washington D.C. Division

The 5th PSIPC is officially back.
Washington D.C., as a cultural and academic hub,
brings together world-class music institutions and resources,
offering young pianists a highly professional platform to prepare for international stages.

The Washington D.C. Division follows PSIPC’s global judging standards,
with judges assessing technical skills, musicality, artistic expression, and stage control.
Competition results carry international credibility and recognition.

🗓 Key Dates
• Competition Date: 🗓 April 18, 2026
• Registration Deadline: 📩 April 1, 2026
• Next Stage: Direct advancement to Long Beach Grand Finals (June 13–14, 2026)

🎵 Division Highlights
• East Coast cultural and academic hub
• Rigorous, professional international competition environment
• Prepares participants for higher-level competitions and music education development

💻 Registration & Info

www.pacificstars.org

2026 Pacific Stars International Piano Competition (PSIPC) | Seattle Division

The 5th PSIPC is officially back.
Seattle, with its open and inclusive arts environment and high-quality music education system,
offers young pianists an important stepping stone to the international stage.

The Seattle Division follows PSIPC’s global judging system,
evaluating musical proficiency, artistic interpretation, and stage presentation comprehensively.

🗓 Key Dates
• Competition Date: 🗓 April 18, 2026
• Registration Deadline: 📩 April 1, 2026
• Next Stage: Direct advancement to Long Beach Grand Finals (June 13–14, 2026)

🎵 Division Highlights
• Key arts city in the Northwest
• Emphasizes musical depth and artistic individuality
• Provides a professional platform aligned with international standards

💻 Registration & Info

www.pacificstars.org

2026 Pacific Stars International Piano Competition (PSIPC) | San Francisco Division

The 5th PSIPC is officially back.
San Francisco, as one of California’s most international and culturally diverse cities,
offers young pianists a professional stage with global exposure.

The San Francisco Division follows PSIPC’s unified judging standards,
focusing on musical understanding, artistic expression, and stage impact.

🗓 Key Dates
• Competition Date: 🗓 May 24, 2026
• Registration Deadline: 📩 April 30, 2026
• Next Stage: Direct advancement to Long Beach Grand Finals (June 13–14, 2026)

🎵 Division Highlights
• Highly international artistic environment
• Professional evaluation aligned with global standards
• One of the key qualifying divisions in California

💻 Registration & Info

www.pacificstars.org

2026 Pacific Stars International Piano Competition (PSIPC) | San Diego Division

The 5th PSIPC is officially back.
San Diego, an important cultural and educational hub in California,
offers young pianists a professional platform to showcase their skills under international standards.

The San Diego Division strictly implements PSIPC’s global judging system,
with judges evaluating technical mastery, musical interpretation, stage presence, and artistic potential.
Competition results are recognized internationally and provide a stepping stone to higher-level stages.

🗓 Key Dates
• Competition Date: 🗓 March 28, 2026
• Registration Deadline: 📩 March 15, 2026
• Next Stage: Direct advancement to Long Beach Grand Finals (June 13–14, 2026)

🎵 Division Highlights
• Important South California city for arts and education
• Rigorous international competition environment
• Prepares participants for music school applications and professional piano careers

💻 Registration & Info

www.pacificstars.org

2026 Pacific Stars International Piano Competition (PSIPC) | Los Angeles Division

The 5th Pacific Stars International Piano Competition (PSIPC) is officially back.
As one of California’s most influential international piano competitions,
the Los Angeles Division offers a professional platform designed by world-renowned pianists, distinguished professors, and industry experts,
and is endorsed by the Alink–Argerich Foundation, providing young pianists with a clear path to the international stage.

🌏 International Recognition & Professional Platform

The Los Angeles Division strictly follows PSIPC’s global judging standards.
Judges evaluate technical proficiency, musical understanding, stage presence, and artistic potential.
Past participants have come from top music institutions worldwide, including
The Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music, Royal College of Music (UK), and more.

🗓 Key Dates
• Competition Date: 🗓 June 6, 2026
• Registration Deadline: 📩 May 15, 2026
• Next Stage: Direct advancement to the Long Beach Grand Finals (June 13–14, 2026)

🎵 Division Highlights
• Core artistic city on the U.S. West Coast
• Exposure to international judging perspectives
• Builds a credible professional record for future international competitions and music school applications

💻 Registration & Info

www.pacificstars.org

🎹 5th PSIPC 2026 | California’s Premier International Piano Competition Returns!

✨ The 5th Pacific Stars International Piano Competition (PSIPC) is back in California!
California’s premier international piano competition, crafted by world-class piano masters, top professors, and renowned artists, endorsed by the Alink-Argerich Foundation, offering young pianists a true high-quality global stage.

🌏 A Stage Recognized Worldwide
Competitors come from top music schools including Juilliard, Curtis, Royal Academy of Music, and more. Here, participants can compete, learn, and experience a genuine international artistic environment.

🎼 2026 Key Regional Dates
• 🗓 San Diego — March 28 | 📩 Application Deadline: March 15
• 🗓 Washington, D.C. — April 18 | 📩 Application Deadline: April 1
• 🗓 Seattle — April 18 | 📩 Application Deadline: April 1
• 🗓 San Francisco — May 24 | 📩 Application Deadline: April 30
• 🗓 Los Angeles — June 6 | 📩 Application Deadline: May 15
• 🎹 Final Round (Long Beach, CA) — June 13–14

• 🗓 Global Online Competition — 📩 Application Deadline: August 1

🚀 Looking Ahead to 2026
• 6 regions competing simultaneously, online & in-person participation
• Final round offers guidance from world-class masters & deep artistic exchange
• Winners will perform at the Paris Piano Concerto Festival & Hainan Piano Island Festival(Dang Thai Son Masterclass), stepping onto the world stage

💻 Register & Details: www.pacificstars.org

🌟 2025 Pacific Stars International Piano Competition – Professional Division Winners Announced! 🌟

With nearly 700 contestants from over 50 countries, the 2025 PSIPC once again set new records for global participation and artistic excellence. From seasoned performers in prestigious competitions like Chopin, Van Cliburn, Leeds, and Queen Elisabeth, to rising young stars, this year’s event showcased extraordinary artistry and dedication.

🎹 Congratulations to our 1st Prize Winners:
• Protegé: Enzio Lim Yue Tong (Singapore)
• Junior: Yitong Chai (Canada)
• Young Artist A: Ayla Takeda Moreno (USA/Japan)
• Young Artist B: Belle Chi (USA) & Kai Canton (Japan/USA) – tie
• Artist: Ruogu Wen (China)

We extend our deepest gratitude not only to our outstanding contestants, their dedicated teachers and supportive families, but also to our distinguished international jury members, whose expertise and commitment ensured the highest artistic and academic standards throughout the competition.

✨ Don’t miss the Winners Concert on September 6 at 8 PM (PST), streaming live on our website and YouTube—a true celebration of global piano artistry at the highest level.

🔗 www.pacificstars.org