The use of pianos for the 2027 Competition will constitute an extra test for competitors. In the concert world, pianists have to perform on the pianos with which they are presented in concert halls. Accordingly, the pianists competing in Sydney will play different piano makes in each of the first three rounds of the competition. They will be given the opportunity to try their instruments prior to the start of the Competition and will have further access to the instruments on the day they will play in each different Round.
A draw will decide the order the 32 pianists will play in and maintain for the rest of the competition (with the possible exception of the Semi-Final and Final performances when the Artistic Director may decide to alter the order to shape the overall program being presented to the public). A draw will also decide which of the four piano makes will be used first.
The 32 competitors will be divided into four groups of eight.
In the Preliminary Round 1, the first eight competitors will play the first piano make drawn out of a hat, the next eight the next piano alphabetically on the list, the next eight the third piano on the list and the final eight players, the remaining piano make on the list.
In the Preliminary Round 2 (which all 32 competitors play), the first eight players will play the second piano on their list (in alphabetical order of brand names), the next eight their next piano and so on.
By the end of the first two Rounds, which all 32 competitors play, all four pianos will have been heard equally and all competitors will have played on two different pianos.
The twelve competitors selected to compete in the Quarter-Final will go on to play the next two pianos on their alphabetical list in Rounds 1 (Chamber Music) and 2 (70-minute solo recital).
The six competitors who are selected for the Semi-Final Round will have played all four pianos.
For the Semi-Final and Final Rounds, the six Semi-Finalists and the three Finalists may select any of the four pianos for their Concerto performances. They may also play two different brands for both concertos.