Resuscitating the Classical Piano Music of Latin America
Featuring Music by Manuel M. Ponce
Ponce Project Music Foundation (PPMF) invites pianists of all nationalities, ages 6 to 33, to participate in its Third International Piano Competition 2025.
The 2025 competition will include two modalities: LIVE & VIRTUAL.
- Past First-Prize winners are ineligible to compete in the same division.
- All competitors, teachers, parents, and guardians are asked to carefully all the information below. There will be no exception to disqualifications or points lost for not adhering to the rules.
- Competition Chairs: Omar Herrera Arizmendi & Rodolfo Morales
- PPMF´s official website ThePonceProject.org contains the most recent and accurate information about the competition, registration form and music scores.
Questions: [email protected]
LIVE COMPETITION
Application Deadlines
- May 1: 50% off Application Fee
- June 1: 25% off Application Fee
- July 1: Final application deadline
* Applicants residing outside Houston are responsible for their own travel expenses and visa requirements. Support letters can be provided upon request.
Application Fee
- $75 (USD) – No refunds.
If this presents a financial hardship, participants may request a partial or full waiver by emailing [email protected]
Location
- Kinder HSPVA, 790 Austin St, Houston, Texas, 77002, USA.
Date & Time
- Saturday Aug 2, 2025, 9am
Dress Code
All participants must dress formally:
- No jeans, T-shirts, sneakers, athletic or casual wear of any kind.
- Long hair should be properly arranged to avoid covering the face.
- Suits and long dresses are recommended.
Eligibility (Age as of August 2, 2025)
- DIVISION 1: Ages 6-8
- DIVISION 2: Ages 9-12
- DIVISION 3: Ages 13-15
- DIVISION 4: Ages 16-18
- DIVISION 5: Ages 19-33
Participants are allowed to compete in a division higher than the one assigned by age.
Judges
- Xuefei Liu
- Rodolfo Morales
- Omar Herrera Arizmendi
Prizes
- Participants will receive written feedback from the judges and a certificate of participation.
- Each division will have first, second, and third-place winners, as well as an Audience Award.
- Selected winners will be invited to perform at one of the PPMF´s Fall 2025 Season events in Houston.
Cash Prizes (USD):
- Division 1: 1st: $100 | 2nd: $75 | 3rd: $50
- Division 2: 1st: $200 | 2nd: $100| 3rd: $75
- Division 3: 1st: $300 |2nd: $150 |3rd: $100
- Division 4: 1st: $400 |2nd: $200 |3rd: $100
- Division 5: 1st: $500 |2nd: $300 |3rd: $150
The jury reserves the right to award honorary mentions, declare ties, or declare no winners.
The jury´s decisions are final and irrevocable.
Winners will be announced on the day of the competition following jury deliberations.
Repertoire
- Each participant must select ONE piece from the given options.
- Scores can be downloaded at ThePonceProject.org
Division 1 Ages 6- 8
- Dancita del sarampión
- Cielito lindo
- Ven, ¡Oh Luna!
- La Patria
- La revolución
Division 2 Ages 9-12
- Tiempo de schottisch
- Un recuerdo
- Primer amor
- Mayo
- Pequeña fuga No. 3
Division 3 Ages 13-15
- Mazurka de salón en fa major
- Gavotte et Musette
- Estudio de concierto No. 8 Preludio galante
- Hojas de Álbum No. 1
- Romanza de amor
Division 4 Ages 16-18
- Estudio de concierto No. 6 Alma en primavera
- Nocturno No. 1
- Nocturno No. 2
- Evocación No. 2 Venecia
- Intermezzo No. 2
Division 5 Ages 19-33
- Segundo capricho
- Rapsodia mexicana No. 1
- Rapsodia mexicana No. 2
- Balada mexicana (versión fusión)
- Estrellita metamorfosis de concierto
————-
- The piece must be performed from memory.
- There is only one round.
- The performance must follow all score indications, including repeats.
- Younger participants may use pedal extenders.
VIRTUAL COMPETITION
Application Deadlines
- May 1: 50% off application Fee
- June 1: 25% off application Fee
- July 1: Final deadline to submit all application materials, including video recording.
Participants may register early and submit their video by July 1, 2025.
Application FEE
- $75 (USD) – No refunds.
* If this presents a financial hardship, participants may request a partial or full waiver by emailing [email protected]
Video Submission Requirements
- The piano must be in tune.
- The video must be recorded in high definition (minimum 720p).
- Ensure the audio quality is clear, with minimal background noise (external microphones are recommended).
- The entire keyboard, performer’s hands, face, and upper body must be visible at all times. Position the camera from the pianist’s right side.
- The recording must be a single, unbroken take with no cuts, splices, or edits of any kind.
- Performers should dress formally in concert attire.
- Video must be uploaded to YouTube as an unlisted link. Submit the link by July 1, 2025.
- Recording must be made within 60 days prior to submission.
The video description should include the following information:
- Full Name
- Age
- Country
- Name of the Piece
Descriptions are preferred in English or Spanish.
Participants may state their name at the start of the video.
Eligibility (Ages as of August 2, 2025)
- DVISION 1: Age 6- 8
- DIVISION 2: Ages 9-12
- DIVISION 3: Ages 13-15
- DIVISION 4: Ages 16-18
- DIVISION 5: Ages 19-33
Participants are allowed to compete in a division higher than the one assigned by age.
JUDGES
- Claudia Corona
- Xuefei Liu
- Omar Herrera Arizmendi
Prizes
- All participants will receive written feedback from the judges and a certificate of participation.
- Each division will have first, second, and third-place winners.
- Select winners will be invited to perform at one of the Ponce Project Foundation’s Fall 2025 Season events in Houston.
Cash Prizes (USD):
- Division 1: 1st: $100 | 2nd: $75 | 3rd: $50
- Division 2: 1st: $200 | 2nd: $100| 3rd: $75
- Division 3: 1st: $300 |2nd: $150 |3rd: $100
- Division 4: 1st: $400 |2nd: $200 |3rd: $100
- Division 5: 1st: $500 |2nd: $300 |3rd: $150
The jury reserves the right to award honorary mentions, declare ties, or declare no winners.
The jury´s decisions are final and irrevocable.
Winners will be announced live together with the winners of the LIVE competition on Aug 2, 2025.
Repertoire
- Each participant must select ONE piece from the given options.
Scores can be downloaded at ThePonceProject.org
Division Ages 6- 8
- Dancita del sarampión
- Cielito lindo
- Ven, ¡Oh Luna!
- La Patria
- La revolución
Division 2 Ages 9-12
- Tiempo de schottisch
- Un recuerdo
- Primer amor
- Mayo
- Pequeña fuga No. 3
Division 3 Ages 13-15
- Mazurka de salón en fa major
- Gavotte et Musette
- Estudio de concierto No. 8 Preludio galante
- Hojas de Álbum No. 1
- Romanza de amor
Division 4 Ages 16-18
- Estudio de concierto No. 6 Alma en primavera
- Nocturno No. 1
- Nocturno No. 2
- Evocación No. 2 Venecia
- Intermezzo No. 2
Division 5 Ages 19-33
- Segundo capricho
- Rapsodia mexicana No. 1
- Rapsodia mexicana No. 2
- Balada mexicana (versión fusión)
- Estrellita metamorfosis de concierto
————
- The piece must be performed from memory.
- There is only one round.
- The performance must follow all score indications, including repeats.
- Younger participants may use pedal extenders