Dear Golden Pianists and Piano Teachers,
The Golden Piano Talents Competition has become one of the most prestigious and largest piano competitions in the world in terms of the number of contestants, attracting participants from around 40 countries across the globe.
The 5th Golden Piano Talents Competition haS received an impressive number of applications from talented pianists representing Italy, China, France, Washington (USA), Thailand, California (USA), the United Kingdom, Singapore, Poland, the Czech Republic, Mongolia, Georgia, Indonesia, Kuwait, Turkey, Canada, Cyprus, Hungary, Romania, Georgia (USA), Serbia, Germany, Slovenia, Ukraine, Israel, Albania, Lithuania, Croatia, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Portugal, Dubai (UAE), North Macedonia.
With great respect and joy, we present the Results, and we warmly congratulate you on your awards at the Golden Piano Talents Competition!
Many award certificates and special prizes are awaiting our talented young pianists and their dedicated teachers. These will be attached to our website and available for download in the following month. Please follow our website and social media to know the date they will be published.
The winners are invited to perform at the 5th Golden Piano Talents Festival. It will be held in Shtip, North Macedonia on 18 and 19 September 2026 in the beautiful Bezisten Hall in Shtip, an acoustical art gallery hall built in the 16th century.
Who can apply?
- Golden Grand Prize Winners of professional disciplines (100 points) and Grand Prize Winners of professional disciplines (98–99.99 points): May apply for both; the recital and Grand Ceremony Concert.
- First Prize winners from professional senior disciplines (5th, 6th and 7th) with 96 points and more can also apply for the Grand Ceremony concert.
Application forms and the Information for the 5h Golden Piano Talents Festival are published BELOW the results.
All pianists participating in the Grand Ceremony Concert at the Festival will receive plaques, medals, certificates, plaques, gifts.
Their teachersplay an integral role in their students’ success. Therefore, they are also invited to the festival and will be awarded plaques and certificates.
We will publish the Laureate and Winners list of the highest ranked pianists and their dedicated teachers when we publish the certificates. Congratulations to all of them!
Our esteemed Jury Panel, which included professional pianists and piano pedagogues had the hard task of evaluating the wonderful performances.
Special thanks to our judges:
- Prof. Saša Gerželj Donaldson (United Kingdom)
- Prof. Teguh Sukaryo (Indonesia)
- Prof. Ekaterina Gueorguieva Ledford (California)
- Prof. Dr. Adriana Janse Van Rensburg (Georgia – USA)
- Prof. Istvan Szekely (Spain)
- Prof. Marija Maksimova
You are welcome to share your success and certificates on social media to celebrate your talent and promote our beautiful piano profession. Please tag the Golden Piano Talents facebook or Instagram profile in your posts so we can share them!
Please continue to follow us on our Website, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for future events and announcements.
We are honored that you chose our competition, and we look forward to a lasting collaboration with our talented musicians.
Congratulations again and we wish you continued success on your musical journey!
RESULTS:
GOLDEN PIANO TALENTS FESTIVAL 2025
International Association for Cultural Development and Education
Art Fest & Golden Piano Talents Competition
Information & Application Guidelines
The 5th Golden Piano Talents Festival will be held on 18-19 September 2026 in the enchanting and culturally vibrant city of Štip, Republic of North Macedonia. As one of the most anticipated events in the regional classical music scene, the festival offers a distinguished platform for emerging pianists to showcase their talent while celebrating artistic excellence, diversity, and the unifying power of music.
This year’s edition will once again feature live performances by the Golden Piano Talents Competition winners—exceptional young artists selected across various age groups and categories. Their concerts promise to inspire audiences with technical brilliance, expressive depth, and creative passion. The pianists and their teachers will be awarded with plaques, Medals, Certificates, gifts.
Beyond the stage, the festival fosters a warm and collegial environment where participants: pianists, their teachers and all music lovers connect, collaborate, and share their musical journeys.
More than a musical gathering, the Golden Piano Talents Festival serves as a cultural bridge—bringing together musicians from diverse backgrounds. Through meaningful exchange and shared artistic experiences, the festival promotes cross-cultural dialogue and deepens appreciation for music that transcends generations and borders.
The host city, Štip, holds a special place in Macedonian cultural history as the site of the country’s first opera performance.
Organized by the International Association for Cultural Development and Education, with the support of the Municipality of Štip, the festival continues to grow as a beacon of youth artistry and cultural celebration.
Venue
The festival will be held in the historic 16th-century Bezisten Hall, renowned for its superb acoustics. Performances will take place on a Yamaha GB1 grand piano.
Festival Schedule
- Day 1: Solo Recitals by our Golden Piano Talents Winners (up to 30 minutes each) and lecture in a theme of pianism of Dr. Milica Skaric, Professor at the University “Goce Delcev” at the department of piano at the Music Academy.
- Day 2: Grand Concert & Official Award Ceremony of all invited participants (performing one piece), and concert of Macedonian young pianists.
Application Eligibility & Details
Eligible participants are invited to apply for the following:
- Recital of the Winners (Day 1) – Maximum duration: 30 minutes
- Performance at the Grand Ceremony Concert (Day 2)
Who can apply:
- Golden Grand Prize Winners of professional disciplines (100 points) and Grand Prize Winners of professional disciplines (98–99.99 points): May apply for both; the recital and Grand Ceremony Concert.
- First Prize winners from professional senior disciplines ( 5th, 6th and 7th) with 96 points and more can also apply for the Grand Ceremony concert.
Application Timeline
- Applications Open: Immediately after results are published
- Application Deadline: 5. July 2026
- Confirmation Deadline: You will receive a confirmation by 7th July. If not, please contact us at: goldenpianotalents@gmail.com
To confirm your participation, you must provide proof of flight or hotel booking by July 30th 2026.
Visa Information
If a visa is required for travel to North Macedonia (please check with the relevant Embassy), kindly send the following information by July 5, 2026 (earlier submission is recommended):
• Full name(s) of the pianist and any accompanying adult(s), exactly as stated in their passports
• Relationship of accompanying person(s) to the participant (e.g., parent, teacher)
We will issue and send the Invitation Letter via email.
For participants who require a visa, the deadline for submitting proof of travel arrangements is extended until August 5, 2026. However, you must notify us by email as soon as you receive a decision regarding your visa application.
Important Advice:
Please do not book flights or accommodation until your visa has been granted.
Accommodation Recommendations
There are several hotels available in Shtip. We recommend:
- Hotel Park – Offers a special discount for festival participants, you have to mention you are participating in the festival when booking.
Website: https://hotelparkshtip.mk
Additional Information
• Participation in all festival concerts is free of charge.
• All travel, transportation, accommodation, insurance, and visa-related expenses are the responsibility of the participants.
• All pianists and their teachers participating in the 5th Golden Piano Talents Festival in Štip will receive awards according to their category and achievement, including plaques, medals, trophies, certificates, and gifts.
• The Absolute Laureate of the competition will receive complimentary hotel accommodation during the festival. All travel, transportation, insurance, and visa-related expenses are the laureate’s responsibility.
• Admission to the festival is free for everyone.
• All performances will be professionally filmed and photographed, with coverage by local media.
• Participants may record performances, be photographed, and use the resulting media materials for their own promotional purposes.
• The festival reserves the right to use performance recordings, photographs, and other media materials for promotional and archival purposes.
• Following the Grand Concert, a cocktail reception will be held for participants, teachers, and guests to connect and celebrate.
Travel & Logistics
Detailed information regarding:
- Local transportation
- Nearest airports
- Cultural and historical sites in North Macedonia
…will be shared with confirmed participants.
Welcome to apply;
Download the applications, fill them and send it to our email: 📧 goldenpianotalents@gmail.com. If we don’t confirm that we received your application in 2 days, please contact us again by email.
Here you can download your Certificate or Diploma!
For any inquiries, please contact us at:
📧 goldenpianotalents@gmail.com
Warm regards,
The International Association for Cultural Development and Education
Art Fest & Golden Piano Talents Competition team