2026 Piano Competition for Young People

THE 2026 THOUSAND ISLANDS INTERNATIONAL
PIANO COMPETITION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
CELEBRATES ITS LAUNCH OF SEVERAL PIANO VIRTUOSOS

For classical pianist Clayton Stephenson, the Thousand Islands International Piano Competition for Young People was a first stage on his journey to global acclaim. An unforgettable figure in the competition’s history, Stephenson achieved the rare distinction of winning first prize in both the 2013 Junior Division and the 2018 Senior Division.

Captivating Cape Vincent audiences from his very first performance, Stephenson’s rise to prominence culminated globally in the Spring of 2022. Supporters watched him advance as a top-sixth finalist in the world-renowned Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Demonstrating an extraordinary versatile intellect, Stephenson holds dual degrees in economics and piano performance from Harvard University and the New England Conservatory. He now maintains a demanding international performing career, traceably rooted in his early successes on the Cape Vincent stage.

The 23rd Thousand Islands International Piano Competition for Young People, sponsored by the Cape Vincent Arts Council (CVAC), is celebrating its launch of several more youthful virtuosos. The competition, to be held in Cape Vincent September 11-13, continues a tradition as a stage for rising young pianists worldwide.

Recognition of young performers of the highest caliber has been the standard of the competition, as the adjudicators evaluate competitors against a professional artistic benchmark. The exemplary level of excellence required to participate for both the junior division (pianists not yet 6 months past high school graduation) and the senior division (pianists who have graduated from high school and who are not yet age 26 by September 1st) sets the foundation for the competition to launch exceptional young pianists’ virtuoso journeys.

Since its inception in 2002, the Piano Competition has served as a springboard for young pianists transitioning into the professional music world. A defining feature that sets this event apart from other national and international competitions is the absence of an elimination round.

Every accepted competitor is afforded the opportunity to perform a prepared repertoire over the three-day competition. This distinct format ensures that the Piano Competition offers young pianists a full and meaningful performance experience. Over the past 22 competitions, the junior and senior division winners have yielded success stories, with some of the winners pursuing professional careers.

Among the competition's distinguished alumni, a community favorite is Dr. Benjamin Hopkins, who claimed first prize in the 2007 Junior Division. The Cape Vincent audience quickly discovered that Dr. Hopkins was not only an exceptionally polished pianist, but also an articulate communicator capable of engaging listeners on diverse musical perspectives, including the historical connections between music and politics.

As is true for many first-prize winners, the Piano Competition provided the critical artistic validation and confidence needed to pursue further international competitions and studies with world-renowned instructors. Until recently, Dr. Hopkins has served as Professor of Music at Arizona Western College in Yuma, maintaining an active career as a highly sought-after recitalist, lecturer, and chamber musician. This autumn, he will commence a position as Visiting Professor of Piano at the Setnor School of Music within Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts. His relocation closer to the community of Cape Vincent and the Piano Competition is creating a buzz among his fans. In 2025, he made history as the first competition laureate invited to return as an adjudicator.

Dr. Yi-Yang Chen, the 2012 Senior First Prize winner, returned to the region the following year for a celebrated guest recital at the Clayton Opera House. Since his success in Cape Vincent, Dr. Chen has garnered first prizes at two of the world’s most prestigious international piano competitions. He joins the distinguished panel of adjudicators for this year's event. A full biography detailing his extraordinary career achievements will be featured in the official 2026 competition program booklet.

Similarly, supporters of the competition celebrated the global achievements of 2019 Junior First Prize winner Kevin Chen. Through live-streaming, audiences worldwide followed Chen’s spectacular run through the 2025 International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, Poland, where he was awarded the prestigious second prize.

This triumph, paired with his historic first prizes at both the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition and the Geneva International Music Competition, has solidified his place as an international sensation. For Chen, the Thousand Islands International Competition for Young People served as the foundational milestone that nurtured the confidence and artistry required to thrive on the world's most demanding stages.

2026 Thousand Islands International Piano Competition for Young People

• Competitors: This year’s competition features 7 junior division competitors (ages 12 to 17) and 7 senior division competitors (ages 17 to 26). The juniors hail from the United States and Canada. The seniors include pianists originally from the United States, Canada, China, and Thailand, all currently studying in the United States and Canada.
• Artistic Director: Brian Preston (since 2010)
• Adjudicators:
  • Professor Elier Suarez (Private Teacher, Rochester, NY)
  • Dr. Ireneus Zuk (Queen’s University, Kingston, ON)
  • Dr. Yi-Yang Chen (DePaul University, Chicago, IL)
• When: September 11-13, 2026
• Where: Maple Grove Estate, 596 W. Broadway St., Cape Vincent, New York. The performance venue is a large white tent in which the grand piano stands regally.
• Schedule: Friday & Saturday, 9:00 am – late afternoon; Sunday 9:00 am – 12:30 pm, followed by a lunch break and an awards ceremony at 2:00 pm
• Cost: free to the public.
• More Information: capevincentartscouncil.org

Performance Format & Repertoire

Because the competition features no elimination rounds, audiences can follow the repertoire of each competitor over three consecutive days:

The Thousand Islands International Piano Competition for Young People is the gem of the Cape Vincent Arts Council, a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) dedicated to enriching life in the region through the arts.

Join us in Cape Vincent as this September’s competition celebrates young pianists and nurtures emerging piano virtuosos.

by Brian Preston and Maria Purcell

Brian Preston has been the Artistic Director, Thousand Islands Piano Competition for Young People since 2010 and he is part of the Piano Faculty, Nazareth University, Rochester, NY.; Maria Purcell, is a current Board Member with the Cape Vincent Arts Council